Monday, August 5, 2013

Acts 3 -- Our Ignorance


Two fishermen, uneducated by the Jewish religious establishment but empowered by the Holy Spirit, met a beggar at a Temple gate for a divine appointment.  After healing him by his faith in Jesus, they spoke to the amazed and growing crowd. 

 

Yes, they were guilty as Jews of killing their own Messiah, but Peter, after “announcing their crime, presenting the evidence, and explaining the nature of their sin, then offered them pardon,” my commentary said.  “The prosecuting attorney became the defense attorney and the pardoning judge.”  It likely helped greatly that he said in verse 17, “I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders understood what you were doing.”  He told them that this was a sin of ignorance.  Jesus had prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”  They knew what that meant, for in Numbers there was a clear distinction drawn between willful sin and sins of ignorance.  “The person who sinned unwittingly and without deliberate intent was given opportunity to repent and seek God’s forgiveness,” my commentary said.

 

Knowing they had this chance at mercy and grace from God, they listened as he told them that they needed to repent of their sins – being sorry enough to quit themand to then turn to Jesus in saving faith for having taken the punishment meant for them.  It wasn’t enough to simply regret getting caught or to feel terrible about what they’d done.  “It was admitting that what God says is true, and because it is true, to change our mind about our sins and about the Savior.”

 

Father, thank You for having worked this miracle in my own heart.  Help me to show others the miracle of Your offer of spiritual healing through repentance and belief in Your Son’s sacrifice for them.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

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