重要的福音信息：一個被忘懷的字詞--悔改
使徒行傳二章37至47節
37眾人聽見這話，覺得扎心，就對彼得和其餘的使徒說：弟兄們，我們當怎樣行？
38彼得說：你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈；
39因為這應許是給你們和你們的兒女，並一切在遠方的人，就是主─我們神所召來的。
40彼得還用許多話作見證，勸勉他們說：你們當救自己脫離這彎曲的世代。
41於是領受他話的人就受了洗。那一天，門徒約添了三千人，
42都恆心遵守使徒的教訓，彼此交接，擘餅，祈禱。
43眾人都懼怕；使徒又行了許多奇事神蹟。
44信的人都在一處，凡物公用；
45並且賣了田產，家業，照各人所需用的分給各人。
46他們天天同心合意恆切的在殿裡，且在家中擘餅，存著歡喜、誠實的心用飯，
47讚美神，得眾民的喜愛。主將得救的人天天加給他們。
信息分享
可是，我們今天很少聽人談及悔改，就連講道也很少觸及這個題目。然而，它卻是舊約的核心信息，在新約也經常提到。「悔改」的動詞在新約出現24次，名詞出現25次。施洗約翰和耶穌兩人開始傳道的時候，也是傳講悔改的信息。
悔改並不等於為補償過錯而苦修贖罪。悔改也未必一定要流淚，雖然通常會流淚。
真正的悔改也絕不會單掛在口邊。悔改是轉離惡行；下一步更應該是歸信基督。
當人悔改信主，他就是完全的回轉，棄惡而從善。
聖經中有些人物曾經口裡承認自己犯罪，但實質上卻沒有真正悔改。例如硬心的法老王便曾說過：「這一次我犯了罪了。」（出九27）他甚至加上一句：「我和我的百姓是邪惡的。」然而，幾小時後，他又再次犯罪，出爾反爾地不准以色列民離開。他並沒有真心悔改。
掃羅王也說過類似的話：「我犯了罪。」（撒上十五24）但他一如法老那樣並沒有真心悔改。出賣耶穌的猶大，當猛然驚覺自己的惡行會帶來報應，也說過這句話，可惜已經太晚了。
真正的悔改是離棄罪惡，歸向基督，尋求赦免。它是一個意志上的決定：立志要從錯路回轉，在基督的陪伴下走上正道。
反思：
無論在任何時刻，只要你發現自己走上歧路，你都可以立時回轉，歸回基督的正道。
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL THE FORGOTTEN WORD - REPENTANCE
Acts 2:37-47
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
41 Then those who gladly[g] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church[h] daily those who were being saved.
Message
A Sunday School class was asked, 'What does repentance mean?' One child said, 'Being sorry for our sins.' Another child added, 'Being sorry enough to quit…' Those are good definitions.
But we don't often hear the word used nor many sermons on it today. It was the message of the Old Testament prophets. It is also found many times in the New Testament. 'Repent' occurs 24 times and 'repentance' 25 times. It was the first word in the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus.
Repentance is not penance, which is paying for your sin. Repentance is not necessarily accompanied by tears, although tears may come.
True repentance never stands alone. Repentance is turning from sin. Faith, its counterpart, is turning to Christ.
Conversion is the result. It is a complete turn around.
There are men in the Bible who appeared to repent. They each admitted that they had sinned, but in none of these cases was there any true repentance. They include Pharaoh, the hard hearted, who said, 'I have sinned.' (Exodus 9:27) He even added, 'I and my people are in the wrong.' But within a few hours the Bible says he sinned again and would not let the people of Israel leave. His repentance was not genuine.
King Saul also said those words, 'I have sinned.' (I Samuel 15:24), but he was as insincere as Pharaoh. Judas said the same, after the terrible realisation of what he had done came home to him. But it was too late.
True repentance is turning from sin and turning to Christ, seeking forgiveness for our sin. It carries a definite decision of the will. It's turning around on the wrong road and starting the new road with Christ. .
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: U-turns are always permitted when travelling on the wrong road.