THE ESSENTIALITY OF REPENTANCE (2): The Urgency of Calling Men to Repentance

Scriptures

Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 4:17; Acts 20:16-21

Thought 💭

We began our thought yesterday by stating that the gospel is proclaimed with two dominant concepts, repentance and faith towards God:

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
—Mark 1:15

Turning FROM SIN is REPENTANCE. Turning TO CHRIST is FAITH.

"...testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
—Acts 20:21

Now in a culture sold on unconditional self-acceptance, repentance has become unpopular, an almost avoidable word, little wonder that some teachers in the body of Christ have began to teach that New testament preaching does not require "repentance" only "faith". People "should only believe in Jesus Christ and they will be saved!" Some Bible teachers have even taken this error further, they claim that "believers are NOT required to ask God for forgiveness when they 'sin' as your past, present, and future sins were already paid for by Christ on the cross." I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT THESE ARE ERRONEOUS TEACHINGS.

Let's quote Acts 20:21 in full:

"I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike; the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus."
—Acts 20:21, NLT

"testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
—Acts 20:21, NKJV

"But constantly and earnestly I bore testimony both to Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance [that is due] to God and to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [that is due Him]."
—Acts 20:21, AMP

The TRUE GOSPEL is proclaimed with two dominant concepts, REPENTANCE and FAITH TOWARDS GOD, TO BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES! In fact, they are two sides of the same coin.

Yesterday, I laboured to show you the concept of repentance in other religions (yes it was labour, as I spent almost the whole of yesterday trying to compress six hour notes of comparative religion into one comprehensive thought). And that the unique blend of substitionary atonement into the New testament concept of repentance is what makes the gospel such GOOD NEWS, and arresting, confounding and yet winsome to Muslims and people of other faiths.

Finally for today, the Gospels begins with a call to repent. Compared to the Old testament, the New testament call to repentance come with a greater urgency.

Why?

John the Baptist:
"Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
—Matthew 3:1-2, NLT

Our Lord Jesus:
"From then on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.'"
—Matthew 4:17

Apostle Peter:
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."
—Acts 2:38, KJV

Again, the apostle Peter:
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
—Acts 3:19

Paul:
"God commands men everywhere to repent and turn towards God"
—Acts 17:30

because God has set a specific day to JUDGE the world with justice through Jesus, whom He raised from the dead (Acts 17:31).

The essentiality of repentance:

• The Kingdom is here, and entry is contingent upon repentance
• Forgiveness of sins is contingent upon repentance
• Refreshing will come upon repentance
• God's wrath or judgement will fall on all those who do not repent

The urgency to call men and women everywhere to REPENTANCE must come BACK to the Church. CONVERSION is the greatest blessing and DISCIPLESHIP the greatest responsibility. Through preaching the gospel with the two-fold concepts of repentance and faith, that voluntary change in the mind of the unsaved in which he TURNS, on the one hand, FROM SIN; and on the other hand, TO CHRIST results. This turning, FROM SIN TO CHRIST, is man's part. And the NEW BIRTH, the NEW LIFE, is God's part. REPENTANCE is simply man's TURNING. Yet even this turning is God assisted. The Bible speaks of the GOD who TURNS MEN TO HIMSELF:

"Turn us, O God of our salvation."
—Psalm 85:4

"Turn Thou me and I shall be turned."
—Jeremiah 31:18

"And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment."
—John 16:8, AMP

Prayers

#1 Thank God for the two-fold concepts in the Gospel; repentance and faith towards God.

• Thank God for the greater understanding is giving you on this important subject.
• Thank God for deliverance from every erroneous concepts that blunts the Sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word.

#2 Ask God to give you a robust understanding of the essentiality of repentance:

• Entry into the Kingdom is contingent upon repentance.
• Forgiveness of sins is contingent upon repentance.
• Refreshing will come.
• God's wrath or judgement will fall on all those who do not repent.

#3 Ask God to give you a great urgency to call people; family members, unsaved friends, people of other religions to repentance.

• Ask God to turn lost men and women you are praying for to repentance.
• Ask God to turn lost people you are preaching to, to Himself for salvation.
• Believe that as you are preaching, the Holy Spirit will be convicting people of sin, righteousness and judgment.

Thank God for answers to prayers.