Repentance

 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
Acts 3:19 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.3.19.ESV

I love the Greek word for repentance. 'Metanoia' literally means to change your mind or to think differently. The Jews had assumed Jesus deserved to die: Peter is telling them to change their thinking.

Repentance is ultimately God's work to turn us around from going the wrong way to following Jesus instead. Yet the likes of Peter and even us can help others to transition to ignorance about Jesus to enlightenment and faith. It's not our repentance that blots our sins out- that's Jesus.

Jesus blots our sins out in response to our repentance. We don't pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We're naturally crippled spiritually, yet God can empower us to walk in the way of Jesus.

Our sins are blotted out by the blood of Jesus. His blood washes away all our evildoing. The slate is wiped clean and we get a fresh start.

'Dear Lord, how grateful we are for the way You cause us to change our minds about You and to find the forgiveness that only You can give. For the glory of Your name, amen'

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