In response to the gospel, Peter exhorts the people to: “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-39).
All throughout God’s Word, we are called to practice repentance. Although His work on the cross is the final work for salvation, He invites us into the practice of repentance from our sin. We believe that repentance encompasses confession, surrender, turning away from sin, and turning towards the freedom and life Jesus offers. As we continue in the daily practice of repentance, we see growth and movement towards God.
In the beginning of Acts 2, Peter lays out the gospel message. In verse 37, we see those who were listening to the message “…were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” God’s Word had pierced their hearts and created a desire in them to have peace with God. God was calling them to Himself and calling them to repent. We believe that when we encounter the truth of the gospel, we are drawn to God and away from our sin.
Our desire through Rooted is to help each participant see the truth of the gospel and realize their need for the continual practice of repentance. Sin doesn’t disappear from our lives once we place our faith in Jesus, but we do have the ability to repent and turn away from the things that keep us from following Him wholeheartedly.
During Week 5 of the Rooted experience, we talk about spiritual warfare—what it is, what it means to put on the armor of God, and how we are still tempted as Christians. During that discussion, we give each person the opportunity to confess a personal struggle and then to be prayed over. This time can become a safe place for every person to recognize their own brokenness and pray together for forgiveness and healing. For some, this may be the first time they’ve experienced the freedom and power of confession and repentance, breaking strongholds that have held them back from the abundant life Christ makes possible.
Jessica Ludwig is the Marketing Manager at Rooted Network. She loves people and her favorite activities include cooking for and hosting friends and family, sharing about the redemptive work of Jesus in her life, and encouraging others on their faith journey. She studied the Bible at Calvary Chapel Bible College before stepping into full-time ministry 13 years ago. She is married to Nathan and lives in Southern California.
