Repent and Be Converted
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
The continuing message of the early New Testament Church was a call for repentance. This was a message that Jesus preached (Mark 1:14-15). And it was a message the apostles continued to preach.
We previously covered Peter’s first sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38, “A Call to Repentance”). Acts 3 describes a second sermon Peter preached to a crowd attracted by the healing of a lame man at the temple.
What is repentance? Here is a description from our Fundamental Beliefs “9. Repentance”:
“Repentance is a gift from God—a gift that is necessary for salvation and a proper relationship with God. All who wish to be pardoned from the death penalty that comes through sin must genuinely repent of their sins, fully surrender their lives to God and obey His commandments. They must by faith accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, their Lord and Master, their High Priest and their soon coming King. These individuals are justified, forgiven of their sins as an act of divine grace, being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit with the laying on of hands. At baptism they become part of the spiritual Body of Christ, the true Church of God.”
Peter continued with a hint of the great promises of the Kingdom of God—the times of refreshing that this world so desperately needs.
For more about repentance and conversion, see “What Is Repentance?” For more about the Kingdom of God, see The Mystery of the Kingdom.
