Forgiveness and Restoration

Introduction:

As imperfect human beings, we can be blind to reality.

This, of course, is difficult for us to accept.

Israel, at various times in the scriptures, demonstrates that reality.

One of the characteristics that Peter demonstrates toward his fellow Jews is kindness.

He takes the best possible interpretation of their actions even when they contrast with the truth.

In demanding the death of Jesus, they opposed God.

God’s will, however, was not thwarted.

The opportunity for repentance remained.

Israel’s Repentance and the Possibility of Restoration

Peter contrasts, yet again, the Jews’ view and God’s view.

He explains that the Jews rejected Jesus out of misunderstanding.

Like in his previous discourse, he takes the kindest possible interpretation of what they did.

Their rulers acted this way as well.

He sounds like Joseph in Gen. 50:20-21.

God, on the other hand, brought to pass what He had announced He would do.

He accomplished that through their rejection of Jesus.

He then calls upon his audience to repent and return so their sins might be erased.

However, that is not the end of the thought.

The erasure of their sins is not stopping point by itself.

Once that repentance occurs, what might happen is that “times of relief from the face of the Lord” might come, and He might send the one previously designated as Messiah, Jesus, to them.

Finally, for this part, he explains that it is necessary for heaven to receive Jesus until the times of restoration of all which God spoke through the mouths of the his holy prophets.

Note the message of 1 Peter 1 that sounds similar to this point.

The need to repent was already part of the Jewish scholarly understanding of what was needed prior to the coming of Messiah.

Peter preaches such a message, but he has a different frame of reference.

Israel needed to repent of its rejection of Jesus as Messiah.

Romans 9:30ff.

Ro. 11:25-32. (God treats both Jews and Gentiles equally).