Well, if I didn't know otherwise, I would have thought that you were listening in on the French meaning that I had just before this one, because we are studying through the gospel of John. And so listening to chapter one, which is where we are being read again, is every bit as much a blessing to my heart as when I was preaching from it. We never tire of the word by God's grace and spirit. And every time, no matter where we read it, where Christ is exalted, we rejoice. So I'm thankful. Well, today our text is taken from Acts chapter 11, and I want to read from verse 1 down to verse 21, and I want to speak with you about repentance unto life. Repentance Unto Life. This title is taken specifically from verse 18 where the conclusion, after hearing Peter's testimony of how the Lord had blessed him to go preach the gospel to Cornelius and his family, you can see the conclusion, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. That's the title, repentance unto life. Move up. Move up. You see the word repentance that's used there in verse 18, it means to have a change of heart and mind toward God. And we know that only God can turn a sinner's heart toward himself. But where he does, it is always unto life. In other words, God never gives repentance to somebody where the result is not everlasting life. I don't know. just as physically, and you read it there in John 1 in verse 13, the witch are born not of the will of man, not of the will of the flesh, not by bloodline, but of God. It takes God giving life to grant repentance and where he grants repentance, it is unto life. I'm in a sauna. Let's read these scriptures to lay the groundwork for what we're going to consider about repentance unto life. I'll begin and the apostles in verse one and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, verse two, they that were of the circumcision contended with him saying, thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision a certain vessel descend as it had been a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners and it came even to me upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes I considered and saw four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. Ah. Verse seven, and I heard a voice saying unto me, arise Peter, slay and eat. But I said, not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou unclean. And this was done three times and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house, and he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter. The board and the one who was on the canal What does he need to say? You know, I believe I was on the movie. I don't believe it is. I'm so I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm And Peter says in verse 14, who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. For as much 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? When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Now they, which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenix and Cyprus and Antioch, but notice this, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. But whenever you want to, I'm going to let you put your shoes on. So she got a first panel. I don't think you're going to get to go bro. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Awesome. Cool. I'm now going to say, come on. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, that is Gentiles, preaching the Lord Jesus. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. I'm sorry, I missed verse 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. That's an important verse not to miss because where the Lord purposes to save, he saves. Now let's go back over this important portion of scripture that we've just read. And let me speak with you during the time that we have about repentance unto life. Already, we can make a distinction between how the scriptures describe repentance unto life and what we see being preached popularly today as man's decision to get life. There's a difference. What we can conclude just from the reading of this portion is that repentance in verse 17 is called the gift of of God. God gave them the like gift as he did unto us. And in verse 18, it's described as that which God grants. So either way, repentance is of the Lord, not of man. I find it amazing that preachers will preach to people about what they need to do in order to be born again. Here's the things you need to do to be born again. That's what's being told dead sinners. I relate this to physical birth and I ask anybody, what did you do to be born? What did you do to be conceived in your mother's womb? What did you do to come forth to life? What did you do? See that shuts the conversation down, doesn't it? But still, Men will argue because their idol is themselves. They've been taught that God expects some decision from you and therefore you do this in order for God to give you new birth. But everything about that goes contrary to the word of God. What do you think? I don't know. The other day, somebody asked me, what was my first recollection or memory as a child? And I had to think back, and it must have been about when I was three years old. But even then, I don't remember whether it was because I remembered it or I saw a picture of myself at three years old. We don't have any cool stuff. What do you want? What do you want? I like to ask people, what do you remember about your birth? What do you remember about the day you were born? And they laugh. They say, I don't remember anything. And I will say, well, why