Acts 3:19 - Repent and Be Born Again.
Acts 3:19 (NIV) Repent, then, and turn to
God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that
times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:19 AMP) So repent [change your inner
self - your old way of thinking, regret past
sins] and return [to God - seek His purpose for
your life], so that your sins may be wiped away
[blotted out, completely erased], so that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
[restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Acts 3:19 (CWR) So you need to repent, turn
your lives around and confess your sins. God
will blot out your sins and refresh your souls by
giving you the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to
all who accept Him as their Lord.
INTRODUCTION
Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a
turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin
unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away
from it in heart, there will be no real change in
the life. {SC 23.2}
COMMENTARY PEARL
Our Stubborn Wills
Becoming a Christian is a once-for-all
event, in which we repent of our sins and cast
ourselves on Christ alone for our salvation. When we
are converted, God takes us "out of darkness
into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
But being a Christian is a daily, ongoing
experience. It is a lifelong process of daily repentance
and faith, turning from sin and seeking to live
for Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
That is where our wills come in. Although
we have been converted and God has come to live
in us, our old nature is still "alive and
kicking." Our stubborn wills still demand to put self
first instead of Christ.
It isn't easy to bring our stubborn wills
into submission to Christ, but when we do, it is
as if a misplaced vertebra has snapped back
into place. Instead of the stress and tension of
a life out of harmony with God, we discover
the serenity of His presence.
Who will control your will today? You -
or Christ?
Each morning, we must choose to die to
self again. We hand the reins over to Christ and
give him complete control. Some days, its
easy; some days, its not. But its always
best. [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
The Goodness Of Repentance
Pastor Rick Warren says, "Repentance
starts in the mind, not in actions. If you change
your mind, your behavior will follow." Repentance
actually starts with our minds making a U-turn.
Repentance is turning away from ourselves, from sin,
from lies, and toward God. When our eyes are
solely fixed on Jesus, we're glad to leave the old,
unprofitable ways behind. We press forward, eager to be
like him in everything we do.
The opportunity for repentance is great
news because it means that we are never stuck
with who we are now. We're not stuck with a foggy
brain, or with a habit of anxious thoughts, or with
patterns of eating that drag us down. God offers us
freedom and a fresh start, a clean slate no matter
how many times we've needed one before. In
Isaiah 30:15, God says, "In repentance and rest is
your salvation."
If you're facing a time when repentance
is necessary, look to Jesus and think about how
excellent it will be to be more like him, to be closer
to him, to feel his smile when he looks at
you.
Seize the golden opportunity to make a
U-turn and start fresh. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day
Devotional re Mark 1:15]
What It Really Means to Repent
Somewhere along the way, repent
became a negative word.
When many people hear that word, they
think of a guy holding a sign on the corner
telling them to turn or burn because the end
is near.
But the world's idea of what it means to
repent is totally wrong. Repent is actually
the most positive, transforming word in the
world.
The word repent just means you
change your mind. Its not when you stop doing
bad things - thats the result of repentance.
It means you used to think one way and now you
think another way.
You used to think guilty thoughts, and
now you think forgiven thoughts. You used to
think damnation and discouragement, and now you
think peace. You used to think selfishness, and
now you think of others first. You used to think
ambitiously, and now you think about how to serve. You
think about God as he really is - a kind and
loving Father. You think about yourself as God sees
you - with value and purpose. You think about
what really has meaning in life.
Repentance is when you start rethinking
your life in order to match how Jesus thinks.
When you repent and turn from darkness to light,
its not about not getting to do the things you
want to do anymore. Its about doing only the
things that matter because your mind is set on
whats most important. It's the most positive
change in the world.
Do you need some refreshment? Do you need
to recover from lifes hurts and be revived
after loss or failure? Then you only need to
repent. When you do, youll come into Gods
presence and experience real joy and peace. [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
If you are serious about painting a
fence, you have to prepare the surface of the wood.
You scrape away the old paint - every fleck you
possibly can. If you don't you will simply be
covering over weak spots. When the inevitable rains
come, followed by baking sunlight, the new paint
will bubble, blister, and peel, leaving your
fence as ugly and exposed as it was before. In the
same way, when the Bible tells us to repent, it
means something more than just acknowledging wrong
- more than changing our minds or our way of
living. It means asking forgiveness or making
restitution for the wrongs we've committed. Anything
less is just covering up our old ways, and the
changes won't last. Make your repentance deep - and
it will bring a joyful and lasting change.
Thank You, Father, for making a way for
me to know You and be near to You. Thank You
that You don't require me to light candles, do
penance, or make up for past sins by working very
hard for You. You have simply forgiven me, head
to toe, heart to soul, in Christ and through
His blood shed for me - even cleansing me from a
guilty conscience (Heb. 10:22). No words can
express my praise and gratitude. [A Spectacle of
Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
CLOSING THOUGHT
As a 17-year-old kid, I was searching for
God. I had tried to find truth through alcohol
and partying, but I knew that wasnt the
answer. I tried to find it through drug use, and I
knew that wasnt the answer either. But I was
searching.
I would hang around Newport Beach at
night, leaning against a wall, and I would watch as
Christians walked around handing out religious
literature. They looked at me and kept walking.
Occasionally they gave me something to read, but they
wouldnt engage me.
I remember thinking, Why wont you
talk to me? They bought my faade, the
appearance that I didnt care. But I did care. And I
was waiting for someone to enter my world and
show me the way.
That is what Jesus did with the woman at
the well in Samaria. He said, Anyone who
drinks this water will soon become thirsty again
(John 4:13 NLT). He was using the well as a
metaphor for life. Youll be thirsty again if you
drink this water.
We could write that over the well of
materialism or over the well of fame. We could write it
over the well of so many things.
The woman, however, wasnt getting what
Jesus was saying, so she started to argue with
Him. But Jesus called her out. He engaged her and
told her what she needed to do.
When were sharing the gospel, we need
to appeal to a persons spiritual thirst, but
we also need to tell the truth about sin. They
need to know that sin separates them from God,
and the solution is a relationship with Jesus
Christ. The problem is sin. The solution is Jesus.
People are hiding behind their faades,
but theyre really waiting for someone to show
them the way. Will you be that person? [Greg
Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Acts 2:38 - Repentance, Baptism And Power.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20080821-1252.html
Acts 2:38 - Repentance, Baptism And Power.
(updated)
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100604-1018.html
Acts 4:19, 20 - Compelled to Speak.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201112-1024.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
