Repentance

From: The Christian Shepherd: 2002 By: Gordon Henry Hayhoe

From: Repentance

• 5 min. read • grade level: 9

The Work of Christ

The Lord Jesus, after He had completed the blessed and glorious work of redemption on Calvary’s cross, was buried and rose again on the third day. The Scripture has recorded the various occasions on which He met with His own after His resurrection, giving them abundant proof that the work of redemption had been completed. “Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:25-5:1²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 4:25‑5:1)).

The Word of God

Before His ascension to heaven, He told them of the coming of the Holy Spirit, which took place on the day of Pentecost, and He commissioned them to carry the blessed message of salvation to “whosoever will” in the whole world (see Mark 16:15¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)). He said that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations” (Luke 24:47⁴⁷And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)). The Apostle Peter called upon those of the nation of Israel to repent (Acts 2:38³⁸Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)), and Paul, later on, when preaching to Gentiles (Acts 17:30-31³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: ³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31)), told them that “God . . . now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” Also, when Paul gave charges to those at Ephesus, he said that his message in the gospel was the necessity of “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21²¹Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)).

Repentance and the Gospel

With the Lord’s help I would like to consider, in the light of Scripture, the subject of repentance and its importance in the proclamation of the gospel message. The real meaning of repentance is a “change of mind,” and so God calls upon men and women to have a change of mind about their real condition in the presence of a holy God who hates sin. We read in the Bible, which is God’s Word, “Thou [God] art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab. 1:13¹³Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:13)). Many people look very lightly on sin and laugh about it as though it were nothing and even are entertained by jokes about sin. They are like a man who has cancer and does not know the seriousness of his condition. He gets a real change of mind when he visits the doctor and the doctor tells him his true condition. If he thinks the doctor is only joking, he might laugh, but if he believes the doctor, he is very seriously concerned and wants to hear about a remedy.

God has very clearly told us about our true condition as sinners. He tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). He tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)) and that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).

God’s Remedy for Sin

God not only tells us of our true condition, but He tells us that there is a sure remedy. Listen to these lovely verses that tell us of God’s remedy. In wondrous love He sent His own Son to bear the full penalty for our sins on Calvary’s cross. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28²⁸So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). The question is, If you have truly repented and had a change of mind about your true condition, will you accept the remedy God has provided? It is offered as a gift, if you are ready to take your place as a guilty sinner before Him.

How Much Repentance?

Some are concerned as to whether they have repented enough and if they have felt and confessed every sin. Now the Bible says, “They that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)). Until a sinner comes to the Lord Jesus, his whole life is sinful before God. He is called upon to own his true condition—not a question of whether he has repented enough. The man who got the blessing in Luke 18:13¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13) simply acknowledged his guilt and said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

We read in Job 33:27-28²⁷He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; ²⁸He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. (Job 33:27‑28), “He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.” “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7⁷Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)).

True Repentance