Repent! Come Face to Face With God Through Jesus Christ - The Ultimate Gift

Uh, oh! I  just used the "R” word! What was I thinking? This word has been increasingly falling into disrepute and disuse. It's been misconstrued, misunderstood, and frankly, misplaced. This word needs to make a comeback not only in the church, where it's conspicuously missing, but also in the public square. "Never happen!" you say? Well, let's begin by defining the word then opening up our Bibles to see when it is used properly, 1.) who used the word; 2) the reason they used the word; 3) whether the intent was to benefit or harm others.  But before we dive in, here are some other words that have fallen into similar disuse":  "sin", "conviction", "hell", and the like. These are being left out of the average sermon and even evangelistic efforts. They are being replaced by words like "blessing", "prosperity", "positive", "glory", "prophetic word", "a good life", "healing", "breakthrough", you name it. Although these are all good words, messages which focus on the latter half are indeed lopsided "Gospels," which make no room for what often follows the submitted Christian life, such as "persecution", "disenfranchisement", "imprisonment", "kidnap", "torture", and even "martyrdom".  The question is: Are we adequately preparing the average believer for a full life in Christ or one that is superficial and nominal? Perhaps more like a country club version of Christianity? To give one side without the other is to offer believers, new and old, an un-biblical view of the Christian life. So how was the word "repent" used in the Bible?

As he prepared the way for Jesus' ministry, John the Baptist came onto the scene preaching, "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand". (Matthew 3:2) As John's ministry was ending and Jesus was beginning His, John said in John 3:30: "He must increase and I must decrease." Read that whole account in John 3 from verses 22 to 36 how John exalts Jesus Christ as the One he had been preaching about and for Whom he had been preparing the way. Therefore, after John's ministry had ended at his death, Jesus began His ministry preaching "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17).  And just as this was the beginning of these ministries, it is also the beginning of the life of the Christ-follower. You see, we cannot face God with sin because it is the great chasm between God and man. We must repent and put away those things that separate us from God by believing in His Son for forgiveness and purposing to walk with God. Repentance is first because it means that we stop to take stock of our hopeless condition and seek the only One who can offer a solution to sin. And while we believe Jesus did all that was necessary to cleanse us from sin, nothing about salvation is automatic because we are not robots. He did His part, therefore, we must respond with ours. 

Jesus, the One Whom we follow, had to endure what no other individual has had to endure. Further He taught that the student is no better than the Teacher, and that in this life, we would have trials and tribulations. But these hardships are not meant to break us; instead they are used to teach us perseverance and endurance. How? Because 1. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us, so we are never alone in our trials, and 2. He taught us by  His example how to overcome the world. As we identified with His death by putting away our old nature never to return to a bondage of sin, so we also identify with His resurrection to new lives of victory in Christ. (Galatians 2:20 paraphrased). The old man has gone behold the new has come. (Romans 8:1).  With this new life we then learn to walk according to the Holy Spirit and not according to our sinful flesh. " Read in Romans 8 about walking free from indwelling sin and as sons of God according to the Spirit. It's amazing how wonderfully God has laid out the life He wants us to lead. Actually, the life we must lead so that it is clear to all, Whose we are. 

Admittedly, this is not the kind of post or message that will have throngs of people clamoring to read it. But thankfully, there are those with whom this will strike a chord, and not a dissonant one either, but beautifully consonant with the melodious revelation of biblical truth. The same truth that was breathed and given to us by God, the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead. Yes, the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible, not men and many like to argue. If it were not for the Holy Spirit's direction it would impossible for that many authors to write that one cohesive integrated text. Only a single Author could create such a complete message to mankind. Unfortunately, many today would rather hear an ear-tickling feel-good word rather than the Word of God, which sometimes does not feel good. Let's face it, if you are in sin (that simply means not living the life that God has designed for you, missing the mark and going awry of His plan for mankind. And if you are missing the mark in living under heaven's jurisdiction, there is only one other alternative that is living under the devil's jurisdiction. There is no middle ground. So it is sad to see that many who call themselves believers have two main requirements: A good "word" (meaning make me feel good) and good "worship" (meaning entertain me and make me feel good). 