not? You were there. But that's why when we consider our spiritual birth, we have to say it had to have been of God. because I know nothing of his inner workings in me. I know nothing of how this heart was drawn until the day that the Lord opened my eyes and caused me to see and know the Lord Jesus Christ. It was then that I could say that I knew him, but he was already at work in me even before then. Jesus Christ. The way that the Apostle Paul wrote concerning his testimony in Galatians chapter 1 and verse 15, he says, when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son in me. When it pleased God. And notice verse 15 says, who separated me from my mother's womb. So that means he was already God's elect. from his conception, but in time called me by his grace to reveal his son in me." That's the new birth. So you say this matter of repentance being granted, that change of mind and heart toward God, is God acting upon the sinner. and not the sinner acting on behalf of God. The next time someone asks you, when were you saved? Because most people in religion today, they're thinking in terms of a time, a point in time when they made a decision for Jesus. And that's why they talk in those terms. Well, so-and-so got saved tonight, which means for them, he prayed a prayer and so God honored that prayer and now he's saved. That's how the world defines it. I don't know what you're talking about. You know. But if we're to answer according to the scripture, we'd have to say that I was saved in God's purpose from eternity when he had already put me in his son. That was my deliverance. I was saved out of the rest of humanity that God would judge and punish. He's young. That's what Paul was saying when he said separated from his mother's womb. He didn't know it, but the Lord had already marked him out as one of his. So that would be his deliverance. you. But secondly, I'd have to say that I was saved when Christ paid my sin debt. Yes, in his purpose, he purposed to save me, but in time, if you want to know in time, I was saved when Christ paid my sin debt, my sin was put away. And again, I wasn't even there. I was acted upon. Yeah, what I can do maybe. The third I'd have to say I was saved or delivered from my ignorance. and blindness when it pleased God to reveal Christ in me. That's why I often answer, as is described in Philippians chapter one and verse six, when people asked my testimony, I say, well, I'm confident of this, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me or in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, what he's purposed He accomplished there at Calvary and he shall fulfill it all the way into glory. So let's come back to the text here in Acts chapter 11 and let's look at what are the evidences of repentance unto life. How do we know that repentance has been granted unto life? Many times when we read the word, we read so quickly, We miss these little clues, but here's one right here in Acts chapter 11 and verse one. The evidence that one has been granted repentance unto life is that there is a receiving of the word of God. You see that? The apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. You see, this is something that the Lord directs me from time to time to question people that I encounter who tell me they're Christian. Ask them, well tell me exactly how God brought his word home to your heart. Because where God works repentance, it's through his word. So that's a simple question. If they're truly ones to whom God has granted repentance unto life, then they will be able to testify of how this word of God, which is none other than Jesus Christ, was brought home to their heart. And then we listen. I'm gonna be. If they can't testify of how God brought his word home to their heart and revealed Christ in them, the Christ of Scripture, then that means they're a false witness. The police have found this whenever they have to investigate, for example, a car crash. And so they come on the scene. Who is it that they want to question? They want to question people that were there, that actually saw it and had an impression of what they saw. But you know what they have to deal with is a bunch of people testifying that weren't even there. They just heard about it from somebody else and so they're starting to tell their story to the police officer as if they were there and they weren't even there. They're a false witness. Many will testify as if they have experienced something when they haven't. And so when you ask them about how They're testifying, they're saying, well, I'm a Christian. But when you ask them, well, how was the word of God brought home to your heart? They don't even know what you're talking about. For them, their answer is, well, I went to a meeting and I heard a preacher preach. I can't really tell you what he preached about, but in the end, he gave an invitation. And so I felt I should go forward, and they prayed with me, they laid hands on me, and next thing you know, I was in a baptismal class. And after that, they baptized me, and I've been faithful to the church ever since. When you hear somebody talking like that, that's somebody that the Lord has never encountered. Hm. Hm. It's my uncle, I told you, Moon Poo, Monyona, he's my uncle. I'm one. I'm remembering. I'm remembering. You know. Just know there are many, many, many, many that are running to and fro today, calling themselves Christian, but it's not because Christ has been revealed in them. It's because they've been taught what to say. and what to