Blog
    LifeConnexionMinistries > Blog > Blog > LIFE MARKS: REPENTANCE

LIFE MARKS: REPENTANCE

September 30, 2016

REPENTANCE

John the Baptist, the prophet who showed up in the Judean wilderness wearing a camel hair robe, a leather belt, and eating honey coated locusts, paved the way for Jesus’ ministry. The crowds gathered at the Jordan River to hear him preach a message of repentance. “Repent,” he said in a commanding and authoritative voice, “…for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt. 3:1-2). And those who repented, were immediately baptized by John. Surprisingly, even Jesus showed up at the Jordan to be baptized by John, not because he needed to “repent,” but because this would be the inauguration of His ministry as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him accompanied by the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased” (Mt. 3:16-17). After His baptism, Jesus began to preach the same message as John, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt. 4:17).
Throughout His ministry, Jesus continued to speak of the absolute necessity of repentance (Lk. 13:1-5). In fact, when Jesus commissioned His disciples to take the Good News around the world, He told them to go and preach “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk.24:46-47). And so, Jesus made it clear that without genuine repentance, there can be no forgiveness of sins. Let me repeat that, “without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sins.”
In one of Peter’s first sermons after Jesus’ resurrection, he proclaimed to the crowd, “Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19). And later, the Apostle Paul told the crowd that had gathered on Mars Hill in Athens, “…God commands people everywhere to repent,” (Acts 17:30). And years later as he stood before King Agrippa, Paul told him that Jesus had sent him to proclaim that everyone “…should repent and turn to God” (Acts 26:20).
And so, the message of repentance is woven throughout the New Testament. John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul all proclaimed the absolute necessity of repentance. So what does it mean to “repent?” What we will discover about repentance may surprise you. But that is our topic for next time.

Comments(5)

  1. REPLY
    Ann barrow says
    October 1, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    Thank you

  2. REPLY
    Merlene says
    October 1, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    I enjoyed reading your blog, Jim. God really uses you in a lot of ways.

  3. REPLY
    Dee Angelika says
    October 1, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    Perfectly Wonderful, Pastor Jim!!! Love this Blog!!! Look forward to growing and learning with you!! Thank You!!

  4. REPLY
    Warren Pryor says
    October 1, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    Thank you Jim for this message. It comes at a timely moment for us. In the church we are attending, repentance is not explained. Connecting repentance to the forgiveness of our sins is not explained either. In fact, no invitation is ever given to accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us. The Gospel is taught but afterward no invitation to receive it is offered. The folks are left to their own devises when it comes to entering into a relationship with Jesus. We have had a conversation with the pastor of course. But he is adamant about not giving an invitation of any kind during the service. Any thoughts?

    • REPLY
      Jim says
      November 5, 2016 at 12:41 pm

      Warren, so sorry for the much-too-late reply. Yes indeed, this is a pervasive problem in most churches today. They are filled with well-meaning people, but people who may not be “born again,” which is one of the results of repentance. You are right in that if there is no repentance there can be no forgiveness, and with no forgiveness, there is no genuine spiritual life. I will have more to say about this as we move forward with the issue of repentance in subsequent blogs. Blessings to you, brother.

Post a comment