Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Acts 11 and Psalm 79

Just as it had been for Peter, it was very hard for the first Jewish believers to understand that Jesus had broken down the dividing wall between God and all humanity. It was not only Jews (the chosen people of the First Covenant) who could come home to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Anybody was welcome to receive His salvation. But when Peter explained what had happened, and how the Lord had also baptised the Gentiles in Cornelius’ home in the Holy Spirit, verse 18 records:

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’

The early church seemed to understand instinctively that there could be no salvation without a preceding repentance from sin. After all Jesus had preached the Gospel message: “‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:15) So even as they celebrated that the abundant life of God’s Kingdom had been made available to the Gentiles, they still understood that the only way to receive that Kingdom life was through repentance and faith.

Jack Arnold writes, “Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change of action and behavior.  Repentance is to do an “about face” in attitude which will affect one’s life style and produce a hatred of sin.” It is a turning away from sin and turning to the LORD.

The important truth for us to remember as believers today is that repentance was not only necessary when we entered the eternal life of God’s Kingdom, it is also necessary on a daily basis if we are to continue walking in the abundance of that life. May the Lord bless us with “repentance that leads to life”!

Life application: Take time today to search your own life for thoughts, words, actions, inaction or silences that are contrary to the will of God. Deliberately turn away from them and to Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to grant you true repentance and His inner power for transformation.