9. Your Sins Be Blotted Out

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Hymns: RHC 297 Jesus Saves! 315 Walk in the Light 334 Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love 

Acts 3:11-26

Acts 3:11-26 (KJV) And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, thatevery soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Your Sins Be Blotted Out

OUTLINE

  • The Person of Christ Who Saves – Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ (v11-18)
  • The Process to be Saved – Repent of your Sins (v19-26)

INTRODUCTION

Repent and Be Converted – Acts 3:11-26. The Acts of the Apostles records for us real “live” action on the process in which men and women are ushered into the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven. 

You recall Jesus gave the Great Commission to His infant church. He promised them Holy Spirit unction for the conversion of souls. We see now how the disciples put the “Go” on the gospel by the energising work of the Holy Spirit to cause men and women to be ushered into God’s kingdom.

Did the disciples go out of the way to preach the gospel? We see here in Acts chapter 3 that Peter and John were simply doing their usual keeping close to God in prayer and worship when a gospel opportunity confronted them. Could they have imagined that this simple incident would result in the conversion of 2000 souls?

You recall the three thoughts from the first 10 verses in Acts chapter 3?

(1) Worshipping (v1-3)

(2) Witnessing (v4-7)

(3) Winning Men for Christ (v8-10)

This certainly is a great victory for the work of the gospel. 

We can testify like the steward in Abraham’s household Eliezer who found the girl Rebekah whom God had chosen to be the wife of Isaac:

Genesis 24:27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

Before that we read of it in Genesis 24:26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

When you spend time with God and drawing close to Him, He sanctifies your life and makes you a vessel attuned to His will to do His bidding. 

We notice that the early church gathered in the temple courts to pray. As one commentator James Boice observed well, “The temple was still in existence at that time and the early disciples were both Jews as well as Christians and so they continue in the worship that their people had enjoyed for centuries.”[1]

You recall the words of Peter to the lame man at the gate Beautiful: 

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

It is a truthful confession that Peter and John did not have a cent to give this beggar but what they had with them was the precious gospel that is more valuable than any amount of silver and gold can buy. No physician could restore strength to His limbs except the Maker Himself who make the limbs that remake it again. It was a powerful message for us to see who this Jesus is. He is the only Creator and Sustainer and Saviour of the world.

Acts 3:7-10 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

How did salvation come to the 2000 souls? Three thoughts from our text:

  • The Power of God to Save – Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ (v11-18)
  • The Process to be Saved – Repent and Flee from your Sins (v19-26)

(1) The Person of Christ Who Saves – Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 

You notice in verse 13 that Peter glorified the name of Jesus Christ when he testified and exalted Christ before the people. He tells them that the power to save came from Jesus Christ by whose Name the man received strength in His limbs to walk again.

This is how men can be brought to salvation when we glorify the name of Jesus Christ. Proclaim Him as the living and true God. Lovingly given with prayer.

– or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

They did not at any point the people to themselves! Do not look at us, look at Jesus, the Author and Giver of life. As John the Baptiser, Jesus’ forerunner testified in John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Notice that Peter was very direct in his message. He uses the second person pronoun, speaking directly to the Jews there who witnessed the healing of this lame man. They must have also witnessed the power of Jesus in the healing of the multitude during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Now that He is ascended to heaven, Peter showed the people the link that this Jesus is continuing His work to save men and women from their sins. 

These are also those who crucified Jesus Christ. You see in verse 13-16.

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 

The people were brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ in a personal manner that Jesus is God. He referred to this Jesus whom they see and know. The fullness of God’s revelation to man is in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the exact representation of God. 

Peter pointed out to the people it was faith in the name of Jesus Christ that saved this man – verse 16. 

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 

This is that same Jesus whom they knew whom they crucified the Prince of life – the Giver of life! Who died for their sins and rose from the dead. 

Peter testified of the resurrected Christ who was raised from the dead conquering sin and death.

