CHANGING DIRECTION
“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 NIV
I. “Repent” is to feel sorrow for one’s actions.
In our text, Paul clearly states that repentance is the first step in the salvation process. True, or genuine, repentance always leads to salvation because this level of repentance comes only by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Only the effectual call of the Holy Spirit can produce this level of contrition. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:30 that "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. As we can plainly see God does not lose a single one in the salvation process. God not only never fails...He cannot fail. Casual “repentance” may produce apology, momentary tears, or some carnally based action....but no lasting change.
A case in point is Judas Iscariot. The Scripture says that he repented. His was the repentance of conscience, not repentance effected by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit which results in a person turning from sin to trusting the Savior. Judas turned to his own devices rather than turning to God.
Note: Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, when he saw that He (Jesus) was condemned to die, having repented he returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I sinned having betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” And having thrown the silver (coins) into the temple, he departed, and having gone away he hanged himself.” Matthew 27:3-5 (literal translation from the Greek New Testament)
Judas was remorseful when he saw the end result of his act. He “repented” (felt sorrow) for his dastardly deed, but he did not seek forgiveness nor mercy from God. His smitten conscience drove him to hang himself. True repentance is more than a smitten conscience; it is heartfelt remorse for one’s sins.
II. “Turn to God”.
This requires a “conversion or new birth” experience. Conversion or being born again, produces a complete and lasting change in an individual.
1. It produces a dramatic change in one’s total personality: from worldliness to godliness.
“Personality” is defined by Webster as “the quality or state of being a person”: “personal existence” “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away and all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
2. It produces a change in one’s understanding: from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight.
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints...” Ephesians 1:18
3. A change in one’s natural tendency or disposition from spiritual rebellion to obedience.
The natural man’s inclination is to turn away from God as the Scriptures clearly teach. The Old Testament declares this truth in Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Paul emphasized this characteristic of natural man in I Corinthians 2:14 when he wrote to the church at Corinth, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
But we must adopt the attitude exhibited by Peter and the apostles, “But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
Ill. The “wiping out” of our sins: “...that your sins may be wiped out..."
This is entirely and exclusively a work of God’s redemptive grace: “I, even I, am He who wipes out your transgressions, for My own sake, and will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 NASB
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,’ and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
IV. “...that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
1. The refreshing that comes with peace with God: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15
And the peace of God, which transcends all under-standing, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
2. The refreshing that comes with finding meaning and purpose in life.
“You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.” I Peter 1:8
CONCLUSION:
The Psalmist cried out, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness.” Psalm 95:6-8
And so it is for us today. If there is one who has not experienced the joy that true faith in Christ brings, will you now turn your heart toward God and accept the salvation that is only to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ? Don’t try to clean up your life first, come today just as you are. The spiritual cleansing power is not found in any effort of ours. It is found only in the blood of the Lamb of God.
