REPENT AND TURN AGAIN
1. Most of us are familiar with Acts 2:38.
2. Peter told people to be repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
3.
In Acts
4. The people who heard the gospel in Acts 3 were also told to “repent.”
5. After “repentance” these people were instructed to “turn again.”
6. These actions would blot out their sins and bring seasons of refreshing.
TONIGHT
I WANT TO LOOK AT EACH OF THE EXPRESSIONS THAT IS USED IN ACTS
1. This word is a verb.
2. The first place we find this verb used in the New Testament is Mt. 3:2.
3. John the Baptist told people to “repent” (same word).
4.
Jesus told people to “repent” (Mt.
5.
When people refused to repent they were condemned (Mt.
6. What does repentance mean?
7.
In Mt.
8. In this passage Jesus affirmed that Jonah was a real prophet.
9.
The Lord said that Jonah went to the city of
10. The response to the prophet’s preaching is given by the Lord – READ Mt. 12:41.
11. Those
in
12. What did these people do?
A.
According to Jonah 1:2 the people of
B. The people’s repentance is described in Jon. 3:8, 10.
C. Jon. 3:8: “Let them turn every one from his evil way and the violence in his hands.”
D. Jon. 3:10: “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.”
13. What is repentance?
14. It is turning from our “evil ways.”
15. Repentance is not mere sorrow.
16. If we apologize to someone or we are sorry for something this is not repentance.
17. Repentance is a rejecting what is wrong and beginning to do what is right.
18. The
repentance at
19. In Lk. 15 Jesus told the story of a young man who wanted to leave home.
20. This young man went into a far country and after a time things didn’t go too well.
21. This young man realized that it was best to go back home and ask for mercy.
22. According to the story this young man did return home.
23. Just prior to telling this story Jesus used the word “repentance” two times.
24. He used this word in verses 7 and 10.
25. The subject of repentance is linked with the young man who left home and eventually came back.
26. This young man “repented.”
27. A time came when he decided to forsake the wrong way and get back on the right road.
28. In our day and time there are people who are willing to repent (change their lives).
29. There are also those who are not willing to change.
A. Jesus affirmed this in the next chapter (Lk. 16).
B. The Lord presented people with information about Lazarus and the rich man.
C. Towards the end of this account Jesus used the word “repentance.”
D. He said (verse 30) that some would not “repent.”
E. He said that even if a family member came back from the dead some would not change.
30. The information in Lk. 16:30 presents us with a sad fact.
31. We all know someone who is headed the wrong way.
32. We may dearly love one or more people who are disregarding God’s laws and God’s way.
33. We need to accept the fact that some refuse to repent.
34. Even if a person came back from the dead and warned them, some will not change.
35. As a final reference for repentance we may cite Acts 17:30 – READ.
36. If people know the difference between right and wrong they are to repent.
37. Repentance applies to every person and every culture.
38. IN
ACTS
A. After this command the text is no longer identical.
B.
In Acts
C.
In Acts
D. If you have the KJV it will say “be converted.”
E. The word translated “turn again” (be converted) is a very important term.
F. Peter told people to “repent” but this didn’t end his instructions.
G. He said that the people had to do something else (“turn again”/”be converted”).
H. This fact is especially noteworthy.
I. We live in a world where many say that belief (faith alone) is enough to be saved.
J. Others say that repentance (or belief and repentance) will save us.
K. Please notice this small but important fact from Acts 3:19.
L.
These people believed.
Both in Acts 2:38 and
M. By today’s standards they were saved.
N. By God’s standard they were not saved.
O. Belief and repentance were not enough.
P. Peter said, and turn again.
Q. The conjunction and is also found in the Greek text.
R. After people believed and repented Peter said that something else was required.
39. He described this as “turning.”
40. Isn’t repentance a “turning?” Yes it is.
41. Repentance heads us in the right direction but repentance does not sever all the ties to our old life.
42. People may repent but they are still joined to the devil.
43. There must be a “turning” (joining) to God.
A.
