What A Gift
Pastor Erickson preaches from Acts 11:18 and Ezekiel 18:21-22 on repentance as a gift God has granted to people, a gift even the angels do not have. He calls people to answer conviction with real change, to keep getting back up when they fall, and to come to the altar where God's mercy covers them.
The message in 6 points
Repentance is a gift
He reads Acts 11:17-18, where God granted repentance to the Gentiles, and Ezekiel 18:21-22, where the sins of the one who turns shall not be mentioned. His title is What a Gift, because God gave people a way to repent that even the angels were never given.
57:33The step we skip
He says the church talks about baptism and the Holy Ghost but rarely about repentance, and without it there is no washing away of sin. Baptism happens once, but after it repentance steps back in every time we miss the mark.
1:03:22Conviction, not condemnation
Conviction is God pricking the heart so we will fix our mistake, and the scary place is when sin no longer bothers us. On the day of Pentecost the crowd was pricked in their hearts and Peter told them to repent, because feeling sorry is not repentance until action follows.
1:08:28We never graduate from repentance
Repentance turns us from sin, baptism in Jesus name brings remission, and the Holy Ghost empowers a new life. He says repented sins are blotted out, Romans 8:1 promises no condemnation, Romans 2:4 shows God's patience gives us time to turn, and we still need an altar after we are saved.
1:18:04The enemy says give up
Condemnation tells a person to give up and stay home, but conviction says get to the altar, because God still wants you. Jesus told Peter he would fall and then strengthen his brethren, and the same Peter stood up at Pentecost, so we fall but we get back up.
1:28:32Mercy above the law
God told Moses to put the mercy seat above the ark that held the law, and the blood was sprinkled on it. Pastor Erickson says God does not lower his standard but provides mercy when we fall short, so he invites everyone to the altar to repent and thank God for the gift.
1:40:27
In his words
“To repent, there's got to be action that takes place that follows the prick in the heart.”
“Conviction is not God announcing that he's finished with you. Conviction is God announcing that he still wants you.”
“God doesn't lower his standard to give mercy. He provides mercy when I fall short of his standard.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Acts 11:17-18
17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
King James Version.
Ezekiel 18:21-22
21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
King James Version.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
King James Version.
Romans 8:1
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
King James Version.
Romans 2:4
4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
King James Version.
Luke 22:31-32
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
King James Version.
Exodus 25:21-22
21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
King James Version.
Leviticus 16:14
14And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
King James Version.
He also points to
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