The objective of this lesson: to stress the biblical teaching that repentance is essential for God to forgive sins.
Most of us recognize the age of salvation through Christ began in Acts 2 when Peter presented the resurrected Jesus as Lord and Christ to a Jewish audience in Jerusalem on a Pentecost. In preparation for a statement to be made below, note the background of this occasion. (1) The audience was composed of those devoted to Judaism [the religion]. Many made pilgrimages from provinces throughout the Roman Empire to be in Jerusalem on a special day of Jewish worship [see Deuteronomy 16:16 and Acts 2:8-11] (Pentecost was the first century gathering known in earlier Israelite history as the Feast of Weeks). (2) Most of those who heard Peter's declaration that the crucified Jesus was God's resurrected Christ were quite familiar with Jewish scripture and Jewish prophecy. Thus, using Jewish prophecy [statements from Joel and David] had special significance to the audience. (3) Peter had four primary points. (a) Those who lived in Galilee and Judea saw for themselves Jesus and the deeds of his ministry. (b) Jesus' death was God's intent. God's will and purpose were not denied in Jesus' crucifixion. (c) Jesus' resurrection was predicted as long ago as David's writings. (d) God made the resurrected Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Stress the fact that Peter addressed a highly religious audience in Acts 2.
Due to (a) the biblical stress on baptism and (b) past wide-spread human rejection of baptism, congregations of the Church of Christ have a long history of using Acts 2:38 to emphasize the importance of baptism if remission of sins is to occur. Read Acts 2:38 carefully and note the obvious.
Stress the fact that Acts 2:38 emphasizes the essentiality of repentance as certainly as it emphasizes the essentiality of baptism. There is no remission of sins without repentance.
Acts 2:38, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Moments before, Peter declared these people encouraged Jesus' crucifixion. Rather than being a troublesome threat to Israel, Jesus was actually God's son fulfilling an ages old promise. Those who accepted Peter's declaration, those who saw Jesus as God's son rather than a troublesome dead teacher, immediately had a major conscience problem. A mistake of that magnitude in past Israelite history provoked God's anger and resulted in death. Regardless of what they then understood about Jesus' identity, they could not undo their mistake. Now that they realized their mistake and accepted Jesus for who he was, was there any hope for them? What could they do?
Even an act as horrible as providing encouragement for the execution of God's son could be forgiven if they repented and were baptized.
Please note to those who accepted Peter's information, Peter stressed two [not one!] responsibilities if God's forgiveness was to be received. What two things were necessary if these people received remission of sins? Repentance and baptism. Their behavior must begin to evidence their conviction that Jesus was God's son and was resurrected, and they must be baptized.
Note that forgiveness for their encouragement of Jesus' execution depended on two responses: repentance and baptism.
Please note the following responses were insufficient. Declaring, "We made a regrettable mistake," was insufficient. Acknowledging, "Jesus was not what we expected or anticipated," was insufficient. Sincerely declaring, "We surely are sorry about that!" was insufficient. If sins were to be removed, repentance must occur. Just as with John's message, if repentance was combined with baptism, the remission of sins occurred. Repentance without baptism would not cleanse them of guilt. Baptism without repentance would not cleanse them of guilt.
Stress there were many insufficient ways for them to respond. The only sufficient way must include repentance.
If you wish to consider today's relevance of repentance, ask and answer some questions. Why do some baptized people make no effort to change their attitudes, emotions, behavior, or life style? Why do some baptized people study or listen merely to justify continued ungodly attitudes, emotions, and behavior? Why do some baptized people place their confidence in their human acts instead of God's accomplishments in Jesus' death? Why? The foundation of such behaviors begins with this: these baptized people never repented. They were baptized for remission of sins with little or no intent of repenting. They thought the physical act of baptism granted remission of sins even if they had no intention of living penitent lives.
Discuss the important relationship between repentance and baptism as a response to Jesus' crucifixion. Without repentance, baptism becomes a "one time" human act rather than a life long commitment. Repentance is the determined commitment to changing one's daily behavior. Baptism seeks a separation from sin through God's forgiveness. Repentance is the resolve to live the life of a new person. Baptism allows God's forgiveness to act by bringing that new person into existence. See Romans 6.
If repentance and baptism occurred, God promised two results: (1) removal of sin and (2) possession of the Holy Spirit. The twofold response of those who believed Peter's declaration about Jesus would result in God's forgiving them of all evil, including encouraging Jesus' death! It also would result in God's presence in their lives [see Acts 5:32].
The two results of repentance and baptism: (a) forgiveness; (b) God's presence existing in the person's life through God allowing the Holy Spirit to live in that person's life.
In Acts 3, the next chapter, Peter preached another sermon to a Jewish audience at the Jerusalem temple. A miracle attracted this Jewish audience. These people listened in the place where God choose to let His name dwell [see Deuteronomy 12:11; 1 Kings 9:3]. They understood they were God's chosen people. Their ancestors received the Law that governed their physical existence and the messages of God's prophets. They came to this place to pray.
Again, Peter spoke to a highly religious audience in a highly religious place. The audience came to that place for a spiritual activity [prayer].
Peter spoke to a highly religious audience who came to pray to the living God in a place He confirmed His name dwelled. What was the core of his lesson? What responsibility did he emphasize? What must occur if they were to receive God's gracious spiritual blessings?
Stress that Peter emphasized repentance to this highly religious audience that had not yet become Christian. Remember, this audience gathered to pray to the same God to Whom you pray.
Acts 3:19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;"
Acts 3:26 "For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."
Is baptism important? Yes! Is it more important than repentance? No! Can baptism replace repentance? No! Is repentance sufficient of itself? No! Baptism and repentance are equally important. Both need to occur for remission of sins.
The objective in emphasizing the importance of repentance is not to de-emphasize the importance of baptism. It is to give repentance the emphasis and importance that Peter, God's spokesman, gave it.
Thought and discussion questions:
The Acts 2 audience included pilgrims who came to Jerusalem on a holy day, a festival day, for the Jewish nation. This Jewish assembly/pilgrimage was commanded by God. This audience included local people and people from much of the Roman Empire. The Acts 3 audience was no less religious, but may have been primarily local people. They were residents of Jerusalem and the nearby area who went to the Temple for afternoon prayers.
In both situations Peter stressed repentance.
They needed to recognize a personal need created by personal sinfulness. To be righteous before God required more than human acts. Forgiveness was given by God to those who sought it. They could not make themselves righteous through confidence in their human acts. Only God could make them righteous. They had to see personal need and let personal need motivate them. See Philippians 3:7-11 and carefully note verse 9.
The response will be individual. It will go from those who feel no effect to those who are overwhelmed by the realization. For those who placed 100% confidence in the act of baptism without realizing a need to repent, the effect can be powerful.
The effects include continuing the same ungodly lifestyle after baptism; justifying personal ungodly conduct; placing confidence in what "I have done in my human act" rather than confidence in what God did in Jesus' cross. In extreme reactions [based on a misunderstanding], a person can even feel "God owes me" because he/she is convinced his/her human act obligated God.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 6