Time to Turn Around
Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsPeter concludes his sermon with a clear presentation of the Gospel and a direct call for his listeners to repent and accept Christ.
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Introduction
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5309 Auction of Lady Anna
A street-preacher was preaching on one of London’s sidewalks when a personal servant of the queen, a woman by the name of Lady Anna, passed by in a gorgeous carriage. She stopped to listen.
The crowd turned its attention to her. So did the speaker. In a voice loud enough for all to hear, he exclaimed: “Brethren, may I have your attention a moment. I am going to have an auction. I intend to sell that young lady to the highest bidder. I know of three who want to buy her: the World, the Devil, and Christ.
“World, what will you pay for her? Riches, honor, and pleasure? Not enough. She is worth more. Devil, what will you bid? All the possessions and riches of this earth? Not enough! Riches disappear like the night when the morning sun comes up.
“I hear the voice of the third Buyer, Jesus Christ. What do you bid, Lord Jesus?” “I give her my grace here and eternal glory hereafter, an imperishable, unstained, unchangeable inheritance!”
“Lord, You may have her,” shouted the speaker, “I leave her to You. You are the rightful Owner. May Heaven and earth witness this deal.”
Then, turning to the surprised and embarrassed young lady, the speaker went on: “What do you think of this bargain? Remember, you are eternally the property of the Lord Jesus. He died for you. Can you, will you, dare you, refuse to surrender to Him?”
To her credit, Lady Anna took the words to heart, and lived worthy of her Master.
Before us, we find a similar street preacher named Peter, declaring the Gospel message and the price paid for the salvation of man. Would they accept the offer? Would they refused? They stood at a crisis of decision. You and I have a choice to make. Will we accept the price paid, the offer given or will we reject the love of Christ once again.
Background Passage Acts 3:16-26
Focus Passage Acts 3:17-23
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
Outline
Crucified in Ignorance (vv.17-18)
Crucified in Ignorance (vv.17-18)
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
We pickup in our text where we left, Peter declaring the healing and redemptive power of Jesus Christ. It was the power of a crucified, resurrected, and coming again Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, that the lame beggar was healed, And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all (Acts 3:16 NKJV). Peter continues to build off this reminder that salvation requires two conditions, neither condition is obtainable by man alone, but only through the grace of God. One of those conditions is spoken of in (v.16), this is the condition of faith, through faith in His name. As Peter would later state...
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
For one to have faith in the name of Jesus, it meant that they placed their trust in person and power of Jesus Christ.
As Peter builds from this text, he acknowledges three truths...
Peter acknowledged that the Jews rejected and crucified Christ in ignorance - ‘I know that you did it in ignorance’
Peter acknowledged that the Jews rejected and crucified Christ in ignorance - ‘I know that you did it in ignorance’
We must understand that Jerusalem Jews, who were held accountable for the crucifixion of Christ, including the gentiles that were there, did not know that Jesus was truly the Christ. Had they known, they would not have crucified Him. You say, how do you know this? Can prove that Biblically? I’m glad you asked, because yes, I can.
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Because of their ignorance, God had already afforded them forgiveness for their actions. In fact, it was Christ on the cross who prayed and asked the Father to forgive them.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
You ask, how could this be? Because, even within the law, one was afforded forgiveness for sins of ignorance. They would not be afforded forgiveness for sins of willful intent (Numbers 15:27-32). Therefore, they were afforded forgiveness for the crucifixion of Christ and now would receive the opportunity accept the Lordship of the one they crucified.
Peter acknowledged that God had already revealed through the prophets that Christ must suffer death on the cross - ‘But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer’
Peter acknowledged that God had already revealed through the prophets that Christ must suffer death on the cross - ‘But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer’
Peter acknowledged that everything happened according to God’s providence - ‘He has thus fulfilled’
Peter acknowledged that everything happened according to God’s providence - ‘He has thus fulfilled’
Christ’s death on the cross was no shock to God. It was according to His plan and His purpose.