do, and they're following men, and their faith is based upon what they've been told rather than what God has revealed. See the way the word describes conversion, we don't hear today. In verse one, when was the last time you heard it expressed like it is here that there were some people who had also received the word of God? That's how their conversion is described. When you're receiving, that's not you doing the acting, you're the beneficiary. They received the word of God. That is God did the giving and therefore they received his word. And most certainly what you don't read here is that they got saved, that expression. They didn't hear that the Gentiles had gotten saved. No, that they received the word of God. To receive the word, that means the word had to be revealed, else they could not have received it. The Lord brought His Word to them. And in this case, the Word, just like you read a little while ago in John 1 verse 1, the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word is none other than Jesus Christ. That's what it is to receive the Word, is to have Christ revealed in the heart. I don't know. Now, You see, receiving the Word of God is the evidence that He has granted repentance unto life. That means that everything that He has taught us of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Word, not from what men tell us, but through His Word, we believe, we receive, and we bow. Yes. This is why we're burdened, even like there in Malawi, to make sure that we get the word of God And the proper version, one that is in line with the original, because there are a lot of translations out there that people have done just to try to simplify. That's not the word. The word is to be handled prayerfully and carefully and to be preached. As we preach, we preach line upon line, precept upon precept, but all pointing centers to the Lord Jesus Christ. Because if one is to receive the word, it's going to be Christ revealed in them. So that's why we're careful in these matters. I'm I mean, You know people, and I do, that are just as ignorant of the word of God and the record that he has given of his son. They're just as ignorant as the day they were born. They have no clue. And yet they call themselves Christian. I say it to my shame, but there are people today in the world that made a profession of faith back when I first started preaching, when I myself was just as ignorant as the day I was born. And I pointed them to a decision, and I told them that in order to be saved, they had to pray a prayer. And now when I go back and tell those that they're under a false hope, they get upset at me. They will tell me, you can believe whatever you want, but I know that my decision is good. That's how they reason. They're still in darkness, unbelief, and rebellion, having believed a lie. And you can't shake them out of it. I am. I think. Just as the term got saved, You won't find it in scripture, but people use it. The same is true of the term lead sinners to Christ. You ever heard that? Well, we've got to lead sinners to Christ. That's just one blind man leading another blind man and both fall into the hole. I'm. Back when it pleased the Lord to begin this good work in me, He impressed me to sit down and as he brought them to mind to write different ones that I had quote unquote led to Christ back before I even knew anything of the true Christ. And I will tell you the response of everyone was that they thought I had lost my mind. What happened to me? That's what they wanted to know. They weren't burdened or concerned about their own lost his state, but they just thought I was crazy. But that's what men will think, unless it pleases God to open their eyes and reveal Christ in them. I don't know. I don't mean Again, the point we're looking at is what is the evidence that God has granted repentance unto life? There's a receiving of the word. There's a revelation of the word and an embracing of the word and a bowing to the word as it reveals Christ. It's like, yes. Look how the Apostle Paul put it in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13 when he was writing the Thessalonians concerning the work of God in them. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13. We are. You see how it's written there, for this cause also, thank we God without ceasing. If man has any part in his receiving of this word, then you'd have to thank God and man. You'd have to thank them both. He would have to say, well, I thank God that you actually saw through and believed, but that's not what it is to receive the word. I mean, It says there, because when ye receive the word of God, see, God alone is to be thanked because he alone is the one who sends his word. He alone is the one who reveals his word, his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's who the word is. Wherever you see the word of God in scripture, mark in the margin, Jesus Christ, because that's his word. I'm I'm You see this word receiving means to perceive, means to see. That's what Christ told Nicodemus there in John chapter three and verse three, except a man be born again, that word means to be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So when Paul's talking about them receiving the word, it's God giving them the eyes and the ears to see and to hear of Christ. to your country, chapter three. Here's where we need to be very careful in preaching, not to assume that people think or understand what we're saying, because even this word receive that we have here in 1 Thessalonians 2 in