Being remorseful is not being repentant…it is being sorry…it is feeling really bad about – whatever – but it is not being repentant.

Repentance before the living God of the Bible is the act of yielding, submitting to Him.

We pick up Peter’s continued defense of his actions in Caesarea to the church in Jerusalem: Peter explained that while he was on the flat roof-top of the house and God’s instructions were concluding, three men knocked on the door of the house. 

(NIV) Acts 11:12 “The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.  These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.”
Peter and six men went to Caesarea from Joppa…to the house of a Gentile, Cornelius.

(NASB) Acts 11:13-14 “And he (Cornelius) reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;
14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’”

[Peter was out of his comfort zone in that house!  But Peter was obedient to God’s leading.

Where is God calling you to step outside of your comfort zone?  Where is the Lord leading you to tell others about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Our Lord calls us to put His words into action…wherever we are.]

Then Peter said what an amazing thing happened!
(NASB) Acts 11:15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.”  (Acts 2:1-12 Pentecost in Jerusalem)

 Peter’s experience of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit was given to Gentiles…he was there!
(NASB) Acts 11:16-17 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 ‘Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

The Lord God had included Gentiles!  I am grateful to my Lord and my God, for He has included me in His great salvation through belief in Jesus Christ.

(NASB) Acts 11:18 “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

What is your experience?  Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?  Repentance of your sins before the holiness of the living God?  Acceptance of God’s forgiveness of your sins because Jesus Christ has received your just punishment when He was crucified?

It is the Lord Jesus Christ Who leads you and me to life everlasting…it is through Him that we are saved ~ forever and ever!  So be it! (Amen!)