重要的福音信息：一个被忘怀的字词--悔改
使徒行传二章37至47节
37众人听见这话，觉得扎心，就对彼得和其余的使徒说：弟兄们，我们当怎样行？
38彼得说：你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵；
39因为这应许是给你们和你们的儿女，并一切在远方的人，就是主─我们神所召来的。
40彼得还用许多话作见证，劝勉他们说：你们当救自己脱离这弯曲的世代。
41于是领受他话的人就受了洗。那一天，门徒约添了三千人，
42都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接，擘饼，祈祷。
43众人都惧怕；使徒又行了许多奇事神迹。
44信的人都在一处，凡物公用；
45并且卖了田产，家业，照各人所需用的分给各人。
46他们天天同心合意恒切的在殿里，且在家中擘饼，存着欢喜、诚实的心用饭，
47赞美神，得众民的喜爱。主将得救的人天天加给他们。
信息分享
可是，我们今天很少听人谈及悔改，就连讲道也很少触及这个题目。然而，它却是旧约的核心信息，在新约也经常提到。「悔改」的动词在新约出现24次，名词出现25次。施洗约翰和耶稣两人开始传道的时候，也是传讲悔改的信息。
悔改并不等于为补偿过错而苦修赎罪。悔改也未必一定要流泪，虽然通常会流泪。
真正的悔改也绝不会单挂在口边。悔改是转离恶行；下一步更应该是归信基督。
当人悔改信主，他就是完全的回转，弃恶而从善。
圣经中有些人物曾经口里承认自己犯罪，但实质上却没有真正悔改。例如硬心的法老王便曾说过：「这一次我犯了罪了。」（出九27）他甚至加上一句：「我和我的百姓是邪恶的。」然而，几小时后，他又再次犯罪，出尔反尔地不准以色列民离开。他并没有真心悔改。
扫罗王也说过类似的话：「我犯了罪。」（撒上十五24）但他一如法老那样并没有真心悔改。出卖耶稣的犹大，当猛然惊觉自己的恶行会带来报应，也说过这句话，可惜已经太晚了。
真正的悔改是离弃罪恶，归向基督，寻求赦免。它是一个意志上的决定：立志要从错路回转，在基督的陪伴下走上正道。
反思：
无论在任何时刻，只要你发现自己走上歧路，你都可以立时回转，归回基督的正道。
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.