CHRISTIAN FINE ART GALLERY > THE GOSPEL SERIES > VI. Repentance, Cleansing, Refreshing (Acts 3:19)
ONFS, Acrylic Painting on Paper
In order to be saved from our sins and to come into a loving, personal relationship with God, we must first repent (confess and turn away from) all of our sins. As soon as we repent, God will forgive us. Secondly, we must trust in Jesus as our personal Savior, believing that he died on the cross to pay the punishment for our sins.
Artist’s Reflection:
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting (turning away from our sins) is the first important step towards reconciliation with God. We must forsake our sinful ways and surrender ourselves to God, choosing to live under his Lordship rather than going our own, independent ways. When we repent, God promises to forgive us of our sins no matter how big or how many they may be.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).
When we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, he forgives all of our sins, past, present and future. “He [Jesus] sacrificed for their [our] sins once for all when he offered himself [on the cross]” (Hebrews 7:27).
When we are “born again” (John 3) in this way, we experience the blessings of an abundant new life from God, the tremendous joy of being forgiven, eternal life and a loving, personal relationship with God!
(The “cracks” of Jesus’ blood breaking through the black sin of this repentant man spell “YHWH” (Yahweh), the Hebrew name for God. God is reaching down to save him.)
Continue to the next part of the message: VII. Call on The Lord and Be Saved (Romans 10:13)
(See also “Message“. To read about how God revealed himself to me and see “About the Artist and Photographer” . If you want to know more about God, please see, “Is God Real?”)