9 Mar 2017, Acts 3:1-26 使徒行传 3:1-26, The Lesson of Repentance 悔改的教训

Posted on Feb 26, 2017 in Acts, Devotions |

Scripture Reading        : Acts 3:1-26

Theme                            : The Lesson of Repentance

 

  1. The prelude of repentance. Beggars considered the temple to be the best place to ask for alms (charitable donations), because pious Jews who came to worship at the temple would want to earn their salvation by doing good works to the poor. The beggar who was lame from birth was hoping to get money from Peter and John, but Peter healed him of his physical defect instead, thus setting the foundation for the preaching of repentance. This healing is another instance where faith of the person is not required, as the beggar did not even asked to be healed.
  1. The preaching of repentance. Peter immediately took the opportunity to give glory to God for the healing, and preached the Gospel of Jesus to the crowd. Once again, Peter did not make the Gospel message into a crowd-pleaser, but he rebuked the Jews for killing the Messiah and wanted a murderer to be released. Peter blatantly pointed out the people’s sin, and commanded them to repent.
  1. The product of repentance. Genuine repentance means that one will turn away from wickedness (3:26) and “turn again” (3:19) towards God. If a sinner simply regrets what he had done (like Judas), but do not turn to God for forgiveness, that is not true repentance. The result of true repentance would be God’s blessing, and the sinner’s “sins may be blotted out”. This means that God will declare the sinner as righteous, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

 
Praying the Scripture

  1. The purpose of miracles is to authenticate the messenger and the Gospel message, and it can be clearly seen in this passage that Peter did not heal the lame without preaching the Gospel. First of all, we should thank God that He authenticated the Gospel message by granting miracles to accompany the Apostles’ preaching. We should also pray that God will strengthen our faith to believe the Gospel message without witnessing miracles today.
  1. Peter did not take any merit for healing the lame, but immediately gave glory to God, and he also took the opportunity to preach the Gospel. Pray that we will be humble and give glory to God for any achievement, and pray for boldness to use such opportunities to preach the Gospel to the people around us.
  1. Pray that unbelievers, especially our love ones, who hear the Gospel will repent and turn from their wickedness, and “turn again” to God, so that their sins may be blotted out.
 
 

经文：使徒行传3:1-26

主题：悔改的教训

 

  1. 传悔改信息的序幕。乞丐普遍视圣殿为求周济的最佳之所，因为来到圣殿崇拜的虔诚犹太人必想藉着向穷人所行的善赚取救赎。那位生来瘸腿的乞丐本想从彼得和约翰身上得到一些钱，但彼得却医治了他身体上的缺陷，从而为传悔改之信息殿下基础。这场医治又是在人没有信心的时候施行的；那位乞丐并没有求要得医治。
  1. 传悔改的信息。彼得立刻利用这机会将医治的荣耀归给神，并向众人传耶稣的福音。这次，彼得仍没有改变福音信息讨听众的喜悦，而是责备犹太人杀了弥赛亚，且要一个杀人犯得着释放。彼得公然地指出众人的罪，并命令他们悔改。
  1. 传悔改信息的成果。真诚的悔改就是人离开罪恶（3:26），归正（3:19）向神。倘若一个罪人仅为所做的事感到后悔（像犹大），但不归向神祈求赦免，那不是真正的悔改。属实悔改的结果就是神降下祝福，叫罪人的“罪得以涂抹”。这表示神会因着耶稣的死与复活宣告罪人为义。

 
用经文祷告

  1. 神迹是应证使徒与福音信息的凭据；若彼得不传福音，他也不必医治那位瘸腿的。首先，我们要感谢神藉着使徒教训人时所行的神迹奇事应证福音信息。我们也要求神能增强我们的信心，即便今日无法见证神迹也要相信福音信息。
  1. 彼得并有没把瘸腿的医治归功于自己，而是立刻将荣耀归给神，并利用机会传福音。祈求我们也能谦卑，在取得任何成就时将荣耀归于神，并祷告我们能有胆量利用这些机会向周围的人传福音。
  1. 祈求非信徒，尤其我们至亲的人，在听到福音时能悔改，离开罪恶，归正向神，叫他们的罪得以涂抹。