Repentance

People do not like this word, but it is necessary for all of us if we want to have any kind of relationship with anyone.  At times a married couple needs to repent and say I am sorry to one another and mean what they say by demonstrating their remorse.  The problem with many marriages is that we have far too much pride and instead of humbling ourselves we cause strife and grief and hold onto our pride until many marriages end in divorce or separation.  This can happen to both parties if one or the other or both will not repent and admit that they were wrong.  This happens in relationships, business practices, between family members, in ministries and in all different factions of life.

What does it mean to repent?  It means to turn around and go in another direction.  It also means being sorry for what you did!!

Read Peter’s reaction when he repented the time that he denied the Lord three different times in Luke 22:62, “And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

Peter’s reaction to what he had done showed that he was very sorry and had a repentant spirit and that He would never do that again, and he never did, even though it cost him his life.  He was crucified upside down, but he never denied the Lord.  That is the difference between true repentance, and just talk, which seems to happen far too often today.

Repentance was very important to Jesus also, not that He ever had to repent Himself, but read what He said when He started His ministry after John baptized Him and He withdrew to spend time seeking God in Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

And, think about what John’s baptism was for, read Matthew 3:1-12, “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: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The word repentance should be very important to every believer.  We all need to repent of our sins and turn from them and ask the good Lord to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  But this word is not heard in many of our church services today and it is hurting many people that need to hear about it.  There are many altar calls that have nothing to do with man’s condition before the Lord or repentance or turning away from your sins.  All you hear that is needed, is to ask the Lord to be your Lord and Savior.  I know I may sound like a broken record coming back to this so many times in various ways but this is so important.

Think about Jesus’ words that he spoke in John 8:10-11, about the woman caught in adultery “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

And also in John 5:14, when He healed an impotent man at the pool Bethesda,  “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

Jesus talked about repentance in the book of Revelations in the 3^rd and 4^th chapters and in Revelations 3:20 He said this to the church, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Paul spoke about repentance also.  Repentance is spoken of all through the Bible.

If you would like to read a very good book on this subject, purchase Dr. Michael Brown’s book called, “Go and Sin No More.”   It is a real eye opener on this subject and will help you to treat sin very differently because you will see it for what it is and what it does in a person’s life and in our relationships and also our relationship with the Lord!!  Sin has to be dealt with and truly repented of if we expect to have a relationship with the Lord, so think about what you have read today.  I hope this has been an encouragement and a help for you today.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!