The Same Gospel

The Same Gospel

Times of refreshing…Acts 3:19

In Peter’s sermon at the temple, he again calls for Israel to repent. God had sent the promised Christ and you refused to believe. Instead, when Pilate was determined to let Him go, you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, you killed the Prince of life, verses 13 thru 16.

Peter’s appeal is straight to the point: forgiveness is available. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…Verse 19.

Times of refreshing, what a curious promise. Isaiah spoke of a time of refreshing, Isaiah 28:12: This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing, yet they would not hear. The refreshing was to come from the word of the LORD, precept upon precept…line upon line, verse 13. 

Peter was delivering the word of the Lord, precept upon precept…line upon line. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, Romans 10:17. This is certainly the season people look for times of refreshing. But the real refreshment comes from the forgiveness of sin. Which comes by repentance and confession of faith. Peter preached the word, yes, the prophets from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days, Acts 3:24. 

All these many years later, we preach the same gospel!