Acts 5:31 - Israel granted repentance

"The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

So.... God granted Israel repentance for the forgiveness of sins. I wonder what that means.

 

So WHEN did God grant this repentance for the forgiveness of sins to Israel?

BEFORE or AFTER the cross?

 

Seems that Israel was granted repentance unto life as a result of Jesus' resurrection. Wonder what happened to those OT saints.

 

Seems as if they didn't have forgiveness before Christ.

Had to be after the cross because before the cross there was no sacrafice that was sufficient.

Christ set them free from the captivity of death.
May Christ Shine His Light On Us all;
Mike </font>[/QUOTE]Amen.

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:23).

"Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:15).

And because since the cross they can now have their sins forgiven, these Jews can only now...

"have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

And that heart cleansed was something that just could not happen in the OT.

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year.

No forgiveness of sins, no getting into the Holy of Holies. No forgiveness of sins, no cleansed heart. No dying with the cross of Christ, no new birth resurrection life in the risen Christ.

No OT regeneration.

No Doctrine of Total Depravity.

Israel was granted repentance unto life because this was something unavailable before the resurrection of Jesus.

" Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven..... Men of Judea.... being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.... Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

"What shall we do?"

"Repent and be baptized... for the remission of sins... and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

"God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."

[ March 03, 2005, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: Ben Elohim ]