As Peter preached at the Temple, he told the people to repent and experience refreshing. These are also words for us today! The people had just witnessed the healing of a lame and were astounded. Peter explained to the crowd that Jesus, who was crucified and resurrected, was the Messiah they had waited for. Even though the Jewish leadership had Jesus killed, God raised him from the dead.
Peter explained the healing. Acts 3:16 Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. [1] The Holy Spirit worked in the people as Peter preached. The Lord wanted to awaken people out of their sins and open their eyes so they could become people of faith.
Opening Our Hearts
Peter addressed the crowds as friends as he told them they had killed Jesus out of ignorance. He said the Lord was fulfilling what the prophets had foretold about the Messiah who had to suffer all these things. Now that they have heard the truth, Peter told them God wanted to change their hearts. Acts 3:19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.[2]
Peter wanted everyone listening to repent so they could go from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light. The key to coming into the light of Jesus was to turn from their sins and turn to God. To turn away from our sins is to turn away from our former way of life toward a new life in Christ. There is something supernatural that happens when the Lord washes away our sins. Jesus gave His life for us so we could receive forgiveness.
Jesus Washes Away Our Sins
When our children were small, I often bathed them before bed. After a long day, a child is usually smelly, but after a bath, they are clean and smell wonderful. Our sins are like that until the Lord washes us. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” [3]
Do you want your sins washed away? Does the burden of sin weigh you down? Come to Jesus, confess your sins, and be refreshed. When Jesus washes our sins away, He removes the burdens of sin that weigh us down. When the weight of sin no longer entangles us, we are spiritually refreshed. The Lord desires that when we sin, we come to Him and confess our sins to receive forgiveness. Do you need to be refreshed? Come to the cross of Jesus and let Him wash your sins away!
To hear how to repent and experience refreshing, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-healed-beggar
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.