The Prophecies that Prompt Repentance

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness” (Acts 3:17-26).

It has been determined that Jesus Christ fulfilled more than 300 Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. Under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, Peter confronted the crowd with the truth that their ignorance was the result of not listening to the Word of God regarding the Messiah (Old testament Hebrew) or Christ (New testament Greek). They had witnessed the life of Jesus. His words had cut their hearts and His miracles had upset their reason. His suffering before and on the cross was still fresh in their minds. Peter preached that this was all foretold by the prophets. He added that the prophets who had spoken of Messiah’s suffering also spoke of His victorious return and restoration of our fallen souls and our fallen world. These prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ so that this Pentecost crowd and we who have the blessing of hearing Peter’s words here in the Bible might turn our hearts away from our wickedness and toward our Savior. Truly Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies that prompt repentance.

The prophets foretold that Christ will suffer. In many ways it seems contradictory that the Messiah who would be God’s Son coming to deliver His children from their enemies would suffer. But Isaiah led the prophets in identifying Messiah as a suffering servant… “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). The Lord further revealed through His prophet Isaiah that Messiah would serve us by suffering in our place to atone for our sin… “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6). Christ’s suffering for us prompts our hearts to turn from sin and to look to Christ, our sin-bearer with great thanksgiving.

The prophets declared that Christ will return. Writing prophetically, David made it clear the grave would not keep Him… “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). The Spirit inspired Job to speak of the second coming of Christ… “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25). The promise of Christ’s return prompts us to live every day as if He is returning today.

The prophets promised that Christ will restore. Isaiah declared that God will create a new heavens and new earth… “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain” (Isaiah 66:22), and Jeremiah confirmed that Messiah will reign over them… “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 23:5). The certainty of Christ’s restoration of all things prompts our hearts to submit to His sovereignty and trust in His restoring power in every circumstance today.

As we grow up into Christ, we are encouraged and strengthened every day by…

The Prophecies that Prompt Repentance.