Repentance and Forgiveness Should be Proclaimed

(Luke 24:36-49)

Christians, may we not waver in our belief. May we know God is able to do what He promised. May we know God DID do what He promised through Jesus Christ. As He strengthens our faith may we give glory to God. May we fully trust in God. As Paul says in Romans 5, God credits His righteousness to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was delivered over to death for our sin and was raised back to life for our justification. For those of us who believe, there is peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By his death and resurrection, He provided those of us who have faith access to God the Father. We stand in the grace of God. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in sufferings. When we suffer like Christ suffered we learn how to persevere.

Jesus had risen indeed. As the disciples huddled together discussing this great event, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, "Peace to you." Seeing Him appear out of nowhere frightened them. He proved to them He was not a ghost and sat down and ate with them. He had them touch Him so they could know He was real. He showed them the nail marks on His hands and feet. Then He went through the Old Testament, explaining to them the types and shadows, the foretelling prophesies and why it all had to take place. These men had a first hand explanation of God's redemptive plan for sinners, none of which could save themselves. These men were first hand witnesses of the life, death, burial and resurrection of God's promised Messiah. None of us, no matter how many good things we do, are godly enough to measure up to God's holy standards and that's why we needed Jesus to step in and take our place.  

Jesus said, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." These men had been hiding in Jerusalem, afraid of being found and facing the same persecution and punishment as Jesus. Yet Jesus gave them assurance in these words, "Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." He would not abandon them, but through His Holy Spirit would give them everything they needed to persevere. These words are for us as well.

As the apostle Paul teaches in Romans 5, "Perseverance builds character and character builds hope. Hope does not disappoint because God poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that come by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many! Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man's sin: the judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Therefore, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were  made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."