LAST-MINUTE REPENTANCE?(11)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*LAST-MINUTE REPENTANCE? (11)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Acts 17:30 *And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:*

*Insight and Highlight.*

The age of ignorance is over.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Paul was rounding up the time of forbearance of ignorance in Acts 17 when he wrote that God now commanded that all men everywhere to repent.

Paul was saying that God overlooked sins before Christ's sacrifice, so He could not exact or effect the full penalty for sin until Jesus' atoning death. So He passed over ('passover') judgment just like He did for the Israelites in Exd 12.

He further stressed using the conjunction in Acts 17:30, 'But now' to illustrate God's change of direction.

*But now.......* he commands everyone everywhere to turn to Him and change the way they think and act.

*But now......."* He wants everyone to seek God’s purpose for their lives.

*But now......."* He now commands and requires all men everywhere to repent.

Enough of overlooking ignorance. The first and sixth statements on the cross explain Christ's finished works at Calgary.

His first statement was on forgiveness:*"...... for they know not what they do.”* Luke 23:34.

and His sixth before He committed His spirit to God was *lt is finished*, John 19:28 which signifies completion: the sacrifice for humanity's sins, was complete., accomplishment, or payment in full. 

*It is finished* underscores the importance of knowing that God's longsuffering has a limit.

Christ had completed the mission for our reconciliation to God. Everyone must seek God through Him for forgiveness by repenting from their sins.

Paul teaches us in Rom 3:26 that He judges in righteousness so that we all may know and justify Him as the true God of equity and justice.

He says *To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.*

Paul was saying in this verse that God has, because of His longsuffering, restrained His righteousness which demands punishment for sin, but because in His forbearance He deliberately restrained Himself. So, do we not think we should reverence this rather than abuse or frustrate it?

The truth is that God can not be frustrated. Whatever we do wrongly will only prevent or

frustrate our chances to receive from Him.

If our sins of the past had passed along with the forbearance of God, should we not also turn a new leaf in recognition in holy fear?

Yet we take His forbearance for granted, hoping to plead ignorance over what we knew was a transgression.

At Calvary, Paul says Jesus *Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;*

We can not hope to continue to live anyhow and expect His forbearance would continue to spare us of what He had already atoned for.

Paul says His sacrifice was one time, Rom 6:10.

Christ has died into eternity, but His ressurection speaks into time. Jesus tells us that the crucifixion that happened before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8) is speaking into our time, and this is today. He says the time is fulfilled for repentance. It is now!

Mark 1:15 says *And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.*

What are you waiting for?

Do not remain unrepentant. There is no hope for any last-minute repentance!

*Remorse corner.*

Ezekiel wrote long before Christ came to die telling us to repent and turn from all our transgressions so that our iniquity would not become our downfall.

*Call to Word action.*

Ezk 18:30 *Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

These we preach as Christians:

Lk 24:47 *And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.*

Matthew 3:2  *And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.*

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to reverence God's longsuffering and forbearance rather than take them for granted. Help me to repent in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.