(Act) 2:36, 38, 40, 42, 45 CJB “Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah — this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!” Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers. in fact, they sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need.”

Acts 2 gives us a powerful picture of what it means to be followers of Jesus. Christianity is not merely agreeing that Jesus exists, believing certain facts about Him, or identifying ourselves as Christians. The gospel demands a response because Jesus is not merely Savior—He is Lord and Messiah.

Peter declared to the people of Israel that the Jesus they had crucified was the One God had made known as both Lord and Messiah. When they were convicted by what they heard, Peter didn’t tell them simply to add Jesus to their lives. He called them to repent—to turn from sin and return to God—and to identify publicly with Jesus through baptism.

That remains at the heart of the gospel.

God has acted decisively in Jesus Christ to reconcile sinful people to Himself. We are born rebels against God and cannot repair that broken relationship ourselves. Jesus accomplished what we could never accomplish through His death and resurrection. Forgiveness is God’s gracious gift, received through faith in Christ.

But grace does not leave us where it found us.

Followers of Jesus Live Differently

Those who received the gospel “continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers.”

Something had changed.

They wanted God’s truth.

They wanted God’s people.

They worshiped.

They prayed.

They shared life together.

And their transformation even reached their possessions. They willingly sold property and possessions to provide for fellow believers who were in need.

They weren’t merely believers in Jesus.

They had become followers of Jesus.

That distinction matters.

Biblical faith produces a changed direction. We don’t obey Christ so He will save us. We increasingly obey Christ because He has saved us. We don’t love God’s people to earn forgiveness. We love because God’s Spirit has changed us.

Jesus becomes more than someone we believe in.

He becomes the Lord we follow.

What Does Your Life Say About Your Faith?

Acts 2 should cause every Christian man to examine himself.

Is there evidence that following Jesus has actually changed your life?

Do you increasingly hunger for God’s Word?

Do you desire fellowship with God’s people?

Are you becoming more obedient to what Christ commands?

Are you fighting the sins for which Christ died?

Are you generous when brothers and sisters are in need?

Do you serve, encourage, forgive, sacrifice, and love?

None of those things earns salvation. But we should be concerned about claiming to possess a faith that produces none of them.

Christians aren’t simply men who once believed something about Jesus. We are disciples learning to live increasingly like our Master.

Jesus lived to do His Father’s will. He loved sacrificially. He gave Himself to reconcile sinners to God. And now His Spirit lives within His people, progressively transforming us to become more like Him.

The gospel doesn’t merely change where you will live after you die. It changes whom you follow while you live.

RUN TODAY’S PLAY

Don’t simply ask yourself, “Do I believe in Jesus?”

Ask the harder question: “Where is following Jesus changing the way I live?”

Identify one command of Christ you already know but aren’t presently obeying. Maybe you need to repent of a persistent sin, forgive someone, become faithful to God’s Word, reconnect with God’s people, serve someone, give generously, or publicly identify yourself with Christ.

Then act on it today.

Don’t settle for being a man who believes things about Jesus. Be a man whose life shows that Jesus is Lord.

Know Him. Follow Him. Obey Him.