- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
STUDY 5 Repentance unto life (Acts 2 v18).
Bible passages to be read: Acts 3, Acts 17 v16-34, Luke 24 v36-53, John 1 v29, Acts 5 v31, Romans 2 v4, 2 Corinthians 7 v10.
Repentance; or - a complete change of attitude - a reversal of the path previously followed - is insisted on in Scripture as being the necessary preliminary to faith, and the assurance of salvation. It is said to be; “from dead works” (Heb. 6 v1); “towards God” (Acts 20 v21); and “unto life” (Acts 11 v18), which means that eternal life which is the gift of God - see John 3 v16, etc. The passages and verses given above are a few of the New Testament passages, which deal with repentance. They are enough to build on; and you will find it a help to keep note of the passages given at the head of these studies, so that you can add others as you discover them for yourself from time to time.
Acts 3 records the healing of the lame man at the gate Beautiful. The excitement caused amongst those who witnessed the miracle results in Peter having opportunity to urge the claims of Christ on them.
1. Write in your own words the place repentance has in his teaching here; and outline the results promised to true repentance.
Now turn to Acts 17 v16-34. In Acts 3 Peter was speaking to Jews, and charged them with crucifying their King. In Acts 17 Paul is speaking to Greeks in Athens, who were idolaters, and he also speaks very strongly as to the need for repentance.
2. Write in your own words an outline of what he has to say on this subject. Do you think that the same emphasis should be given in preaching to-day? If so - why?
After His resurrection, the Lord Jesus gave the little band of His disciples a commission for the task that lay ahead of them; one version of this is given in Luke 24 v36-53.
3. What place does repentance have in the trust committed to them? How does this harmonize with Paul̓s conception of his own ministry of which he speaks in Acts 26 v16-20?
Now look at John 1 v29, and Acts 5 v31, and compare them with 2 Corinthians 5 v21, and 1 Peter 2 v24-25.
4. Is it correct to say that the real reason for repentance is that the Lord Jesus died to put away our sin, and that because this is so we should hate sin, and turn from it?
In Romans 2 v4 and 2 Corinthians 7 v10 two strong reasons are stated for repentance.
5. Do you think these reasons are true to life and experience? Can you give any examples from either Scripture, or real life, or both, which will illustrate your answer?
6. If you were acting as a counselor in an evangelistic campaign would you use such a verse as Acts 3 v19 in dealing with an enquirer? If so, when and how?