Repent and Turn Back to God
A. What you need to know to draw near to God
1) The two dimensions of the event on the cross (17,18)
17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.
2) Repent and turn back to God (19)
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
B. The prophets: Messengers of God's will
1) The prophets had foretold Jesus' coming (20-24)
20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.
21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
22 For Moses said, `The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.
23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'
24 "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days.
2) Unless we turn from evil, we cannot receive God's blessing (25,26)
25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, `Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'
26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
Summary
We live in an in-between time--after Jesus' death, his resurrection, and his ascension into heaven, and before his return to earth at the end of time. God longs for each of us living in this time to repent, turn back to him, turn away from evil, and to receive his blessing..
For Discussion
1) What does it mean to repent?
2) What are the two dimensions of the cross?