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♦ Bible VMers' Theology Chapter Eight
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• Peter stood with the power and anointing of the Spirit of God to unlocktheKingdomofheaven(Matthew16:17-19). Heusedthekeys thatweregiventohimbyJesusChrist. Hegavethesavingcommand, ^Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38; cf. Acts 3:19-20).
Sources of Repentance
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thy people, O LORD" Qoel 2:15-17). "Then," assures the prophet, "will
the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people" Qoel 2:18).
The Gospel of Luke ends with this command of the risen Christ open ing a door to the salvation of the Lord: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47).
The goodness of God draws men to repentance. God's declaration in Isaiah 65:1-2 is attesting: "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said. Behold me, behold me, unto a nationthatwasnotcalledbymyname. 1havespreadoutmyhandsallthe day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts." Jeremiah said, "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore
withlovingkindnesshaveIdrawnthee"Qeremiah31:3). Thegoodnessof Jesus was compelling to Peter "he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart fromme,forIamasinfulman,OLord"(Luke5:8). Hiseyeswereremoved from the miraculous catch of fishes to the one who did it: "And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men" (Luke 5:10).
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Repentance is a gift of God. Peter, reporting in Jerusalem on the con version of Cornelius and his household, declared, "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us", and at this amazing news the Jewish brethren, "glorified God, saying. Then hath God also to the GenHles granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:17-18). In His discourse on the bread of life, Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44).
God's wrath causes repentance. In Psalms 107, David made conspicu ous the sequential pattern ofthe wrath ofGod, followed by repentance among the Israelites and his blessings: "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses" (Psalm 107:19,28). IntheBookofActs,wereadthatafterthejudgmentpro-
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