But getting back to the words like "hell", "repent," and "sin",  aren't they necessary for the spreading of the true Gospel and teaching about life in Christ? Do we even believe that Jesus came to earth for the reason He said He did? That is, to be the final sacrifice for man's sin, which had formed an eternal gulf between man and God? We find the events that led up to the separation between God and man in the very beginning of the Bible, the first three chapters of Genesis. And every once in a while, we need to go back to the beginning and work our way forward to remind ourselves of our need for a Savior. That story should never get old. It's when that story gets "old" that we find ourselves substituting for that which makes us feel good. So now that we have some background, let's take a look at the word "repent". To repent is ... 

1.to feel sorry, selfreproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often followed by of):2.to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent. 3. to remember or regard with selfreproach or contrition: 4. to feel sorry for; regret: "Middle English repenten < Old French repentir, equivalent to re- re- + pentir to feel sorrow (<Latin paenitēre to regret, be sorry); see penitent"

This word came into use between 1250 and 1300. Makes you wonder what they used centuries beforehand. That may have been around the time the people actually had the Bible made available to them in common language for the first time in history. Prior to that the Roman Catholic Church only used the Bible in Latin and the common people had no direct access to the written Word of God. They had to depend upon the priests to know the Word and will of God. One last thing before we get into the Scripture. The use of the word in the original Hebrew and in Greek.

Note and refer to E-Sword -  Definition of "Repent" as used in Scripture from Strong’s Concordance: 
H2398 חטא châṭâ' khaw-taw' ... offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness), trespassive H5162 נחם nâcham naw-kham'... to be sorry, H7725 שׁוּב  shûb shoob ... to turn back ... generally to retreat; ... withdraw.
G3338 μεταμέλλομαι metamellomai met-am-el'-lom-ahee From G3326 and the middle of G3199; to care afterwards, that is, regret: - repent (self).  G3340 μετανοέω metanoeō met-an-o-eh'-o From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent. RepentRE'PENT, a. [L. repo, to creep.] Creeping; as a repent root.
  

REPENT', v.i. [L. re and paeniteo, from paena, pain. Gr. See Paint.] 1. To feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken; ... 2. To express sorrow for something past.…  3. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct.… 4. Applied to the Supreme Being, to change the course of providential dealings. Gen 6. Psa 106.… 5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13. Acts 3. REPENT', v.t 1. To remember with sorrow; ...

In a nutshell, repenting is feeling remorse for bad actions and committing not to repeat them. What's so bad about that? After all, there are 3 main responses to our past sin or bad actions: 1. Remorse and regret as in a desire to change, 2. Indifference as in having a seared conscious; and 3. arrogance and pride. According to the biblical view of sin, only one response will cause God's grace and mercy to flow and that is remorse and regret, with intention to turn away from wicked ways and toward Christ for liberty and leadership. Regarding the other two responses, we know that indifference is abhorrent to God, we see this in His response to the Laodicean church., a.k.a. the lukewarm church according to Revelation 3:14-22. The Bible tells us that His charge against them was their lukewarmness, which made Him want to vomit them out of His mouth; a very strong response to those who choose indifference over action. 

Then there is the proud and arrogant sinner. Well, we know what God thinks about pride. It appears in many parts of the Bible; whereas, He gives grace to the humble. In short, God hates pride no matter what form it takes, and the Bible says pride comes before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18). It is what caused Lucifer to be tossed out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12), Nebuchadnezzar to lose his mind and live like an animal for seven years (Daniel 4:33), Saul of Tarsus to be knocked off his horse and blinded (Acts 9:4; 22:7; 28:14). Thankfully, two of these figures were given to repentance and received forgiveness and restoration. It's quite interesting that the two who were restored were humans. It's as if those Whom God has made in His own image receive that special treatment where He is always waiting with open arms to receive the repentant. And in these accounts and so many others where repentance was the response, it is clear that it is a heart-felt deep remorse and sorrow for the sin. As if once the blinders of sin come off, the repentant soul can for the first time see their condition and need for a Savior. Without repentance, there can be no real and lasting change in the life of the sinner. And truly, as the Scripture says, it's God's "kindness that leads us to repentance". In the end repentance is actually a "positive" word because it leads one to the face of God. Conclusion: only one response to sin is acceptable to God and that is repentance. 

