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NASB | 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." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 3:26 "It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways." [Acts 2:24; 3:22] |
Bible Question:
How do you explain the concept of repentance to a person who is not saved? The word "Repent" may seem harsh and demanding; it may even have connotations of condemnation. And yet, it has its place in a presentation of the Gospel. It is, along with faith, something that God requires if a person will be saved. How do you break this news gently, say, to a friend? I say this to encourage us to not leave it out if we find that it's unpleasant. A person who professes faith without exercising repentance may find himself with an empty profession. We may not want to give someone a false assurance of salvation. And yet, I say, the word "Repent" seems harsh. How do you present it? Peter seems to be saying in Acts 3 (Note verse 26) that God is turning us to himself. Yes, the very thing he is asking us to do, he is helping us to do. The Old Testament saints seem to have understood this as they prayed "Turn us again, O God" (See Psalm 80 and 85, for example). It occurs to me that when a person is willing to listen to the Gospel it shows the Holy Spirit is inclining his heart away from sin and toward God. We might ask the sinner to recognize this, to be thankful for it, and to cooperate with it. |
Bible Answer: And how do you warn them with love? Of Course, John Reformed is correct to point out that we must preach Isaiah 1:20 along with verse 18. But we can point out that God does not want anyone to perish (2Pe 3:9). Punishment is his "strange work" (Isa 28:21) and he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze 33:11). He does not force us; he gives us choices. But he encourages us to choose what is good for us (Deu 30:19). "You will be devoured with the sword" may sound harsh and I do not say we should avoid it. But we may temper it with words of love and entreaty. Our God is a consuming fire (Deu 4:24; Heb 12:29) but he is also love (1 john 4:16; 1 John 4:8). |