23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Truly, before the foundations of the world laid, God had already ordained the vicarious death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Ignorance no more (v.19)
Ignorance no more (v.19)
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
One can only claim ignorance when they know no better. Once they know the truth, they cannot claim ignorance any longer. They must accept the consequences of their actions. God no longer looked at the people of Israel as people acting ignorance. Nor does he look at one of us today, once we’ve heard the Gospel, as people responding in ignorance.
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
When one hears the Gospel, they are brought to a crisis of decision. You have one of two options: 1) Respond positively by accepting Christ as Lord and Savior or 2) Respond negatively by rejecting Christ. There are no other options.
Peter calls his hearers, as I call you today, respond positively.
Peter declares the action of the individual at the heart of the Gospel, repentance - ‘Repent therefore’
Peter declares the action of the individual at the heart of the Gospel, repentance - ‘Repent therefore’
He declares the same message that John the Baptist declared, And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him (Mark 3:1-2 NKJV).
This is the same message that Christ preached clear up to His Passion, From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 NKJV).
We are called to do an about face within our life and choices. We are called to repent this day, just as they were called then.
feel or express sincere regret or remorse.
God is calling each and everyone us to come to God with a broken and contrite heart over our sin, our rebellion toward the law and will of God, and the ultimate call of repentance of rejection of Christ.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
The Jewish hearers of Peter were called to return to the One they crucified and believe in Him for the forgiveness of their sin, and be converted.
What happens when one accepts Christ? Peter did not want to leave his hearers ignorant of this truth as they were when they crucified Christ. We must understand the great blessing that comes as a result of our acceptation of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Peter declared that there was forgiveness in Christ alone - ‘that your sins may be blotted out’
Peter declared that there was forgiveness in Christ alone - ‘that your sins may be blotted out’
There is no other source of forgiveness and being brought into agreement with God. We cannot do this own our own. It is only through Christ that our sins are forgiven. It is only through Christ, that we brought into perfect agreement with God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We must understand that there is a penalty for our sin. There is a wage that is earned and that wage is separation from God and death. Everyone of us are guilty before God and none of us are perfect.
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death...
It is in Christ, that while you and I were enemies with God, that He gave His Son as a payment, a substitutionary sacrifice in our stead.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 2:2 (NKJV)
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for OUR sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Peter declared that peace that one finds in Christ today and in time to come - ‘so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord’
Peter declared that peace that one finds in Christ today and in time to come - ‘so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord’
For the Jew the only season of refreshing that they would find was when the Messiah came. They believed this would take place when the nation of Israel would repent as a whole and come under the leadership of the Messiah. Peter was telling his hearers, Jesus is the promised Messiah. The One they rejected, crucified, and God rose from the dead, was the refreshing they were looking forward too.
Yes, the true Jew, the true people of God, will repent and come under the direction of Christ, but may we understand, that God promises us a refreshing in the here and now. He promises us the peace of forgiveness and that forgiveness is in Christ alone.
God’s plan from the beginning (vv.20-23)
God’s plan from the beginning (vv.20-23)
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
The message has not changed - ‘and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before’
The message has not changed - ‘and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before’
God, from the beginning, has had a message and plan for the redemption of His fallen creation, man. From the skin he made in Genesis for Adam and Eve to the Passion of Christ to His triumphant return, all has been according to God’s plan and has already been settled.
God’s message has not been changed. As He spoke through the prophets of old, He spoke through Christ then, and preachers of the Gospel today.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
Just as Christ came before, He will return - ‘whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things
Just as Christ came before, He will return - ‘whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things
Those who refuse to respond and repent willfully choose damnation - ‘and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people’
Those who refuse to respond and repent willfully choose damnation - ‘and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people’
Conclusion
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5306 Man’s Power of Choice
God has no policeman to pass around and grab us by the neck and say you must read your Bible, or you must go to Church, or you must give to Missions. When God created man, He made man superior to all other creatures. He gave man the power and privilege of CHOICE. Up to now the Lord respects that privilege. He will not force us. With that privilege of Choice, goes the terrible responsibility of abiding by the results or consequences of our choices.
The Gospel has been presented. The Truth has been proclaimed. The crisis of decision is before you. How will you respond? Will you embrace Christ Jesus and His forgiveness and restoration of your soul or will you willfully reject Him one more time? What is your decision?