I once left a church because the pastor started down a dangerous road. At one evening service I actually heard this said: "There is no longer a need for repentance and the conviction of sin." I could not believe what I was hearing. And although I have not heard it since, others preach a similar message of "no repentance and no conviction." However, it is usually more indirect by avoiding the words and focusing only one aspect or dimension of God: His love, mercy, and grace, and all they construe as "positive". I've heard things like don't be "sin- focused" and don't preach "hell and brimstone". Of course you don't focus on the them, but is it right to avoid the subject matter altogether? After all, Jesus spoke about hell and money more than He did about heaven. Would He have done that if it was so 'unnecessary'? Of course, not. So choosing to avoid those words means choosing to be biblically imbalanced and to inaccurately preach the Gospel. An imbalanced Gospel is no Gospel at all. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that people will like the Gospel. It does preach, however, that "narrow is the gate that leads to life but broad is the way that leads to destruction." (See below) That's another way of saying "hated, unpopular, and politically incorrect is the way that leads to life but popular, politically correct, and heavily sought after is the way that leads to destruction.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." [Matthew 7:13-14]

But it's not only about the "words" we use in preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. No, we need to preach and also demonstrate the Gospel.  (Matthew 4:23; 9:35). After all, the Good News of Jesus Christ includes the good acts of Jesus Christ. He went about doing good and so must we who say we believe in and follow Him. Are we following Him?

And what of Jesus? Would you call Him "negative"? You would be hard-pressed to do so. Yet, His messages were often full of correction and rebuke, especially to those who were leading others astray by teaching them rebellion against God. False prophets will always tell you what you want to hear and the love of money is often a motivating factor. But to those who received His words, as He meant them in love, these captives were set free. It's the same today, as we preach, teach, and demonstrate the Gospel as Jesus did, we bring freedom for others to follow and worship Him. (John 8:36) It was so then, and it is so now. And in preaching the Gospel and being His representatives to the world and in relating to our brothers and sisters in Christ, He never told us to be "love," Only God is love. (1 John 4:18). Although He told us to love others as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40) He did, however, tell us to be "holy" as He is holy. (Leviticus 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16). Be set apart for His purposes and don't worry about pleasing other people. 

So let them call you negative, harsh, politically incorrect, and whatever else they can. As long as you are aligned with God in Christ and not this world system, people will always find a reason to cast aspersions. They did it to Him, they will do it to you. 

But just as Christ did, when we receive the criticism and derision even from those of our own faith, our only response must be love. Does that mean we trust everyone and make everyone our closest confidantes? Of course not. 

So finally, if we do not have a need for repentance of sin, there is no need of Christ, and if there is no need of Christ, there is no need of the Holy Spirit to keeps us connected to the Godhead while He is here on earth, and without Christ and the Holy Spirit there is no connection to God the Father because there is no redemption from man's sinful condition. Therefore, the gulf between man and God from the Great Fall in the Garden of Eden would remain intact and man's damnable condition eternally set. To some, this may sound ridiculous but so is this new spin on the Gospel that is no Gospel at all. We all know, God the Father created a Way through Jesus Christ and that great gap between God and man has been closed for all who accept His gift of salvation. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 

Man needs a Savior. That Savior is Jesus Christ Whom God sent to redeem His family from damnation. Man needs to repent of sin and ask for forgiveness to be in right standing with God again. Otherwise, man chooses hell as his eternal home.

The alternative is the greatest Gift ever given or received ---- The God Man Jesus Christ. Fully Man. Fully God. Fully available to whosoever will receive Him.

Merry Christmas, all! Let's celebrate the ultimate Gift, Jesus Christ! 

He is no longer a baby but a glorious and victorious King!