THE ESSENTIALITY OF REPENTANCE

Scriptures

Genesis 22:1-13; Leviticus 17:11; Psalm 32:1-2; Isaiah 53:1-12; Luke 24:44-47; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

Thought 💭

The Gospel is proclaimed with two dominant concepts, repentance and faith towards God:

"God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to REPENT of their sins and turn to him."

—Acts 17:30 (See Hebrews 6:1)

Our focus this week is on repentance. Repentance as a concept is not unique to Christianity, it exists in other religions, but the kind of repentance the New testament writers speak of, is distinguishly unique.

• Repentance in Judaism: Teshuvah = return to God. You stop breaking the commandments, confess, make restitution, and commit to change.
• Islam: Tawbah = turning back to Allah. Sincere regret, cease the sin, resolve not to repeat.
• African Traditional religion (ATR): ATR isn't one single system; it's Yoruba, Fon, Akan, Igbo, Zulu, and dozens more. Sin/wrongdoing is often seen as breaking taboo, offending ancestors, or disrupting community harmony. It's relational and communal. Animals, food, drink, or money offered to ancestors or deities. The goal is appeasement. Appease the offended spirit, cleanse pollution, restore balance. The blood of a goat/fowl to "wash away" the wrong.
• Buddhism: Confession of wrongdoing and resolve to follow the Eightfold Path. Without which Karma (repercussions) take effect.
• Hinduism: Prayaschitta = acts of atonement to restore dharma after breaking moral law. Without which Karma (repercussions) take effect.

So what sets Christianity apart in her call to repentance?

"He told them, 'This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and REPENTANCE for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'"

—Luke 24:46-47

See also Acts 3:18-19:

"But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

—Acts 3:18-19

Key 1: The Messiah dies suffering as an offering for sin.

Substitution as a scriptural truth was illustrated in Genesis 22, Isaac was destined to die as a sacrifice, until God provided a ram that would die in Isaac's place. We see it Leviticus 16, a goat (often called the scapegoat) was taken, and the high priest of Israel placed both hands on its head while confessing over it all the sins of the nation. The goat was then led away to be set loose in the wilderness, never to return. It pictured the sins of Israel being taken away (vs 21-22).

• The Substitutionary work of Christ is prophesied in the Psalms (see Psalm 22), and in the Prophets (see Isaiah 53).

Key 2: Repentance for the forgiveness of sin is preached in Jesus name to all nations.

At the Cross, the Lord Jesus bore the penalty for sins that the righteousness of God demanded (Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 2:24) thus fulfilling the requirements of divine justice. When a sinner trusts in Christ, their guilt is transferred to Him, thus freeing them from the penalty of their sins and His righteousness is transferred to them (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Key 3: When the Gospel is proclaimed, people are to repent, receive forgiveness based on substitution.

What is Substitution?

Substitution is the process by which the guilt of a repentant sinner is transferred to the Lord Jesus, and the righteousness of the Lord Jesus is reckoned to the sinner (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Theologians call this Substitionary atonement.

In Conclusion

God doesn't overlook your sin because you feel bad. Sin was punished; on Jesus instead of YOU (Isaiah 53; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

• In other religions, you repent and then you fix it through sacrifice/ritual, good deeds, self-purification etc. In Christianity, you repent and trust that CHRIST ALREADY FIXED IT ON THE CROSS (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Other religions have works and hope for God's mercy (assurance is uncertain). Only Christianity has a divine substitute taking the penalty of sin, therefore assurance is certain.
• Other religions say "admit you messed up and change." Christianity says "admit you messed up, and trust that God in Christ became the solution to the mess." Repentance is a response to the Cross of Christ.

If we don't understand how repentance works, we won't be able to repent adequately, and more still, we won't be able to preach the Gospel with the concept of repentance adequately, to the NATIONS.

Prayers

#1 Thank God for the gift of repentance that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Thank God that Grace, not karma/works is the basis for repentance.

#2 Ask God to help you acquaint yourself with SUBSTITIONARY atonement as the basis for repentance.

• Ask God to anoint you to preach repentance + forgiveness based on substitution to your unsaved friends, neighbours, work colleagues and the unreached and unengaged nations/peoples.
• Ask God to enable people believe the gospel and repent of their sins based on the substitionary work of Christ on the Cross.

Thank God for answers to prayers.