JOYFUL CHANGE - ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER - SAMPLE
God’s goodness leads to true repentance. In scripture, we always see the same picture. People follow Jesus gladly because they have experienced His goodness. Zacchaeus is a prime example. So are many more. The blind man who received a miraculous healing of his eyes, in Luke 18, for example. How did he react once he had received his sight? He followed Jesus. (Luke 18:43) We see the same picture on the day of Pentecost. Peter preached the good news of Jesus Christ. Then the people were touched in their hearts and asked, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). And how did the people respond? “Then those who gladly received his word got baptized ...” (Acts 2:41) The point is: they got baptized because they received Peter’s word “gladly.’ This is the biblical way of repentance. It’s a joyful change.
God’s goodness leads to true repentance.
In scripture, we always see the same picture.
People follow Jesus gladly because they have experienced His goodness.
Zacchaeus is a prime example.
So are many more.
The blind man who received a miraculous healing of his eyes, in Luke 18, for example.
How did he react once he had received his sight?
He followed Jesus. (Luke 18:43)
We see the same picture on the day of Pentecost.
Peter preached the good news of Jesus Christ.
Then the people were touched in their hearts and asked, “What shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
And how did the people respond?
“Then those who gladly received his word got baptized ...” (Acts 2:41)
The point is: they got baptized because they received Peter’s word “gladly.’
This is the biblical way of repentance.
It’s a joyful change.
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In Acts 8 we read,<br />
“But when they believed Philip as he<br />
preached the things concerning the<br />
kingdom of God and the name of Jesus<br />
Christ, both men and women were<br />
baptized.” (Acts 8:12)<br />
But what had gone on before that?<br />
Healings.<br />
That is always a demonstration of God’s<br />
goodness.<br />
Because healings, like everything else in<br />
the Kingdom of God, are undeserved.<br />
They ought to create in people an<br />
awareness of the goodness of God.<br />
So in Acts 8, this is what had preceded.<br />
We read,<br />
“5 Then Philip went down to the city of<br />
Samaria and preached Christ to them.<br />
6 And the multitudes with one accord<br />
heeded the things spoken by Philip,<br />
hearing and seeing the miracles which he<br />
did.<br />
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a<br />
loud voice, came out of many who were<br />
possessed; and many who were paralyzed<br />
and lame were healed.<br />
28
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