AT PENTECOST: Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”   Acts 2:37-39

DURING JESUS’ EARTHLY MINISTRY: Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe [trust, rely on, and have faith in] Him whom He sent.”  John 6:28-29

The simplified version of this question is: What shall we do to get right with God?  And the answer is: Give up and trust Him!!! What is the work you do for God?  Trust Him.  ‘Repent’ in Peter’s words is the same as ‘trust’ in Jesus’ words.  ‘Baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins’ is the same as ‘accept and proclaim that’ “you believe (trust in) Jesus whom God sent”, and [in His substitutionary sacrifice for YOU].

Jesus didn’t say the part about the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit was not yet sent, but Peter did, because he was experiencing the Gift of Holy Spirit at that very moment.  “For the promise [really] is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off.”  Just so you’ll know, we need to renew our commitment to Jesus not only in the beginning of our personal relationship with God, but also every day.