“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19, LSB)

The words from Acts 3, offered above, are part of Peter’s second “sermon” to the people of Jerusalem following Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Peter’s sermon came at a time when the disciples were filled with the Spirit and boldly reached out with the glorious news of the gospel.
On his way to the Temple with John to pray, Peter saw a man “lame from birth”, begging for help. Peter and John asked the man to look at them. When he did, Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (Acts 3:6, LSB). The man stood on his own two feet, walking for the first time in his life. With a crowd of Jews gathered around the man, Peter gave a sermon including these words: “repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Look closely at Peter’s words. They contain important wisdom not only to those present long ago in Jerusalem but to the modern age. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, asked those gathered to “repent and return” to the Lord. Peter wanted the people in Jerusalem to repent of their sins and return to God. Peter knew that just as the man was healed “in the name of Jesus Christ”, so too the people in Jerusalem could find peace with God through repenting “in the name of Jesus Christ”. Then, by returning to God in Christ, the people would have their “sins wiped away” and discover “times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
In the present age, many Christians have forgotten or ignored the words of Peter given long ago. Some have fallen into sin and refused to “repent and return” to God in Christ. Some are too prideful to admit their sin. Some ignore their sin and the consequences. Many hide their sins as if they will just go away. All too many don’t acknowledge certain sins or see their sin as just little mistakes or errors in judgement instead of actions against God. You can’t minimize sin, nor its effects. Sin won’t just “go away”. Sin can’t be hidden or covered over. Sin’s impurities do everything from corrupting the mind to rotting one’s bones, destroying friendships and marriages, and betraying the truth. Repentance is the first requirement to banish sin. You must confess sin. Acknowledge it. Face it. Then, you need to “return” to God in Christ. You need to change your ways, so the sin doesn’t come back to haunt you.
If you do not “repent and return” when dealing with sin, bad things happen. Peter knew this all too well. That is why he advocated all those people in Jerusalem join him in this faithful course. You see, unless you repent, you will never get to the place Peter mentions in the second half of our verse. Without repentance and returning to God, you will not experience your sins “wiped away” nor “times of refreshing that may come from the presence of the Lord”. Sin that goes without repentance and a change of your ways will cling to you. It won’t be wiped away. It won’t go away. It remains to putrefy your body, mind, and soul. When that happens, you will not experience “times of refreshing” nor a joyful “presence of the Lord”.
There’s a story of a soldier who visited Rome for the first time. He had acquired a jeep and offered to take three other soldiers to see the Vatican. He started driving toward the heart of Rome, certain he knew the way to the Vatican. Surely, there would be signs to point to the Vatican! Surely, he could see the Vatican from afar! When he got to downtown Rome, the soldier ended up at a huge roundabout. Round and round he drove in a huge circle. After everyone was almost nauseous from the circles, the soldier finally got away from the roundabout. However, within minutes, he was lost again. Not long after, the jeep was again doing circles in that same roundabout! The soldier refused to admit he was lost and couldn’t find his way! So, he continued to drive in circles, convinced he knew the way, while his friends in the car couldn’t stop whispering about how wrong he was!
Just like that soldier who was convinced he could find his own way to the Vatican in Rome, many people have convinced themselves that their sins aren’t that bad, or they don’t need to repent. They may not even consider they have lost their way even when those around them know this is precisely the case! Until they repent and change their ways, they will not find their way back to God. Until they repent and change their ways, they will not experience the joy that comes when a soul is “refreshed” and cleansed by the presence of God Almighty! You might even say that just as that soldier in Rome needed a map, Christians need these words from Peter in order to find their way back to God!
One of the most important things you can do as a faithful Christian is to daily do a self-evaluation of your spiritual life. In prayer, talk to God about your failings. As you read the Bible, search your heart for the presence of sin. Don’t hide your sinful past. Don’t bury your embarrassing spiritual failures. Repent of your sins to our Merciful God in Christ. Offer them up at the foot of the cross! Otherwise, you never will find the comfort and joy that come with a forgiven past and the loving presence of God.
There is a clear connection in today’s verse of the Bible. If you do not repent and change your ways, you will not experience forgiveness and the refreshing presence of the Lord. If you find that your time in worship is tense, consider whether a sin has crept into your world. If you find that prayer time is not refreshing, maybe a sin is holding you back. If joy has been replaced in your soul with anger or resentment, a sin will be holding you hostage. There is so much to consider from Peter’s words in our scripture. Will you take time to reflect on his words today?
