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 actually turning from what is being confessed as sin and turning to God.  Jesus took that sin as if it were His own when He died on the cross.  You are forgiven because Jesus paid your penalty for that sin… forever and ever.  Isn’t that great News?!!!!

  We pick up today where we left off yesterday… Peter’s continued defense of his actions in Caesarea to the Jewish believers 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.  Three Gentiles!

  Peter explained that the Spirit of God told him to not hesitate but go with these Roman men.
Six Jewish brothers went with Peter and all of them entered the home of Cornelius, a Gentile.  And a Roman at that!  This was unheard of in the Jewish community!  Acts 11:12

(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.

  When the believers in Jerusalem heard how the Spirit was given to Gentile people, they became quiet and then they glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” 
Acts 11:18

  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? 

~ Take it to heart ~

  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! 

Categories: The Acts of the Holy Spirit