Essentials Of Christianity: Repentance (Key)
Written By: Steve Shirley
The word “repent,” or a form of it, is used 112 times in the Bible.
Why is repentance important?
(Lk 13:3,5) Unless you repent, you will perish.
(Acts 3:19) Repent so you can be converted and have your sins blotted out.
(2 Cor 7:10) Repentance leads to salvation.
(Acts 11:18) Repentance leads to life.
Other verses: (Acts 2:39)(Acts 26:20)(Mt 4:17)(Mk 1:4,15)(Lk 5:32)(Ezek 18:30) (Acts 20:21)(Rom 2:4)(Prov 28:13)(Ezek 15:6)
What does it mean to repent?
Great sorrow and remorse over sins.
Heartbroken you have sinned against God who loves you so much.
Godly sorrow that truly WANTS to forsake sin.
It means confessing your sin, changing your behavior, going in a new direction
which will result in a change in the way you live.
It was one of Jesus’ “woes.” (You never wanted to hear a “woe” from Jesus!) Let’s look at (Mt 11:20-24).
We are commanded to repent: (Acts 17:30)(Mk 6:12)
Failure to repent will lead to our downfall or ruin (Ezek 18:30).
Jesus said it was the reason He came: (Lk 5:32)(Mt 9:13).
Let’s look at two examples of repentance:
Peter: (Mt 26:31-35) Peter says what I consider three of the most dangerous words anyone can say: “I will never” fall away.
Pride goeth before a fall (Prov 16:18)(Prov 29:23).
Let’s continue on to: (Mt 26:69-75)(Key verse: Mt 26:75)
Peter went out and wept bitterly.
** Jesus foresaw that Peter would indeed repent in (Lk 22: 31-32).
Later, in (Jn 21:15-17), we can see Jesus restoring Peter during His resurrection.
David: Had an affair with Bathsheba, and then had her husband murdered to cover it up (2 Sam 11). He then spent approximately 1 year in unrepentant sin. He speaks in (Psalm 32) about how miserable his life was during this time. This was a mistake David apparently made only once in his life. Let’s look at his apology to God for this sin as found in (Psalm 51).
**Note: Notice that while God did indeed forgive David’s sin (2 Sam 12:13), He never forgot about it (Mt 1:6: “David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias:”)
For other examples of repentance on a larger scale see:
(Judg 10:15-16: Israel)
(Jonah 3:5-8, Mt 12:41: Nineveh)
WARNING! BUMPY ROAD AHEAD!
Question: If an abortionist believes in the things we have discussed to this point: the deity of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and the ABC’s, but he continues to abort babies daily, is he saved?
Let’s look at (1 Jn 3:9) We cannot practice sin and be saved. Unrepentant, practiced sin shows we don’t know Jesus.
These things are why preaching repentance is SO important. In a future study, prayerfully we will speak more about “judging,” and what the Bible says about it, however, I take the admonition God gave to Ezekiel personally:
(Ezek 3:18-21) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (19) Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (20) Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (21) Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Two great verses to always remember concerning repentance:
(2 Pet 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL should come to repentance. (Caps emphasis mine)
(Lk 15:7) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more that over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. (Also see: verse 10)