Apr 19
7
Peter’s Sin And Repentance
Tom Harding
Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
(Matt. 26:75).
There has been much written and said of Peter’s failure and sin when he
denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ, but not much of Peter’s
conviction and repentance that was granted and given of the LORD. Peter
sinned, but he did not lose his salvation. His faith was weak, but not
dead. He sinned and failed miserably, but he was not forsaken (Heb.
13:5). God brought Peter through this trial and granted him strength,
recovery and a constant heart of repentance before God (Acts 5:11;
11:18). Here are four things we learn from Peter’s trial and repentance.
1). It was the working of God’s sovereign providence. “Then began he to
curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock
crew.” God used a rooster to bring to Peter’s mind what the Lord had
said (Matt. 26:34). Often in the believer’s life God uses small
insignificant things to bring us to a remembrance of the gospel. Despise
not the day of small things (Zech. 4:10; Rom. 11:36).
2). It was the working of the effectual word of God. “Peter remembered
the word of Jesus.” It is the preaching of the Word that God uses to
quicken us and to reveal Himself to us (1Cor. 1:21; 2Cor. 4:5-7; James
1:18; 1Peter 1:23). It is through the ministry of the Word, hearing and
believing the word that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ
(1Peter 2:2; 1Thes. 2:13).
3). It was the working of the powerful grace of God. “The Lord turned,
and looked upon Peter” (Luke 22:61). The Lord looked upon Peter in pity,
love and pardon and I am sure that Peter also looked upon the Lord.
Their eyes were fastened upon one another and Peter’s heart melted
within him. It is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance (Rom.
2:4).
4). It was the working of Jesus Christ as our blessed Mediator. “The
Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31).
Peter’s faith was sorely tried, but it was not utterly destroyed (1Peter
1:5). Christ stood as his ever-living Mediator (Heb.7:25)! Peter was
made stronger through this trial and was sent to preach the gospel to
others.
We know the rest of the story of Peter’s life. He stood at Pentecost and
preached the gospel to thousands and the Lord added to His church daily
such as should be saved (Acts. 2: 41-47).