Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
As presented on *The Lutheran Hour® by the Rev. Wallace Schulz, 1995
The words of hope from this passage are for you, my friend. Because, you see, no matter what your family or your neighbors or your friends might be saying about your past mistakes, God is different. Instead of rubbing your nose in the dirt of your failures, God is willing to forgive you and to take you back.
The blood of God's Son, Jesus Christ, shed on Calvary's cross, has already paid the complete price for all your sins. God has already prepared a gift of forgiveness for you and this great gift was completed and all wrapped up when Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished." And now God is inviting you to receive this gift of perfect and total forgiveness. With this gracious gift from God, with no strings attached, you can then start over with an entirely new slate.
These words of the Gospel regarding the saving work of Christ were penned nearly 2,000 years ago. However, these same words remain powerful for the believing father now living in Pittsburgh in 1995; and for the heartbroken mother in San Francisco; and for the disillusioned teenager in Edmonton; and for the depressed grandmother in Boston; and also for the many discouraged pastors and teachers who all too often incorrectly feel there is so little they can do and that their work frequently seems so useless. Oh, unto all of you, to whom God has entrusted the proclamation of His Gospel, never forget, never forget, that God's Gospel is the power of God unto salvation unto all who believe.
Dear God, thank You for forgiving all that I have done. Help me to place all my faith in your forgiveness every day. Amen.
Taken from A Message of Hope: Proclaiming the Promise (selections from messages broadcast on *The Lutheran Hour, celebrating 75 years of proclaiming the promise).
Copyright © 2005 by Lutheran Hour Ministries
*The Lutheran Hour is the longest-running Christian radio broadcast in the world. It is a production of Lutheran Hour Ministries. For more information, visit www.lutheranhour.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Ezra 5-7 Revelation 11
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