God’s gift of repentance
by Pastor Fraser Pearce
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Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out (Acts 3:19).
Read Acts 3:11–26
Today we remember that in 1530, at Augsburg in Germany, Christian people made a great confession of their faith. They confidently declared their belief that God saves us not because of anything we can do but because he has shown his goodness by sending Jesus to take away our sins. They confessed that it is by trusting this message, rather than doing good works, that we begin to live a new life with God. They faced opposition for making their confession of faith, but God used their confession to bring people to trust in Jesus.
In today’s reading, we hear the apostles act as witnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. They tell the crowds that they are responsible for Jesus’ death, and they call them to turn away from evil and trust in the forgiveness of sins that come in Jesus’ name. In fact, they tell the crowds that God raised Jesus to bless them by turning them away from their wicked ways. In other words, while they tell the crowds what they have done in killing Jesus, they tell the crowds what God is doing by raising up Jesus.
Even though the apostles faced opposition for declaring this message (in fact, they were arrested because of it, as we read in Acts 4:1,2), God used their preaching that day to save many people – about 5000 in all (Acts 4:4).
We know that each one of us is responsible for Jesus’ death. It was not the Jews or the Romans who alone bear the guilt – all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we are now put right with God by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:19,20). So let us also confess our faith and place our trust in the God who shows us such compassion and mercy. God will use our confession about Jesus to turn people from their sins and give them new life in his care.
Father, thank you for all those who have confessed their faith in Jesus. Give us your Spirit so we may have the courage to confess our own faith in Jesus, knowing that you will use our confession to bring others to faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Fraser Pearce grew up in Sydney and has served as a pastor in Melbourne, Bendigo and Adelaide. He is married to Margaret, and they have four children, ranging in age from 15 to 24. Fraser enjoys being with family and friends, listening to (and playing) music and reading.
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