For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Acts 2:36-38 (ESV Strong's) 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Anxiety, distress and depression were emotions experienced even by the Apostles and Christ Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 Paul experienced emotional distress even to the point of death. This passage says they were burdened excessively, burdened beyond their strength, they despaired even of life. Verse 9 says, “…the sentence of death was within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. That is where they set their hope. They connected with God, connected with Christ Jesus and connected with one another through excessive burden and even despair of life. They connected with the body of Christ - they did NOT withdraw or shrink back.
