We have seen this week how important repentance is.  It is necessary for one to become a Christian (Acts 2:38) and maintain fellowship with God when he sins (Acts 8:22).  In both cases, repentance is a necessary step for reconciliation with God.

Due to the importance of repentance, we need preaching that leads people to do so.  This has been God’s plan from the beginning.    When speaking about sending the Holy Spirit to the apostles, Jesus said, “…He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).  The Spirit would do this through the preaching of the Word just as He did on the day of Pentecost through Peter.

Acts 2:36-37 (NKJV)
³⁶  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ³⁷  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter’s message to the house of Israel was clear and understandable.  This is the kind of preaching that causes people to repent.  It is preaching that convicts the heart.  Whenever we are preaching to or teaching the lost, we must remember this.  Whether it is the preacher behind a pulpit or a Christian conducting a home Bible study at a kitchen table, the message must be clear.  Paul is a good example of this.  While he taught some things to Christians that were hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16), when teaching the lost, his message was clear.  

1 Corinthians 2:1-4 (KJV)
¹  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. ²  For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

On the day of Pentecost, the Jews understood Peter’s inspired message, and many of them were moved to obey the gospel (Acts 2:41).

Peter’s message was not only clear, but it was also on target.  He told the people exactly what they needed to hear.  He was not interested in appealing to those with itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3), but rather was attempting to win souls to Christ.  That should be the primary aim of all teaching and preaching when we are dealing with those who are lost.  The only way to do that is to tell people what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear.

Let’s not hinder the work of the Spirit by watering down the Word of God.  Let’s teach the truth in a simple and straightforward manner.  That is what convicts the heart and leads to repentance.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.