Acts 3:11-26: Repent and Turn Back

Watch this lesson on YouTube, or listen to it here.     

1)     vv. 12-13a - This entire thing is about Jesus.

A)   Acts 1:1 – Acts is about everything that Jesus continued to do and teach.

B)    v. 6 – “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

C)    v. 12-13a

D)   v. 16 – Faith in Jesus is what changed this man’s life.

1)     THE thing that God has always wanted from us more than anything else is faith. Not only to believe IN him, but to believe him.

(a)   Gen. 15:1ff.; esp. v. 6

2)     How could the lame man have faith?

(a)   Had he ever been to church before?

(b)   Had he read the entire Bible and understood it?

(c)   Had he ever been in an Evidences class and heard all of the arguments and reasons why it makes sense to believe in God?

(d)   NO! In his desperation, he threw himself entirely at what Peter and John were telling him and believed them.

(i)    This is what healed him.

(ii)  This is what God wants from us.

3)     cf.

(a)   Lk. 5:18ff.; v. 20 – “And when he saw their faith…”

(b)   Acts 14:8-10

E)    QUESTION: This whole thing is about Jesus. Do you believe that Jesus is the answer to YOUR problem?

1)     I’ll talk to you about it and give you reasons why I think you should.

2)     But at the end of the day God is looking for people who say, “I might not understand this whole thing, but I’m here for it.”

2)     vv. 13b-15 – Peter confronts his audience about their sin.

A)   He is going to lather it up big-time and say 7 things to his audience.

1)     Note v. 11 – He’s talking to normal people in the temple.

2)     Later, in 4:1, he will confront the Jewish leadership.

3)     But these accusations are for normal people – you and me.

B)    Accusations

1)     You delivered Jesus over

2)     You denied Jesus in the presence of Pilate

(a)   This is the same word as Lk. 12:9 – “The one who denies me before me will be denied before the angels of God.”

3)     Even when Pilate was going to release him. (i.e. EVEN PILATE saw this!)

4)     You denied the Holy and Righteous One

(a)   Holy – He was perfect as God is perfect and set apart for service to God.

(b)   Righteous – Not only was he morally righteous, but he did not do anything to deserve crucifixion.

5)     You asked for a murderer to be granted to you.

6)     You killed the Author of life.

(a)   “Author” – 4x in the NT – Acts 3:15; 5:31; Heb. 2:10; 12:2

7)     We are witnesses.

(a)   1:8 – This is the apostolic commission.

(b)   They were not just witnessing about Jesus, but about what these people did who shared in Jesus’ death.

(c)   Peter looks at them and says, “I saw you do these things with my own eyes”

C)   vv. 17-18 – You acted ignorantly, but you are still guilty.

There are two things to say about this

1)     First, you are still responsible for your sin even when you don’t fully grasp the horrible nature of it.

(a)   cf. Eph. 4:17-19

(b)   Every Jew in this crowd would say amen to condemn the Gentiles of their ignorance of God and morality.

(c)   But when Peter says, “Look at what YOU did!” they would all say, “But I didn’t know he was the Messiah.”

(d)   It doesn’t matter. YOU are responsible for his death.

(e)   “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and “the wages of sin is death.”

(f)    Every single one of us is separated from God because of our sin. “But I didn’t know.” You do now!

2)     Second, even though this was God’s plan, the people who did it are still responsible.

3)     MAIN POINT: Action items. What do I do now?

A)   v. 19 – Repent and turn back.

1)     Peter asks for a decision.

(a)   Acts 2:38 – Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

(b)   Acts 17:30 – Times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

2)     Maybe you don’t know about Jesus, and you have lived your entire life in ignorance about your own sin and guilt and your own responsibility for Jesus dying on the cross.

(a)   But now you know.

(b)   Action item: Put your faith in him and repent of your sin (turn around).

3)     vv. 19-21 says 3 things will happen if you do:

(a)   Your sins will be blotted out.

(b)   Times of refreshing will come.

(i)    L/N - Relief from distressful, burdensome circumstances—‘relief, breathing space.’

(c)   You’ll be ready for Jesus when he comes back.

B)    Listen to Jesus

1)     vv. 22-23 is from Deut. 18:15-19.

(a)   Jesus is the prophet.

(b)   Deut. 18:19 – “And whoever will not listen to God’s words that Jesus speaks, God will require it of him.”

(c)   POINT: Put your faith in Jesus. Turn away from your sin. And listen to Jesus.

2)     vv. 24-25 – This is what we’ve been waiting for, and all these promises are for YOU.

3)     v. 26 – Now, the ball is in your court.

4)     Conclusion: Short summary of all Christianity from Peter’s sermon.

A)   Jesus is the answer to my biggest problem.

1)     My sin is what keeps me away from God,

2)     and Jesus is what fixes that problem for me.

B)    So, what does God want from me?

1)     Put my faith in Jesus.

2)     Repent of my sin.

(a)   Maybe I didn’t intentionally put Jesus on the cross when I made the choices I made.

(b)   But that is exactly what happened.

(c)   My job is to repent. I’m sorry for it, and I’m going to do better.

3)     Listen to Jesus

(a)   “Every soul who does not listen to him shall be destroyed from the people.”