18 November ACTS 11

Repentance is for all

Repentance is open to everyone. As Acts 11:18(NLT) reveals: When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”

Jesus had already told his followers in Acts 1:8(NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jewish believers were initially taken aback when non-Jews embraced the message of Jesus. Yet, the Old Testament provided several examples of Gentiles, like Rahab and Ruth, drawing close to God. The story of Cornelius underscores this: these Gentiles didn't have to become Jews for God to accept them. He embraced them as they were.

2 Timothy 2:25(NLT) advises: Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

Repentance is a divine gift that introduces us to God’s truth and His salvation plan through Jesus.

1 John 1:6-10(NLT) So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Conclusively, repentance is for everyone who acknowledges Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. The choice remains yours.