When Peter preached and said, “Save yourselves,” he was fully aware of the fact that all men are lost without Jesus. The first part of his sermon dealt with the death of Jesus. Peter knew that no one could save themselves without Jesus. He continued to preach this message (Acts 4:10-12). Guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter also preached, “Save yourselves” (Acts 2:40).
Jesus left the glory of heaven for the very purpose of saving man. Because of what he has done for us, we can save ourselves in this sense; we must favorably react to Jesus’ atonement of our sins. Obtaining salvation can be divided into two parts: God’s part and our part. When we obediently respond to what God has done for us, we are saving ourselves, in that we have chosen to obey the One who died for us!
Those in Acts 2, who heard Peter’s sermon, knew there must be some action on their part in order for them to receive God’s grace. They had asked what to do (Vs. 37). Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Vs. 38). He told them to “save themselves” (Vs. 40). “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized” (Vs. 41).
They came up out of the water knowing who saved them and whose blood washed their sins away. Like us today, this is all they could say; “Look at what God has done for me!”
“Save yourselves” simply means, that since God has made our salvation possible, it is now up to us, as to whether or not we receive forgiveness. It is up to us as to whether or not we keep this great salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3). Jesus says to his children, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Philippians 2:5-11 describes how Jesus worked out our salvation. The next verse tells us to work it out. This is simply saying, “Save yourselves” by putting your faith into action. Jesus told an audience, “You will not come to me that you might have life” (John 5:40). These words are true of the majority of men and women (Matthew 7:13-14), but they do not have to be true of you!
Jesus has made salvation possible, but the majority will be in hell for eternity. Why? They will not “save themselves.” What are you doing every day? Are you saving yourself each day you live? In other words, are you obediently serving the One who made your salvation possible?