Acts 3:11-26 | Who Are You Turning To?Sample

Turn to God. You don’t have to be afraid. That’s what Peter says.

Just like in Acts 2, Peter turns up the heat on those listening. Here’s the essence of it: “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life.”

When God sends you his son, but then you kill him, there’s a lot of reason to be afraid.

But the rest of what Peter says turns that fear on its head. God is powerful and right to judge, but God is also something else: gracious and compassionate. That means we can turn to him. Even when we deserve to be punished. Even when we’re guilty of killing his own son.

Peter says the same to the crowd. He doesn’t pull any punches, but then softens the blow. God gets it. We’re blind, stupid people who act out of ignorance and do unbelievably awful things. But that’s why Jesus died. For blind, stupid, ignorant people like you and me.

The good news we’ll hear again and again through Acts is that God invites us to turn to him in our culpability and guilt. He invites us to run to him, not away from him. He is gracious and compassionate. Because Jesus died for you, you can turn to him in the confidence of his forgiveness. With God, you no longer have to be afraid.