Repentance

This word is not heard in some of our churches and in others it is very seldom heard except at the end of the service for the altar call.  Some people that come to our services don’t even know what the word really means.  It means to change one’s mind, it is not just an irrational decision but a true heartfelt decision that comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit to turn from sin and to turn to the Lord.  

I have heard many sermons over the years that had nothing to do with repentance, but during the altar call you may hear something like this, is there anyone here that would like to receive the Lord, come up and pray this prayer.  The prayer may sound like a nice prayer and the word repentance may be added in, but the person praying may not have a clue what the word even means.  The preachers may think just because they know what the word means, that the non-believer knows also.  The word repentance wasn’t to be taken lightly but it was to be taken very seriously. When John the Immerser was baptizing in the wilderness for repentance he was very serious about what he was doing.

Read what he said to some of the people that came for his baptism in Matthew 3:1-11, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

When John called the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers it was, in those days, a very serious offense to these men.  From my understanding to be called a viper was like saying they were mother killers because they believed that when a baby viper was hatched they would chew through the mother’s stomach which would result in the mother’s death.  So, this statement would have been very offensive to those that John was talking to, it also showed the sincerity of the meaning of the word repentance.  When John said show forth fruits of repentance, he was saying it was an action word that went far beyond just speech; but the way we use it today many people don’t have any idea what it means just like in John’s day.

When Jesus started His ministry, this is what He said in Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  

Even Jesus emphasized how important repentance was.  Jesus’ purpose was to come and raise the dead because people were dead in their trespasses and sins, we were all spiritually dead and, in order for us to be forgiven we had to repent, turn from our sins and turn to God and accept His free gift of grace.  

These things didn’t happen because we decide one day that we will try our best to be good.  These things take place when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and the Lord draws us to Jesus and we repent and receive the Lord as our personal Savior.  This is not worldly sorrow that leads to death, this is godly sorrow that leads you to repentance unto salvation through Jesus Christ, the One that laid down His life for all who would believe and receive.  It cost Him a great price to buy our pardon, but He was willing, not only to be crucified and to have a crown of thorns smashed down upon His head, but to be spit upon and beaten and humiliated even at the hands of His enemies.  But think of this, Jesus said this before He died, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,” because He even loves His enemies!!  

Please read John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Jesus claimed to be the only way to get to God, His Father.  Jesus said it and I believe it!!  There are a lot of people that believe there is more than one way to get to God but like I said Jesus said that He was the only way.

If you want to have a relationship with God and the conviction of the Holy Spirt over your sins being applied to you, then repent and ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins and be the Lord of your life.  If you are sincere, your life will never be the same.  Enough said, may you and yours be blessed and may you all have a super day!!  To God be all the glory, amen and don’t forget to thank and praise Him for He is worthy!!