Acts 2:36-47 gives a pretty good summary of what was done by those guilty of crucifying Jesus in order to obtain forgiveness of their sins (v. 38, together with Matthew 26:28 which invokes the blood of Jesus Christ as the cleansing agent, see also, Colossians 1:13-14) and become a member of God’s people (verse 47). In Acts 20:28 obedient Christians (in this case, the overseers [or, elders, v. 17] of the congregation of Christians located in Ephesus) are said to be responsible for feeding the church of God, purchased with the blood of Christ.
A similar path was one Saul (later called Paul) traveled to be cleansed from his sins (he described himself as “the chief of sinners.”) Acts 9:6: “...Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou MUST do.” Read the three accounts in the book of Acts of Saul’s conversion and see what he was told to do: Acts 22:16: “And, now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” He was given no other instructions per the scriptures.
The sinful people in Corinth (I Corinthians 6:9:11) were said to have been ‘washed,’ ‘sanctified,’ and ‘justified’ in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. What had they done? Acts 18:8: “...many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” A further bit of insight into the Corinthians’ obedience is found in I Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we (Saul, now Paul, includes himself in this statement) all baptized into one body...” (see Colossians 1:18 for a definition of “the body”).
Thanks for meditating on these things!
Aha, so the answer was in the Bible all along!
:-)