He is called the Holy and the Just. Because Jesus is born the Son of the Mary who knew no man, Jesus is conceived of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is without sin, without the fallen sinful nature of man. And He is the Just one in that He fulfilled all the laws of God on our behalf that makes Him fit to be our Saviour to reconcile us to the Father in heaven. It was an undeniable truth that the lame man walked. 

The people were brought to the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. 

17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 

You notice that Peter was not a judgmental at all. He was also a denier of Jesus Christ. Three times he was questioned and three times he denied Jesus was his Lord had predicted. Does he come with any boasting? Indeed, he has nothing to boast about. If not for the grace of God, Jesus graciously came to him after His resurrection to restore this errant disciple. 

He lovingly commended Jesus to the people. He pointed them to the truth of who Jesus is!

(2) The Process to be Saved – Repent of your Sins (v19-26)

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing (refers to the Millennia kingdom of God) shall come from the presence of the Lord…26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

You notice that Peter confronts the people with their sins and provides them also the way out. He tells them to repent from their sins by a command. It describes an action not yet started.

The word “converted” means to turn back. To repent is to turn away from sin and to turn back to God – the Giver of life.

When we come to Christ, our sins will be blotted – the word means “wiped out, erased, obliterated”. Records of misdeeds removed, eliminated.

We have seen before the account of Judas’ sorrow and suicide after he betrayed Jesus and we saw also the godly contrition of Peter in Matthew 27:1-10.

It helped us contrast between biblical repentance and the unregenerate worldly sorrow that leads to death. We notice Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith will not fail so that his backsliding will only be temporary but we do not see the same for Judas, Jesus said “woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed (Luke 22:22b). 

We see Jesus looking to Peter with love and concern that brought a convicting work of the Holy Spirit upon Peter’s heart. For Judas, there was no loving gaze he is a vessel of wrath prepared for destruction.

Judas had a change of mind in that he was sorry after reflecting on the results of what he had done. He was filled with grief, anguish and even indignation at consequence of his action but it did not involve a true understanding of the nature of sin or a commitment to return to Christ and seek forgiveness from God.

Matthew emphasized the deep emotional aspect of Judas’ regret. When Peter became sorrowful his response was to pray to God and return to the disciples. He turned from disobedience to obedience. Judas, on the other hand, killed himself – a terrible act of sin.

Suicide was a pagan practice, an honourable act in the Greco-Roman world for one who betrayed his teacher.

Judas’ repentance was not for sin as committed against God and Christ but for the consequence of sin. His sorrow did not spring from a love and fear of God as holy, just, good and merciful – which is what true repentance does to a person.

It was more a foretaste of the regret that individuals suffer in hell. It was not a repentance that results from true saving faith but rather, a terrifying despair, it is a worldly humanistic repentance, one wallowing in self-pity and a tortured conscience.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Godly sorrow on the other hand acknowledges God and His commandments. Sorrow over God’s broken law and the dishonour brought to God’s name and turned with a new obedience.

The heart of the gospel message or good news is that sinful men can find freedom from sin and its destructive power through Jesus Christ. 

Jesus has power to forgive sins and all who will repent of their sins and come to Jesus will receive the freedom from the guilt of sin.

And so, we see here how Jesus the Great Physician not only has the power to heal the sick, and still the storm, and overcome demons, but He can bring to the human soul the thing that it needs the most, the forgiveness of sin.

Dear friends, forgiveness of sins is the greatest need of every man, no exception. Has your sins been forgiven. For this lame man, his sins have been forgiven. 

The time of refreshing:

Isaiah 11:6-10 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 

The Messiah of Israel shall return and restore the kingdom to Israel. This will be the time when the entire fallen creation will be restored.

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Peter quoted Deuteronomy 18:15 of the prophet that will come, the Messiah of Israel will also be a judge!

Deuteronomy 18:15-18 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Samuel and all the prophets gave the same message.

2 Samuel 7:11-13 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

CONCLUSION

  • The Person of Christ Who Saves – Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ (v11-18)
  • The Process to be Saved – Repent of your Sins (v19-26)

Amen.

[1] James Montgomery Boice, An Expositional Commentary ACTS, BakerBooks, 2006, 64.