As part of the foundation on understanding chapters 12, 13, and 14, we must clearly understand who the “signs” were for. Exodus 4:1-8 gives us the “Law of first mention” when God told Moses that he would send him to Egypt with ” “signs” to convince the Israelites to follow him out of Egypt to the promised land.
It would be a part of God’s communication with his people all through the Old Testament and into Jesus earthly ministry. After all the signs and wonders Jesus did, the religious leaders still wanted one more miracle.
Jesus told them in v.39-40: But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
We walked through two of the three historical accounts of the gift of tongues in the book of Acts (Acts 2:1-11 & 10:44-48, the 3rd is Acts 19:1-7) showing the key ingredient to the purpose of the gift of tongues was to show doubtful Jews that salvation had indeed come to the Gentiles. We will examine the third account next Sunday.
The most awesome part of our class was spent on understanding that “repentance” that so many in Christianity require to be an integral part to our salvation, is another gift we receive in salvation. We know we are saved by grace through the gift of faith.
Ephesians 2:1, 8-9: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We saw in Acts 11:18 and 2 Timothy 2:24-25 that repentance is also gifted to us in salvation. Before we are saved / born again, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. A dead person cannot see, hear, or understand their need to repent. A baby cannot breathe air until it is born. Once it is born, it begins its journey in this life.
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:2-7: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The repentant heart is a gift from God at the new birth. Once we are alive in Christ we realize that confession of sin is a by-product of who we are in Christ. Dead men do not understand that they need to repent. The prodigal son of Luke 15 realized that he needed to repent and return to fellowship with his father. He was a son, not a stranger, or an enemy, which we all are until we are born again.
Romans 11:29: For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
The gift of faith and the gift of repentance are essential gifts we receive in salvation.
2 Timothy 2:24-25: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;