WHAT JESUS' FOLLOWERS LEARNED ABOUT REPENTANCE -Continue

 The apostle Peter learned a great deal from Jesus about repentance and forgiveness. Peter often needed forgiveness, and Jesus extended it generously. For example, after Peter denied knowing his Lord three times, he felt crushed by his ow guilt. (Matthew 26:34, 35, 69-75) But after Jesus was resurrected, he appeared to Peter-apparently in private. (Luke 24:33, 34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5) No doubt on that occasion, Jesus lovingly forgave and reassured his repentance apostle. - See Mark 16:7 and study note "and Peter." 

Having had firsthand experience, Peter could now teach others about repentance and forgiveness. Sometime after the festival of Pentecost, Peter gave a discourse to a crowd of unbelieving Jews, explaining to them that they had put the Messiah to death. Yet, he lovingly urged them: "Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, so that the seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah himself." (Acts 3:14, 15, 17, 19) Peter thus showed that repentance moves a sinner to turn around-to change his wrong way of thinking and acting-and pursue a new course, one pleasing to God.  The apostle also showed Jehovah would blot out their sins, or cause their sins to disappear. And decades later, Peter assured Christians: "Jehovah . . . is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) What a beautiful hope for Christians when they commit sins-even serious ones!

Next time: WHAT JESUS' FOLLOWERS LEARNED ABOUT REPENTANCE -Conclusion 

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