verse 13, when ye received the word, or as it's written there in Acts 11 in verse one, they'd heard that they also had received The word men today have been taught that that means that God made the proposal. It's like a negotiation. And now you have to put your signature to it to make it official. That's what they call receiving when they say, would you like to receive the Lord Jesus Christ? What they mean is, would you like to make a decision so that he can come into your life? That's how men are being taught. That's an ignorance that is condemning many to hell. What you're trying to do? I mean, You know. Have you ever been in a situation in your life, maybe you were hungry, you needed food, or you were needing clothing, you needed housing, some protection, and someone stepped in and brought you what you needed. They didn't ask your permission. They saw the need and they came and gave you what you needed in order to continue on. That's a clear example of how God delivers sinners. He doesn't ask their permission. He himself, just like we're saying here, grants repentance unto life. It's a gift. We have nothing to do with it. Our receiving it is God granting us the heart and spirit to bow, that this is of his hand, and that if he doesn't do the saving, we'll never be saved. We've been so far. We've been so far. We've been so far. We've been so far. We're going to do it. But if what you are doing, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you And this is what shocks the world because they have a concept of what it is to get saved, is that term they use. And so if you tell them that you went to a village to preach somewhere, that's the first question they're gonna ask, well, how many got saved? And when you ask them, well, what do you mean by that? And they look at you real funny, like, you don't know? I mean, how many made a decision? That's what they wanna know. How many came forward? And when you tell them, well, I don't give invitations. And then they're gonna say to you, well, how do you know who's saved and who isn't? Our answer is simply this, the Lord knows those that are his and he will draw them. I mean, it was the way. you. I mean, Peter himself testified that he went against his own will. He resisted and yet the Lord worked in spite of him. That's the way he does. He'll work in spite of us. He works through us, but in spite of us. Most of them get up and put up a game. Why, again, here in 1 Thessalonians 2, 13, when you received the word of God, it says there, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, notice, which effectually worketh also in you. that believe. In other words, you wouldn't believe had he not caused his word to be brought effectually home to your heart. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm Now we're not going to get much further than this today, but I want us to say one more scripture in James chapter one. And I want us to read from verse 18 down to verse 25. I'll read a verse and make a comment, but James one 18 says of his own will begat he us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures of his own will. He begat us. You that are farmers and especially there in Malawi where maize is one of the main products that's grown, can you imagine carrying the maize back to the village or going to market and hearing the maize talking and saying, boy, didn't we produce a good fruit? You know. The maize had nothing to do with it. It was the labor of the farmer. Cultivated the field, sowed the seed, and brought it forth. That's God. Of His own will began He us. We're not the farmer. We're not sowing the seed. God does that. We're but the fruit of His labor. That's why it's called first fruit. We're the fruit of His labor. You know. Now, when you begin to preach this way, people get upset, but the scripture already has an answer. Look at verse 19. Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear. and slow to speak, and slow to wrath, that our mouth might be stopped, it says there, for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. You claim to know something of God's righteousness, and yet you're angry at God that he does the saving? May the Lord shut your mouth, is what that's saying. I don't know. But we're going to do. Most people, when they read verse 21, they think that that's some personal cleansing we've got to do to get rid of our sin. No, in the context, to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, that means to reject any thought that somehow something I do contributes to my salvation, but receive, notice, with meekness, humility, farmer term as well. You take and graft a branch to a good tree, and when that grafting takes in, that branch begins to produce the fruit. The grafted word, which is Christ, which is able to save your souls. This is all God's doing. It's not ours. This is this is You know. I'm a. We're gonna have to leave it there for today, but that's the first point here of repentance unto life. Receiving the word is that evidence of repentance toward God, receiving the word, and that's a gift of God. It's by the will of God, it's by the revelation of the spirit, it's implanted in the heart, and it's by the very power of Christ revealed in the gospel. You know, May the Lord grant us such hearts to receive the word that is Christ, just as he's revealed here in the word, the inspired word. I'll turn it back to you. I don't want to kill Jesus. I don't want to kill Jesus. I don't want to kill Jesus. I don't want to kill Jesus. I don't want to kill Jesus.