Man must obey the gospel in order to become born again. (Acts 2:36-42) After the s
1 Cor 2:14 describes man before he is born again. How can he obey the gospel, if he cannot discern the things of the Spirit, and thinks them to be foolishness?
During the process of being born again God takes the stony heart out of the unregenerate person and replaces it with a new soft fleshy heart that can be pricked to feel guilt.(Ezk 36:26). Peter's sermon was directed to "all the house of Israel" which consists of all of God's elect.
Gen 32:28 - And he said thy name shall be no more called Jacob, but Israel. Rom 9:11 - For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. Asd it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Jacob as Israel is representative of God's elect.
Now with this knowledge, let's look at Acts 2:36-42.
In verse 36 Peter's sermon is directed to "all of the house of Israel as Jacob" who are the elect of God, informing them that they are guilty of crucifiction of Christ. Verse 37, When they heard this they were "pricked" in their heart (new fleshy heart of the born again), and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles "men and brethren" what shall we do?
To compare the different response of the unregenerate persons when they heard Steven preach the same sermon that Peter taught, they were "cut" to the heart (of stone), and gnashed on him with their teeth.
Verse 38, Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptised (the answer of a guilty conscience toward God-1 Pet 3:212), every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ "for"(unto) the remission of sins.