Acts 3:17-26
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers also did.
18 But the things which God previously announced by the mouths of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled in this way.
19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your countrymen; to Him you shall listen regarding everything He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and his successors onward, have also announced these days.
25 It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
26 God raised up His Servant for you first, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Peter’s Second Sermon (4)
Three blessings of repentance (v 19-21)
“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus.” Here, the same exhortation is given as in Acts 2:38. Repentance involves changing one’s understanding about Jesus. (1) It means accepting Jesus as the Savior. (2) Repentance brings three blessings. (a) The first blessing of repentance is the forgiveness of sins. Anyone who repents can have their sins wiped away. This is the same for both Jews and Gentiles. (b) The second blessing brought by repentance is the coming of the Millennial Kingdom. The national repentance of Israel is a premise for their national salvation and blessings. “Times of refreshing” refers to the fulfillment of the Millennial Kingdom, which is clarified in the verses that follow. (c) The third blessing of repentance is the Second Coming of the Messiah. “That He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,” refers to the promise of the Messiah’s return. Remember, this message is directed towards the Jewish people. The Second Coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of the Millennial Kingdom are interconnected. “The Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.” (1) “The period of restoration of all things” refers to the Millennial Kingdom. “All things” encompasses not only spiritual entities but everything. Jesus will remain in heaven until the Millennial Kingdom is fulfilled. (2) Based on this scripture, some advocate for a post-tribulation rapture, believing that the rapture and the Second Coming will occur simultaneously. (3) Arguments against that claim include the following points: (a) The rapture involves the church being taken up to heaven before the Great Tribulation. (b) Both Jewish and Gentile believers who are part of the church will be raptured. (c) At that time, Jesus will meet believers in the air. In this sense, the rapture could happen at any time. (d) Jewish believers who come to faith after the rapture will meet Jesus at the time of His Second Coming. (e) Peter’s message here is directed towards the Jewish people and does not discuss the rapture of the church. Let’s reflect on the wonderful aspect of repentance. Let’s pray especially for the repentance of the Jewish people.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, true repentance brings wonderful blessings. Please help me to have a heart of repentance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.