THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER -- FALL 2025
MEN AND BRETHREN, WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Since the fall, the LORD had been guiding humanity toward redemption. For centuries, the Hebrews had toiled under the law, which was a schoolmaster, an example of things to come. The LORD also used outside forces to prepare the way. While the Jews were preserving the law, the conquering Babylonian, Assyrian, Greek, and Roman empires played a significant part in preparing the way. Now there was a universal language, safe roads for traveling, and weary Jewish people. All things were ready for the coming of the Messiah and the spreading of the gospel.
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law…” (Galatians 4:4-5)
Jesus Christ was not the Messiah that the Jews were expecting. They wanted a mighty general to free them from the embarrassment of Roman rule, a kingly figure to rival the kings of other nations and strike fear in the hearts of the enemy. But Christ instead came into the world as weak, poor, and lowly.
He didn’t come to conquer worldly enemies or heal their wounded pride. Instead, his kingdom would be spiritual. He had come to fulfill the law and usher in a new dispensation, a new salvation experience for the New Testament church. The expectation of mankind would now be different. The physical Law of Moses would now be a spiritual law. While Christ would never do away with the law, he would fulfill it. He would not do away with the need of blood sacrifice, but instead he would become the blood sacrifice. He would not do away with the need for a priest; he would become the priest. From this point forward, the tabernacle would be spiritual.
Jesus himself spoke of this new plan of salvation but not specifically. He spoke of it vaguely and in the future tense. The reason for this is that the new plan would not take effect until after his death, burial, and resurrection. The New Birth Experience was not available until after the temple veil was torn at the moment of his death and after the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost (John 7:39; Hebrews 9:16-17). His indirect teaching on the new salvation experience prepared his disciples to receive it and to preach it when the time had come.
First, Jesus taught repentance, that people should turn away from wickedness and do right. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). “...unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). He was unlike any other teacher the people had heard. He was specific about right and wrong. Righteousness was more than rule-keeping. A good person must have a pure heart and mind, loving all men and obeying God, and this would cause them to do the right thing.
Likewise, Jesus did not say much directly about water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and what he did say was not understood yet. He spoke indirectly in parables and vague references that would only make sense later when the Holy Ghost would “bring to [their] remembrance whatsoever things he [had] said unto [them]” (John 14:26) .They didn’t understand the parables because the time for salvation had not yet come. This vagueness was intentional. [We are not as smart as we think we are. It is by the grace of God that we realize things as they are necessary to us.]
Indirectly, however, Jesus did say quite a bit about the new birth experience. One of the most important passages, from which we get the common term “born again”, is John 3:3-8 in which the Lord is speaking to Nicodemus: “. . . Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Here, Christ is clearly referring to the water baptism (birth of the water) and the baptism of the Holy Ghost (birth of the spirit). Another key scripture discussing the new birth is John 7:37-39 “...Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” This is an indirect reference to speaking in tongues as evidence of spirit baptism.
Because of the Lord’s teaching, the apostles would be ready to receive salvation, to lead His church, and to spread the gospel around the world when the time had come. Many rejected these men as leaders because they were poor, awkward, and uneducated. But Jesus knew who he was choosing, and he chose wisely.
In Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, “Whom do ye say that I am?” (v. 15) Peter had the correct answer. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16) And the Lord took this opportunity to bring attention to Peter’s calling: “. . . Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (v. 17-19).
Though Peter would become great, he was clearly not ready yet. Only a few verses later, Jesus rebuked him for his ignorance. Furthermore, Jesus spoke of Peter’s conversion in the future tense: “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). In fact, he spoke of all the disciple’s salvation experience in the future tense. Before the resurrection, no one truly understood what was happening. I Corinthians 2:8 highlights this general ignorance of God’s plan of redemption “[w]hich none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Everyone–even Satan–had misunderstood the scriptures about Christ. This is not what they were expecting at all.
Several days later, when the women told the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, nobody believed them. Even Peter had to go and see for himself. All shared the disciple’s astonishment on the road to Emmaus: “we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel” (Luke 24:21). They, like “doubting” Thomas, refused to believe until they had seen it for themselves. Why were they so doubtful? Because, in their minds, this is not how it was supposed to happen. Even his disciples had come to expect a worldly victory instead of a spiritual one. That is why his disciples asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Is this the part where you fix the Roman problem? Even they were caught up in the man-made expectation. [This is a problem among worldly disciples even to this day. They ask for a Lamborghinis and a condo in Florida when they need to be asking for humility and salvation.] Disciples can be a handful.
But Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and taught them for forty days. And “then opened he their understanding” (Luke 24:45). At this time, he still referred to their salvation experience in the future tense: “But wait for the promise of the Father . . .” (Acts 1:4). “but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). They were still afraid and confused. However, we finally see that conversion in Acts 2 when they receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4
The weak and fearful disciples that we see hiding from the Jewish leaders during the crucifixion are not the same disciples that we see boldly preaching on the day of Pentecost or standing up to Roman rulers in the months that followed. The difference was made by their conversion in Acts 2. They had finally been “endued with power from on high” and had become true witnesses of Christ.
The powerful upper room event spilled out into the street, witnessed by many. This was a very strange sight and, just as they still do today, people began to ask questions. Some of them mocked, but others were sincere. Newly converted, Peter was now prepared to take up the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” and fulfill his ministry. Indeed, this was the perfect time for the first Christian message. When Peter stood to preach to the astonished crowd, he identified this phenomenon with the prophecy of Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh . . .” He told them that they had wickedly crucified the very same Messiah that they had been waiting for. However, the Lord would forgive them if they would repent and believe and obey the gospel.
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart. . .” (Acts 2:37) They understood his message. They believed. They felt the agony of what they had done. They wanted to make it right, but they did not know how. So, they asked “. . . Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37) They were asking the right question with the right attitude to the right man at the right time. Then Peter, in agreement with the other eleven apostles, answered their question: “. . . repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
This is what the apostles continued to preach throughout the end of the Bible. This is what the church continued to do–and continues to do today. This is what Christ had described as being “born again.” (John 3:3) This is what John had spoken of when he talked of baptism “with the Holy Ghost and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)
Even today, in a world confused and overwhelmed, the predominant question is still “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” How can we make this right? In answering their question, Peter also answered ours, because this answer is for all generations and for all people. With good reason, Acts 2:38 is the central focus in our search for truth.
If you recognize that you are a sinner separated from God . . . if feel the agony and hopelessness of that fate . . . if you want to make it right but don’t even know where to start . . . if you have been asking the age old question “What am I going to do?” . . . The biblical answer has never changed, and never will. Repent. Be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Let’s take a moment to consider each one of these. [We will do it briefly here. However, exploring and explaining these in detail and in a variety of ways will be one of the main focuses of this newspaper.]