Sermon Tone Analysis

Faith and Repentance

After the healing (3:1-10)

, came the sermon, from the sermon came the call for faith and

Came the Sermon and a call for faith (3:11-16)

Came the Sermon a call for national repentance (3:17-26)

Came the response to the call (4:1-4)

I know we have previously looked at the second sermon, tonight want to take a deeper look at the the national call for repentance.

There was a quote that claims Billy Graham said that “If God does not judge America than He needs to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah” - - - - this looks like a call for national repentance so America is not judged like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jesus used some very strong words when it came to repentance (Mt11:20-22)

Speaking to Jews, calling Jews to repentance, in our passage today, Peter is calling the Jews to repentance and we see the response to the call.

Tonight we will take another look at this passage and look at the personal responsibility of the people then, and people today.

I.

The call to repent

Act3:19-20

Peter brought about conviction (v.17) but not without hope (v.18)

From fulfillment, hope, to a call for response, repentance (v.19-21)

They had previously acted in ignorance, but we also know the times of ignorance is over (Act17:30-31)

Remembering that Paul is addressing Jews who lived under the O.T. Law regarding sin, and types of sins, deliberate sins and sins of ignorance, this is seen in looking at Lev4-5, Num1:22ff where or look at this (Num15:30-31)

In the O.T. willful sinners were to be cut off, but in the N.T. Jesus offers forgiveness and God answered prayer instead of judgment.

He sent Holy Spirit to empower the Church and to convict the lost sinner (add Lk23:34)

Israel had been ignorant not understanding and without malicious intent, so they would be like the manslayer who would seek refuge in the closed city of refuge and were safe as long as they did not leave the city.

They could leave there an go home when the High Priest died.

Israel was invited to go home, to repent and return to God when the High Priest Jesus died and offered refuge by faith in Him (Heb6:18)

the hope was Jesus, the cross was the way to have the hope by faith.

The cross was the divine meeting place of the divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

and here in the 2nd sermon, in our passage tonight this truth was repeated

God gave free will, in the garden until today, God does not force man to chose the refuge that is available in Jesus.

God gave the evidence of the refuge that would be found in the Christ through the prophets.

II.

The means of the call

Act3:

ACt3:25-26

I guess this section could start back on (v.19) but I believe there is some overlap here.

The crime announced, the evidence presented, nature of sin developed now comes the means of the call, or you may say the offer of the pardon (vv.19-26)

So Peter the prosecutor now switches to the other side as the defense attorney and then the pardoning judge.

The goal was to bring the people to repentance (Israel) as a whole and that had to happen personally by inviting the people to trust Jesus Christ and receive His gracious gift of grace by faith.

The means included repentance, it was the first thing they were told to do (Act2:38, 5:31, 17:30 and to it 2Cor7:10)

Personally repent (Act2:38); nationally repent (Act5:31) and the reason to repent we already mentioned in (Act17:30) times of ignorance has passed.

Repent, change minds, change view of sin, change heart for Christ.

Repentance is more than being sorry, it was once said “a little Sunday school girl said, repentance means feeling sorry enough to quit!”

There is other sorrow, that does not bring about repentance 2Cor7:10

2Cor7:10

Warren Wiersbe says “true repentance is admitting that what God says is true, and because it is true, to change our mind and our sins and about the Saviour.”

Repentance was not new (Mt3:2; 4:17) and that repentance is a gift from God (Act11:18)

John preached repentance

M

Jesus preached repentance

Jesus preached repentance

The gift was available to all who would receive by faith and apply!

Personally and nationally.

Next, they needed to be converted (Psm51:13; Mt18:3; Act20:21) -to turn again and exercise saving faith in Jesus Christ

Sinners converted after being taught Your ways

Jesus said it was necessary to be converted to enter the kingdom of God.

Repentance and faith go hand in hand with each other

It is needed to turn from our sins (repent) and have saving faith toward God in Jesus Christ

The means would bring the ends (through Jesus) sins wiped away, and a time of refreshing.

When looking at this passage Peter in (vv.22-25) emphasis on the prophets who announced the coming of the Messiah.

Peter quotes from Deu18:14, 18-19 in (v.22)

Moses was quoted but was not alone in the prophesy (Lk24:25-27)

Lk24:25-26

Then going on he brings in the covenant made with Abraham (v.25) that you can find in (Gen12:1-3) that was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

The unconditional covenant was fulfilled through the Jews in Jesus being from the Jews to be a blessing to all, including the Gentiles (you can read more on this in Gal3:6-14)

It is important to see (v.26) that the national blessings did not overshadow the personal responsibility of the individuals

First the blessings was to the Jews, from the Jews the Servant, so every one of you may turn (repent, be converted) from your wicked ways.

This leads to the response, or the results.

III.

Response to the Call

Some responded by belief and about 2000 were saved (v.4)

Some were greatly disturbed (v.2)

It happened while still speaking (v.1)

They were seized (v.3)

Practical truths from this passage

God is long suffering with lost sinners -Isreal leaders had rejected the ministry of John the Baptist, they rejected the ministry of Jesus, but still have the opportunity now to repent and return to the Lord God through Jesus

The gospel, has both bad and good news The bad news is sin and the guilt and penalty of sin, the good news is the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The way to reach the masses is helping one sinner at a time - This way of reaching them started with a lame beggar outside the temple and his transformed life lead to 2000 souls being saved.

- don’t miss out on opportunities for personal evangelism it can change the world!

Best defense of the truth of Christian faith is a changed life -The best defense we can have is how has our personal lives changed or been transformed - in this story it was the transformation of the beggar who was not even looking for healing but for a handout

Whenever God blesses, you can bet on Satan to try to steal the blessing - in our story today Satan showed up in the form of the Sadducees and the like trying to get rid of the blessing that really could not be denied and we will get more into that next week.

lead to invitation (it is all in the name of Jesus)

(insert Invitation Slide)

There is power in the name of Jesus, it is the name that can save, it is the name that can strengthen it is the name that can change the world!

It needs to start personally, has it changed you?

(Stop recording)

(insert exit slide)

- - - - - - below is only for the handout - - - - - - -

Regardless of the reception of the message, or the response the responsibility lies with us to proclaim the message, the good news personally that can change a nation and change the world.