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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TRUE REPENTANCE.<br />
TRUE BIBLICAL repentance is willing<br />
repentance.<br />
Take Zacchaeus, for example.<br />
He willingly restored what he had<br />
wrongly taken by fraud.<br />
“Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to<br />
the poor; and if I have taken anything<br />
from anyone by false accusation, I restore<br />
fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)<br />
Take the people on the day of Pentecost,<br />
for example.<br />
They had just listened to Peter’s sermon.<br />
And then we read how they reacted.<br />
“Then those who gladly received his word<br />
were baptized; and that day about three<br />
thousand souls were added to them.”<br />
(Acts 2:41)<br />
Take note: they “gladly received his<br />
word.”<br />
In other words, willingly.<br />
Or take the Samarian believers in Acts 8.<br />
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