On his way to the Temple with John to pray, Peter saw a man “lame from birth”, begging for help. Peter and John asked the man to look at them. When he did, Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (Acts 3:6, LSB). The man stood on his own two feet, walking for the first time in his life. With a crowd of Jews gathered around the man, Peter gave a sermon including these words: “repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Look closely at Peter’s words. They contain important wisdom not only to those present long ago in Jerusalem but to the modern age. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, asked those gathered to “repent and return” to the Lord. Peter wanted the people in Jerusalem to repent of their sins and return to God. Peter knew that just as the man was healed “in the name of Jesus Christ”, so too the people in Jerusalem could find peace with God through repenting “in the name of Jesus Christ”. Then, by returning to God in Christ, the people would have their “sins wiped away” and discover “times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
In the present age, many Christians have forgotten or ignored the words of Peter given long ago. Some have fallen into sin and refused to “repent and return” to God in Christ. Some are too prideful to admit their sin. Some ignore their sin and the consequences. Many hide their sins as if they will just go away. All too many don’t acknowledge certain sins or see their sin as just little mistakes or errors in judgement instead of actions against God. You can’t minimize sin, nor its effects. Sin won’t just “go away”. Sin can’t be hidden or covered over. Sin’s impurities do everything from corrupting the mind to rotting one’s bones, destroying friendships and marriages, and betraying the truth. Repentance is the first requirement to banish sin. You must confess sin. Acknowledge it. Face it. Then, you need to “return” to God in Christ. You need to change your ways, so the sin doesn’t come back to haunt you.
If you do not “repent and return” when dealing with sin, bad things happen. Peter knew this all too well. That is why he advocated all those people in Jerusalem join him in this faithful course. You see, unless you repent, you will never get to the place Peter mentions in the second half of our verse. Without repentance and returning to God, you will not experience your sins “wiped away” nor “times of refreshing that may come from the presence of the Lord”. Sin that goes without repentance and a change of your ways will cling to you. It won’t be wiped away. It won’t go away. It remains to putrefy your body, mind, and soul. When that happens, you will not experience “times of refreshing” nor a joyful “presence of the Lord”.
There’s a story of a soldier who visited Rome for the first time. He had acquired a jeep and offered to take three other soldiers to see the Vatican. He started driving toward the heart of Rome, certain he knew the way to the Vatican. Surely, there would be signs to point to the Vatican! Surely, he could see the Vatican from afar! When he got to downtown Rome, the soldier ended up at a huge roundabout. Round and round he drove in a huge circle. After everyone was almost nauseous from the circles, the soldier finally got away from the roundabout. However, within minutes, he was lost again. Not long after, the jeep was again doing circles in that same roundabout! The soldier refused to admit he was lost and couldn’t find his way! So, he continued to drive in circles, convinced he knew the way, while his friends in the car couldn’t stop whispering about how wrong he was!
Just like that soldier who was convinced he could find his own way to the Vatican in Rome, many people have convinced themselves that their sins aren’t that bad, or they don’t need to repent. They may not even consider they have lost their way even when those around them know this is precisely the case! Until they repent and change their ways, they will not find their way back to God. Until they repent and change their ways, they will not experience the joy that comes when a soul is “refreshed” and cleansed by the presence of God Almighty! You might even say that just as that soldier in Rome needed a map, Christians need these words from Peter in order to find their way back to God!
One of the most important things you can do as a faithful Christian is to daily do a self-evaluation of your spiritual life. In prayer, talk to God about your failings. As you read the Bible, search your heart for the presence of sin. Don’t hide your sinful past. Don’t bury your embarrassing spiritual failures. Repent of your sins to our Merciful God in Christ. Offer them up at the foot of the cross! Otherwise, you never will find the comfort and joy that come with a forgiven past and the loving presence of God.
There is a clear connection in today’s verse of the Bible. If you do not repent and change your ways, you will not experience forgiveness and the refreshing presence of the Lord. If you find that your time in worship is tense, consider whether a sin has crept into your world. If you find that prayer time is not refreshing, maybe a sin is holding you back. If joy has been replaced in your soul with anger or resentment, a sin will be holding you hostage. There is so much to consider from Peter’s words in our scripture. Will you take time to reflect on his words today?