Arabic Bible Help: Study6-p21

SALVATION IS NOT AUTOMATIC. Jesus Christ died for sinners but that does not mean all are saved. Salvation is conditional on repenting and believing. Neither is it possible to do this ourselves. But if the Holy Spirit has convicted us of sin, we may hopefully expect that He will enable us to repent and believe.

We should not think we have little to repent of compared to those of Jerusalem. As we have seen from the teaching of Jesus, the root of every sin lies within our evil hearts. And we readily do in thought and word what others are prepared to do in deed. Therefore, we have a great deal to repent of.

On the other hand, we should not despair if our sins are too shameful to mention. There is forgiveness in Christ. If Jerusalem sinners can be saved, then anyone can!

Repentance is not just a clinical acknowledgement that we are far from perfect, everyone will admit that. Repentance goes much further. It is upset about indwelling sin and grieves over it. Take a close look at your heart and remember the awesome holiness of God. You will soon see the need to repent!

SUMMARY: Before Jesus was taken back to Heaven in a cloud He had many things to say to His disciples. He reminded them of the reason for His death, and told them to proclaim forgiveness to all who would repent and believe. They were to take this message to the whole world in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Repentance involves a change of mind and results in a change of direction. They were to preach Christ and repentance at Jerusalem first, to the very people who had crucified Jesus!

True repentance is seen by a heartfelt awareness of sinful failure. Those who first heard Peter preach in Jerusalem were convicted of having crucified the Saviour.