“Repent and be saved!” You can probably envision a stern-browed preacher pounding the pulpit, punching the air and pointing at the congregation while he shouted this exclamation. This was a standard call for pastors and evangelists of ages past, but the message seems out of place today. To us, the rhetoric seems too harsh, critical, and perhaps even uncompassionate. Instead, we now ask people to “come to Christ”, “let Jesus into your heart”, or “would you like to go to heaven?”
The idea of repentance is repugnant to most. It bears with it the need for change. In order to acknowledge a need for repentance, you have to truly believe that what you are doing is unfruitful, unwise, and sinful. Namely, that you have made the wrong choices in life and you must agree with God that His ways are better than yours (in fact, His ways are perfect!). When your mindset, actions, and lifestyle are running contrary to what God’s will, you are living in sin and the choices you have made will be judged. This is why repentance is needed.
You will find a call for repentance all throughout Scripture. It is the main ingredient in any message where a person is trying to be brought into a relationship with God. Jesus and his apostles used this term repeatedly, as it is found at the heart of the gospel message. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15 – also see Matthew 4:17, 9:13) When Jesus sent out his disciples during his earthly ministry, the Bible tell us that “they went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:12) In fact, repentance is the only specific thing we know about the message they brought to the people. After his resurrection, Jesus gave explicit instructions to his disciples about their coming mission, explaining: “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.” (Luke 24:46-47) Note that He tells them “repentance” should be preached to all nations. It is key to the gospel message.
Peter was the first to use this declaration on the day of Pentecost. After his message in Jerusalem, people were convicted but didn’t know how to respond. The invitation Peter gave was simply, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you.” (Acts 2:38) Paul also used this term as the center of his presentation of the gospel throughout his ministry. He told King Agrippa that his message was “unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God.” (Acts 26:20) There are literally dozens of other examples throughout Scripture where repentance is used to call people to the Lord.
Repentance is always the first step towards a relationship with God the father. For those that don’t know Christ, repentance must precede a saving faith in the work of Jesus Christ for them. For the believer who has not been living for the Lord, repentance is the first step that allows them to be brought back into fellowship with God. Ezekiel 18:30 warns us to “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.”
Repentance requires a change in your mindset. It requires you to humble yourself, admit your guilt, and throw yourself on God’s mercy. If you have never repented of your sins and put your faith in the work of Jesus Christ, contact me. I’d love you share with you the simple message of how the gospel can change you. If you are born again but living out of step with God’s will – REPENT! The good news is that we know with certainty how God will react when we truly come with a heart of repentance before Him – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)