Repentance

Acts 2:37-38

Verse 37:

When they heard this? When they heard what? verses 14-36.

Promise of God through the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32).

Jesus was approved by God by miracles, wonders and signs.

You killed him, and it was God’s plan to allow this.

So that he could raise him from the dead, for death could indeed not hold him.

The Psalmist David’s prophetic word (Psalm 16:8-11)

David could not have spoken of his grave for David is dead and his grave is still occupied.

Yet, David being a prophet, knew that God spoke of one of his descendants.

Verse 31-36 are to prove that Jesus is this descendant and that he is both Lord and Christ!

What does it mean to be Lord?

In the Septuagint YHWH (Yahweh) is translated Kyrios (Lord) meaning ruler, master, God, deity.

There for Jesus being Lord means that you believe Jesus is God, divine, ruler, master, the Sovereign ruler Yahweh God.

What does it mean to be Christ?

The Greek word here Christos is translating the Hebrew word Mashiach (Messiah). Christos means “anointed one”.

Peter is sayin that this Jesus is the Promised Messiah from Daniel 9:25-26.

So what is this that pricked them to there hearts? He preached Christ! He preached the Gospel, the Good News! He preached the death, burial and resurrection of Christ! He preached Him as Lord and Christ!!!

They said what shall we do?

Men must be taken to the utter truth of the injury that they have brought upon Christ because of sin.

They must see that God has done all of this in Christ and it was their sin and treachery that betrayed Christ.

Yet they too must see that He is God incarnate, and the anointed Christ and Messianic Savior, to whom they must turn.

Verse 38:

Repent -

The Preaching of Repentance is right, but all but lost in the modern church.

The Preaching of Repentance is right, in following the preaching of the Gospel.

The Preaching of Repentance is the message of ...

John the Baptist - Matthew 3:1-12.

Jesus - Matthew 4:17.

Peter - here

Paul - Acts 17:30

Jesus again - Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 2:21-22, 3:3, 3:19.

The Baptist Faith and Message - A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.

Both Repentance and Faith are graces given -

Of Faith - Philippians 1:29, Romans 12:3, 1Corinthians 12:9, Acts 13:48.

Of Repentance - Acts 5:31, 11:18, 2Timothy 2:25.

Yet also we see these two things inseparable in ones response to the Gospel of Christ! If one believes he will repent and if one repents surely he believes.

Be Baptized - This is the sign of following Christ, of being his Disciple. Matthew 28:19

Receive the Holy Spirit - The Promise, the Seal, the Helper, the Comforter, the Teacher, the Empowerer.

Application

🔥 1. Respond to the Gospel with Heartfelt Conviction

Just like the crowd in Acts 2:37, every listener must come face-to-face with the reality that .our sin nailed Christ to the cross

Application: Reflect personally— Invite quiet moments of confession and awe before God's mercy. Have I truly been pierced to the heart by the Gospel?

🛐 2. Embrace Repentance as a Grace-Filled Invitation

Repentance isn’t just a demand—it’s given by God to awaken us to new life (Acts 5:31; 2 Timothy 2:25).gift of grace

Application: View repentance not as punishment, but as it is with God a pathway to restoration and intimacy

🌱 3. Live a Life Bearing the Fruit of Repentance

Genuine repentance is transformational—it reshapes priorities, behavior, and relationships (Luke 3:8, Acts 26:20).

Application: Examine whether your lives reflect ongoing surrender