I am writing down what I am studying and learning in Acts.
One of the hardest person to forgive is yourself. If you’ve done something wrong or stupid in the past, it comes back to haunt you even years later. I still kick myself for some of the stupid things I did in college.
Like toothpaste out of the tube that cannot be put back, we cannot expect all our mistakes to be redeemable. But Acts 2 gives us good news. Even those who had a hand in putting an innocent man to death can be forgiven. And not just forgiven, but even be given a gift along with that.
When Peter told the crowd of Jews that they crucified the Son of God, and that He is now at the most honored place at the right hand of God, what do you think the Jews would be most afraid of? Retribution!
“What can we do?” they cried.
The good news is, Peter didn’t say, “Nothing! There is nothing you can do. You better just run and hide!” He didn’t say, “Sell everything you have and give it to the poor. You and your family will serve as slaves for the rest of your lives to redeem yourselves.”
Instead, Peter said, “”Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Even their children are eligible for the blessings of God!
It’s interesting that repentance does not stand alone. Saying you are sorry is not enough. God demands not only repentance, but baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. Baptism means you are identifying yourself with Christ as a new creation. It’s not merely taking the old self and cleaning it up. It’s a brand new life, in Christ with the Holy Spirit.
And this new life in Christ is the abundant life for eternity.