Title: The Effect of Repentance
2011.6.12 Sunday morning worship service
Bible: Acts 2:37-39
Title: The Effect of Repentance
Hearing the sermon in the book of Acts and being moved by the same emotion, one group repented and came to salvation as in the text, while another group stoned the preacher to death. Acts 7:54 “When they heard these words, they were pierced in their hearts and gnawed their teeth at him.” Below that, there is a scene where the evangelist is stoned to death. The purpose of Christianity in the world, preaching and evangelism is to enable people to repent of their sins, receive atonement, and receive eternal life. Luke 24:47 “And it is written that repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem”
As moral advice, I hope that we will realize that repentance is the way to save the soul from the fundamental destruction of life and to live with the most blessings than all conditions in the world, so that our repentance life goes well. There are two types of repentance.
1. Repentance of Rebirth
The rebirth of the soul is a mystery. It is explained by various theological expressions, but it is not explained empirically. However, it is truly a miracle that the fact of being born again is acknowledged. Repentance of sins and being born again and being born again and repenting are different from normal moral reflection, so that some may cry out loud and some may not.
There is no mention of Zacchaeus weeping when salvation was proclaimed to him (Luke 19:9). However, he has changed and confesses his changed heart and sees a change in his attitude. When one of the robbers dying on the cross was saved, even though they did not weep, salvation was proclaimed (Luke 23:42-43). It is estimated that he cried loudly and beat his chest. For this reason, the expressions appear slightly different, but the same is the fact that they came to believe in the Lord.
And the second most important point is that this change of belief happens all at once and does not change forever. It's not something you do over and over again. Jude 1:3 ‘…the way of faith that was given to the saints once and for all…’ John 13:10 ‘Jesus said to them, “He who has already bathed needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean…”
2. Repent of arbitrary sins
These are the sins of morality, ethics, and conscience. We don't even remember the original sin of Adam and Eve because it was not our experience, but we do remember the moral and conscientious iniquities. Repentance of these sins does not end at once like the repentance of regeneration, but must be continued. This repentance is accompanied by tears and may be accompanied by weeping. There is no scene where Peter weeps that he is born again, but he believed in the Lord, but after denying it three times, he wept.
In 1907, the flames of great revival spread across the country through the repentance movement in Pyongyang. At that time, the members confessed their sins to each other and wept in tears. It was not regeneration, but repentance of moral and Christian ethical sins. So, the Korean church brought a great revival as a starting point, and it seems that Korea was not blessed because of that repentance at that time. A life of repentance is blessed.
1) You become a person of the Holy Spirit - You become a regenerated soul and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Text Acts 2:38 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' We must remember our sins and suffer. Just as the old days do not pass easily when sins accumulate, it is natural that repentance is not easy. Repentance must also come with grace. We must wait and earnestly until we receive grace and repent.
2) Revival comes to life - Things are going well.
In verse 41 immediately after the text, it says, “…the number of the believers increased by three thousand that day.” It means revival has come. It's a real revival. It did not force people to fill them, but it was a revival through a pure repentance movement. If you repent of your sins, your soul will prosper and your life will change at the same time. It is a work that God leads and works.
The more a person fills with sin and greed, the less rich he becomes. Even what you have may not be used properly and you may die. Therefore, you must repent, find a clean conscience, and receive God's grace to do well. That way, even if it doesn't seem like it, it comes into existence and becomes abundant. Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not hear me.” Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, that in this way a day of renewal will come from the presence of the Lord.” 18:21 “But if the wicked turn from all the sins he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do justice and justice, he will surely live and not die.”
Neither John the Baptist nor the Lord's goal in calling for repentance was a message of instruction to rebuke people and to be morally upright, but a gospel for the freedom of sin-bound souls and the grace of life.
Many people hate preaching of repentance. In fact, it is said to be well, but people hate it and say that it is not graceful. No matter how difficult it may be, I pray that you and I will be victorious through repentance, believing that if we pray to God and repent, God will solve all things by the grace of the Almighty.