Acts 8:22
The Scriptures reveal different instructions on how to obtain forgiveness.... To alien sinners outside of Christ - Ac 2:38 “And Peter said to them, "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.”; 22:16 “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'”
To erring Christians guilty of sin - Ac 8:22 “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”; 1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The difference has been described by some as “God’s Two Laws Of Pardon”.... For the alien sinner, there is God’s first law of pardon:
1) Hear the gospel
2) Believe that Jesus is the Christ, who died for our sins
3) Repent of sins
4) Confess faith in Christ
5) Be baptized for the remission of sins
For the erring Christian, there is God’s second law of pardon:
1) Repent of sins
2) Pray to God
3) Confess sins to God
As we evangelize, we often spend much time explaining the first law. As Christians seeking to maintain our relationship with God, we should be equally concerned with the second law. So let’s take a closer look at “God’s Second Law Of Pardon”... Looking first at what Christians must do. We must repent of sins. Note that repentance is required in both laws of pardon - Ac 2:38 “And Peter said to them, "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.”; 8:22 “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”
What does it mean to repent? Literally, it means “a change of mind”. “signifies to change one’s mind or purpose” - Vine. “this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God” - ibid.. Thus it involves making a decision to stop sinning. Just as the alien sinner is called to do so in becoming a Christian. So the erring Christian must do to return to the Lord. Repentance is produced by “godly sorrow” - 2 Co 7:9-10 “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” A sorrow for having sinned against God - Psa 51:4 “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” As opposed to worldly sorrow for getting caught or being exposed. Repentance is also prompted by God’s goodness - Ro 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Awareness of God’s grace and kindness should lead us to repent. Frequent meditation on the Word of God will help in this regard. Repentance will be manifested by a remarkable change - 2 Co 7:11 “For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.” Such as diligence and zeal to do that which is right. Such as indignation for our sins and a desire to make right what we have done wrong. -- So the first step for erring Christians is to repent of their sins!
Second, we must pray. So Peter told Simon when he sinned after having believed and was baptized - Ac 8:22 “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” Compare this to God’s first law of pardon. Baptism is an act of faith, in which we make an appeal - 1 Pe 3:21 “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Prayer is also an act of faith, as we appeal for forgiveness. Yet alien sinners are commanded to repent and be baptized - Ac 2:38. While erring Christians are commanded to repent and pray. The difference is understandable. Before baptism, one is not a child of God - Ga 3:26-27 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”; Jn 3:3-5 “Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” After baptism, prayer is a privilege for those who are God’s children - Ga 4:6-7 “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Praying is effective for the Christian because of our two intercessors. Jesus, who understands our feelings - He 2:17-18 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”; 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”; 7:24-25 “but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
Also, the Holy Spirit, who communicates our feelings - Ro 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
As we pray, we must do so with humility. Compare the difference between the Pharisee and the publican - Lk 18:9-14 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."’ God favors the humble and contrite in spirit - Psa 34:18 “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”; Isa 66:1-2 “Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
-- Having repented, the erring Christian humbly needs to pray!
There is yet a third step the erring Christian needs to take; we must confess, just as John wrote to Christians - 1 Jn 1:9. In the next part of this lesson we will examine this step in greater detail, answering why it is important to restoration.
