Last week we looked at some compelling examples of how to deal with non-believers who sin against us. We looked in depth at Jesus’ example in Luke 23. When Jesus was crucified he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23.34). This was a request that God might forgive those who sinned against him because they did it in ignorance. Their ignorance was due to their spiritual blindness which only God could cure by leading them to repentance and forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ.
We are to pray for our enemies and those that persecute us in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25). But what do we do when God answers that prayer, leading someone to repentance that was once a pretty undesirable character?
The Bible teaches that we are to accept the repentant sinner. This Sunday we will look in the Book of Acts at how the early Christians had to accept a pretty tough character that God had led to repentance.