Our sins plug up the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The key to unplugging the flow is to repent. Therefore, today let’s look at 3 aspects of repentance.

I.                If we repent, we are forgiven.  (vs. 17-19)

The reason for repentance is given in verses 17 and 28.  They had acted in ignorance just as their leaders did. Even though we sin out of ignorance, it is still sin and needs to be repented for.  Especially since God had sent prophets in advance telling of Christ’s coming, so there was no excuse for their ignorance.  However, whether it was sin that was out of ignorance or sin that they were aware of, either way, it needs to be repented of. If you repent and return to God, then you will be forgiven.

This is salvation.  This is the greatness of the Good News.  The Good News is that no matter what you have done, there is nothing that you can’t be forgiven of.  It is only by the grace of God that you can turn yourself around, repent, and believe in Jesus Christ.  Then God will forgive you.  This is the Gospel, the Good News.

II Cor. 5:17

This is the Gospel. By being in Christ, in other words, repenting, believing in Christ, you are made into a new person.  This is the grace of the Gospel.

From the day you believed in Christ, all of your sin was forgiven.  It’s gone.  If you forget that grace and are thinking about your sin, the Lord must be really sad.  If you repent and return to Christ, your sins are gone.

II.              For the time of restoration (vs. 20-21)

Secondly, we need to repent and return to God in preparation for the time of restoration. We will all stand before the Lord at the time of restoration.  The word “time of restoration” means “free time to breathe” which means “time of encouragement” or “time of peace”.  God decides on the time and this time refers to Jesus’ second coming.  We won’t have “free time to breathe” or peace until Jesus’ second coming because now we are in confusion as a result of sin. When Jesus comes again, the time of restoration will come and we will be able to breathe and will have peace. 

I.  Thess. 4:15-17

When Jesus comes, first those who died will be raised, given a new body and be taken up into heaven.  Then Christians that are still alive will be lifted up into heaven. In other words, all Christians whether they have already died or are still alive at Christ’s coming in one moment will be changed into a glorious body and lifted up into heaven.  Then they will be with Christ for forever. That will be the “time of encouragement”, “the time of peace”.

Matt. 24:35-42

When Jesus comes, some people will be lifted up to meet Jesus while others won’t. It is the time when our faith will be made complete.  Whether we are lifted up or not depends upon whether we have believed in Jesus or not.  Whether we have repented and accepted Christ into our hearts or not. Therefore, we need to repent so we are prepared for Jesus’ second coming.

III.            A wonderful right will be given to us. (vs. 22-26)

Another reason for repenting is a wonderful right will be given to us.  All at once Peter throws out an Old Testament passage and begins talking about Moses. This is because Peter is showing us how wonderful a right has been given to us so we should repent. This is from Deut. 18:15.  “A prophet like me” is a prophet like Moses who had a special relationship with God, in other words, the Messiah, Christ. He has been given to Israel who had received the promise from God.  Therefore they should “listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off.”

Not only that, but verse 25 God said to Abraham. “Through your offspring all peoples on the earth will be blessed.”  In other words, Israel was to a blessing to all the nations. That was why Jesus was sent to them. They were chosen and therefore, they had a great responsibility. They needed to repent.

However, the Jews never opened their eyes to the fact that as God chosen people, they had a great responsibility. Instead they persecuted him.  Therefore, Paul announces that he is going to the Gentiles.  Then salvation came to the Gentiles. This was God’s plan.  Now we are the new Israelites and our responsibility is to be a blessing to others.

The Israelites were chosen by God, but they asked only for their rights, they didn’t fulfill their responsibilities.  They didn’t repent and return to God. They didn’t live within the grace of God.  We must be careful not to do the same thing.  We have received special grace from God.  We need to be thankful for God’s grace.  We need to have a repentful heart.

Romans 11:22

Hebrews 3:15

We have received God’s wonderful grace.  Therefore, we need to be thankful,  repent, return to Christ and always follow Christ. This is the responsibility of those who have received the grace of God.