Repentance and forgiveness will totally change your life. Tell somebody the good news. Luke24:47 [Sunrise photo April 23 2013]

Repentance and forgiveness will totally change your life. Tell somebody the good news. Luke24:47 [Sunrise photo April 23 2013]

Day 23 Proclaim Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:45-48

Jesus explained to the disciples, from the scriptures, why he had to suffer and die as the fulfillment of God’s promise.  He showed how all humanity could now be brought into right relationship with the Holy One.

His resurrection was irrefutable proof. He knew what He was talking about. He was the ultimate authority.

In the same sentence Jesus commissioned his followers to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.

Love follows through.

Love keeps a promise. Love takes action.

This is The Message Peter and the other apostles boldly declared in the Temple courts in Acts 5:29-32.

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:29-45

They were unstoppable.

This story – the good news that will change your life – is what all followers of Jesus are to perpetuate, to pass on, to share.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary of Luke 24:47

Written hundreds of years ago, Matthew Henry (1662-1714) continues to inspire today.

[2.] The great gospel duty of repentance must be pressed upon the children of men. Repentance for sin must be preached in Christ’s name, and by his authority, Luke 24:47. All men every where must be called and commanded to repent, Acts 17:30. “Go, and tell all people that the God that made them, and the Lord that bought them, expects and requires that, immediately upon this notice given, they turn from the worship of the gods that they have made to the worship of the God that made them; and not only so, but from serving the interests of the world and the flesh; they must turn to the service of God in Christ, must mortify all sinful habits, and forsake all sinful practices. Their hearts and lives must be changed, and they must be universally renewed and reformed.”

Henry points out that men make idols of the things of this world and the flesh.

The heart energy of pursuing these desires is an expression of worship. 

Repentance sets worship in the right direction

Repentance is turning the direction of our worship away from “all those vain things that charm me most” (Watts) towards the One most worthy of our heart’s affections.

Without repentance, worship is headed in the wrong direction. Repentance is course correction.

Let’s Pray:

I invite you to pray with me today.

“Jesus thank you for your life, death and resurrection. I repent from my idol worship, of serving a worldly agenda and my fleshly desires. I turn my heart fully to You – to honor, adore, obey and worship You alone. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Help me to boldly proclaim this good news everywhere you place me. May Your kingdom come, and Your will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

About This Devotional Series

According to the historical church calendar, the Easter season is the 50 day period from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  I’ll post a fresh devotional thought with my sunrise photo of that morning, everyday through Pentecost, commenting as the Spirit inspires. Check out the rest of the series here.

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