Time for Repentance?

Repentance, as we now know it is a intentional turning away from our sin. Leaving old ways and habits far behind, most of the times it will even involve “new friends” along with our new character. Repentance is absolutely a requirement of God; true salvation cannot be completed any other way. Yes you must believe, Yes you must confess your sins, Yes you must be baptized, however without repentance you are doomed…Doomed to perish, for doing all of the above without repentance would be like planting flowers, you have the flowers and the pot and the soil and some fertilizer, but no water. Without water your flowers are doomed to dry up, wither away and die. Likewise, it is for us when we do not have repentance.

Jesus, tells us in, Luke 13:3-5 (NASB95) 3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
No better time than the present, right? Why put off to tomorrow what you can do today? These are just two sayings of the dozens, I am sure, but the wisdom they provide are immeasurable, what they mean in the area of repentance is that we must do it now and do it often. Even as believers we will fall into sin, sometimes we may not even realize that, an attitude is sinful or dwelling on certain feelings can lead to sin. However when we realize or are convicted by the Holy Spirit, we must confess and repent, scripture teaches us in, Revelation 2:5 (NASB95) 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
This is a serious warning, some might want to take it as a threat but God does not threaten, He will warn us and let us know the consequences of our chosen actions, but it will be our choice to turn or not to turn. Make no mistake God’s desire for this would be to turn but it will be your choice. In Genesis, we are given the account of the Noah and the flood. God told the people to repent and to turn from the wicked ways, to abandon their lives of immorality, He was overly patient with them in fact, and He gave them over “One Hundred years” during this time Noah built the ark and preached to the people of his day, letting them know of Gods heartbreak over their condition. The people choose to remain in their sin, they clung to their idolatry and to their sexual immorality, you see they refused to turn to their creator and turn from their evil ways,
One of the things that I have found most interesting of the account of the days leading up to the flood is that even though Gods heart was grieved and His intention was to destroy everything. His intention was to destroy every man, woman and child, every animal, be it in the water the air including to the tiniest insect, every plant, tree, literally every living thing. God was going to destroy it all, but Noah found favor in Gods eyes and he alone with his family was spared the doom. There is a great lesson here for us today, while in those days your own righteousness was accounted to you and maybe even your family, however God knew that when left to our own righteousness there would not be many who would be able to achieve. It is here Gods love for us is shown through Jesus, again one mans righteousness was to be salvation for others. God is truly amazing and awesome in love and mercy.
John the Baptist began his ministry preaching in the wilderness of Judea with some very hard words Matthew 3:2 (NASB95) 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” These are the very words that Jesus started His ministry with as well, in Matthew 4:17 (NASB95) 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The word repent from the Greek is the word “Metanoeo” to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins.
Now in looking at the last part of this identical statement we see that the “Kingdom of God is at hand” looking at the last word “Hand” this is the Greek word, “Eggizo” the phonetic spelling is “eng-id'-zo” this word literally means to draw or come near to, to approach
So both John the Baptist and Jesus explained or need to change our mind toward our sin (repent) for Gods Kingdom has drawn near or is to approach. With that in mind, it is very easy to see that now is the time for repentance.
We should find ourselves sorrowful over our sinful condition; our heart should be broken to the fact that we have done such evil in the face of a Holy God. In this state of sorrow we can go before God and confess our sins, and repent of them and in our sorrow, we can be made joyful. God’s formula is clear and concise, a contrite heart sorrowful over our sinful condition, given to repentance, leads to salvation through Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11 (NASB95)9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Gods heart made joyous… You and I make our Lord’s heart sing when we come to repentance, in Luke chapter 15 Jesus tells two parables the first of the lost sheep and the second of a lost coin, and the joy that is derived when the lost is found. Now, in our natural sinful state we are lost, not that God cannot find us but that we cannot find Him. For most they do not even look for him, but Jesus tell us that God is drawing us to Himself by other people that He sends into our lives by His word, by the Holy Spirit, all who call us to this repentance, by showing us our condition. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus tell us of the joy of the angels of God over one sinner who comes to repentance. Luke 15:10 (NASB95) 10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
How awesome to know that God and His angels are so joyful over one sinful person who come to repentance. Also in the gospel of Luke Jesus tells us that he came for this purpose to call sinners to repentance not the righteous. Luke 5:32 (NASB95) 32 “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
I want to wind down with a trip over to the gospel of Matthew, where we will see where God stands on our self-perception of being a good person, how easy it is to be self-righteous, and some places where we set up idols or where we make other things the object of our worship. God cannot come second to anything or anyone nor should He have to.


God loved us so much that he let the true righteousness of one man Noah, keep the bloodline alive. God has loved us so much that He came and took our place of punishment, so we could know Him. While for most the cost is to high, they just could never give up the pleasures of this world for the pleasure that is to come. I dare say that is as much a lack of faith as it is a lustful desire for their own selfish pleasure, pleasure not delayed but the gratification of doing it all now. Oh how selfish man is, how depraved, how undeserving of the expensive love that God has given so freely.

If you have a child think about this…Would you let your child die out of your selfless love of another? What I am asking is consider God for just one moment. Could you send your child to be brutally beaten, spit on, nailed to a cross, just so you can have a relationship with the people who your child died for, could you do that? Lets look at the verses in Matthew, 19:16-26 (NASB95)16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”


Jesus was clear and the message is that with God “ALL” things are possible; it is only God through the blood of Christ that can get you and me through this life and be able to enter into he Kingdom of Heaven.
Who can be saved? Only the one who has been washed in the blood of Jesus!
The only way that one gets washed in His Holy blood is to accept the gift of salvation, believe that Jesus is, confess your sins to God, Die to this world, and eternity can be yours. God is the only one who knows your heart, but I can say this much, the condition of your heart will be reflected outwardly to the rest of this fallen world. After we repent we die to this world we must choose to take the narrow road, as Jesus said it is the only path to life, but he also said that few will find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB95)13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Therefore, Time for Repentance is today lay down your sinful selfish life, deny yourself pick up your cross and follow Jesus. My friend if you are not a “follower” then now is your time. Follow in the Greek is the word “Akoloutheo” and the definition is 1 to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him. 2 to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple.
I wanted you to clearly understand what it means to follow but you must also know one other word and it is Deny, in the Greek it is “Aparneomai” to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests.
We cannot do this on our own, nor does God ask it of us, but we must come to that place in ourselves that say no matter the cost “I Will Follow Jesus” no matter the cost. In Matthew 16:24 (NASB95) 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

Today the hour of Repentance has come, what will you do?