Notice if you will the parallel between Acts 2:38 and
B.
Peter told the people who believed to “repent and be
baptized” in
C.
Did he preach the same message in
D. He said “repent” and “turn again.”
E. The words “turn again” are simply another description for baptism.
44. Many have underestimated or neglected the importance of Acts 3:19.
45. This passage shows without out a doubt that faith and repentance are not enough.
46. Even after repentance people must “turn.”
47. There must be a change in their life.
48. This
change (turning) occurs when people are buried with Christ in baptism (
49. People experience a “turn” after baptism because they have a “new life” (Rom. 6:4).
50. ANY
DOUBT ABOUT THIS IS QUENCHED BY COMPARING WHAT PETER SAID.
A.
Acts
B.
Acts
1). What is said next in these two passages?
C.
In Acts
D.
In
E. Peter preached the same message.
F. The wording is slightly different but the message matches when we compare it.
G. This is one more proof that we must be baptized if we want our sins to be taken away.
51. In
52. The word translated “remission” carries with it two different ideas.
53. Objectively the word means that we are forgiven from sin (completely acquitted).
54. Objectively this word means that we are cleansed of all wrongs and we can be in fellowship with God.
55. Subjectively this word means that our conscience should be free from guilt and worry.
56. In
Acts
57. He spoke of sins being “blotted out.”
A. This expression comes from a single word that is only found 5 times in the New Testament.
B. It is used here, Col. 2:14, and three times in the book of Revelation.
C. In Col. 2:14 Paul said that the handwriting and ordinances have been “blotted out.”
D. The word is found in Rev. 3:5 (God will not “blot out” certain names in the book of life).
E. The last two references are especially interesting.
F. In Rev. 7:17 and 21:4 the term God describes the “wiping away” (blotting out) tears.
58. One source that defines New Testament words (Brown, 1:471) offers an interesting illustration.
59. This comment is based upon how the word is used in Col. 2:14 as well as the other 4 places this word.
60. According to this authority……..
61. The image is that of “smoothing the surface of a wax-writing tablet for re-use.”
62. It seems that this word is where we get our expression “wiping the slate clean.”
A. Let’s think about what is being described by the word translated “blotting out.”
B. Here is a tablet of wax with some letters or words that have been etched into it.
C. The tablet (just like a person’s life) has been marked up and marred.
D. The tablet is used and defaced.
E. Yet, this used and defaced tablet is “smoothed” (made like new).
F. What does God do when He “blots out sins”?
63. He makes a broken and sin damaged life like new.
64. He takes all the mars, defects, the scars…all the damage…and He erases it.
65. If all we use to talk about forgiveness is Acts 2:38 we may not get the full idea.
66. When we combine 2:38 with 3:19 we have the full picture.
67. Both accounts say repent.
68. Peter told the people who were willing to repent to “turn” (they “turned” through baptism).
69. If these things were done the people were told that their scarred lives would be changed.
70. Then Peter spoke about the “gift of the Holy Spirit” in 2:38 and “seasons of refreshing” in 3:19.
A. Notice the word “refreshing.”
B. This noun only occurs here in the New Testament; it was a medical term.
C. It described the treatment of a wound by exposing it to air for cooling and drying.
D. Here the word describes the “new life” in Christ and gifts from God.
E. This definition (EDNT, 1:95) is exactly parallel with Acts 2:38.
F. Peter spoke of “gift of the Holy Spirit” in 2:38.
G. The word “refreshing” in 3:19 described “new life” and “gifts from God.”
H. The Spirit is part of the new life and a gift from God.
71. If you like marginal notes make a little chart for Acts 2:38 and 3:19.
72. The two passages say the same thing but use different language.
73. Peter preached the same gospel.
74. This is the gospel that we want to preach.
75. Tonight we want to present the same message that Peter delivered some 2,000 years ago
76. If we want to be saved we must believe and repent.
77. After repentance we must “turn” by being baptized so we can enjoy the gifts of God.
78. Have we do this? If so, are we encouraging others to follow these same steps?