Repentance
Why is it that so many churches today seem to fear using the word ‘repentance’? And the ones that do use it sparingly.
It is one of the most important and crucial words in the whole gospel message.
So, what does it mean?
Repentance is not just confessing your sins and feeling remorse, it is making the decision to move away from your sin and not do it again. It is taking a stand and choosing to change the way you are living your life in order to live a life that pleases God.
Repentance should, also, not be a one time thing. It shouldn’t be: “God I’m sorry for all of the sins I have committed and will commit in my life, please forgive me”. No. True repentance should be part of our daily lives. Whenever we sin, and make a mistake, we should acknowledge it to God, straight away, and ask for forgiveness, and endeavour to not commit that sin again.
In order to get close to God, there are three fundamental things we need to do: to repent, get baptised in water and be baptised in the Holy Spirit. By repenting we are acknowledging that we were sinful, imperfect and that we want to change and become more like Jesus. By being baptised in water we are dying to ourselves and our old way of life and are being cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and when we rise up we are made new. When we are baptised in the Holy Spirit, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, which will help us discern God’s will in our lives and give us the power to perform miracles in Jesus’ name.
These three biblical processes enable us to fulfill the great commission and do God’s will. When believers are not doing God’s will they are not in a relationship with him. And then when the time comes for them to receive judgement Jesus will say to them: “Get away from me, I never knew you”.
“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of God, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Many will say to me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness’.
Matthew 7:21-23
Imagine that... To have spent your whole life assuming you will go to Heaven and then be turned away by Jesus. Forever.
I know this can be scary stuff, but it is biblical. It is the truth. Read your Bibles! It is all there.
Why so many churches do not use the word repentance often, I do not exactly know. Perhaps they fear alienating people, especially visitors, by telling them that without repentance they cannot hope to enter God’s kingdom. Maybe they think that message is a little too ‘up-front’ and ‘harsh’. The gospel message is not harsh, but it is radical. And we should never take it lightly.
So, talk about repentance. Make it a part of your daily life. And be careful not to sugar-coat the gospel message. We HAVE to talk about this, if we desire to do God’s will, have a relationship with Jesus and enter heaven’s gates.
It is one of the most important and crucial words in the whole gospel message.
So, what does it mean?
Repentance is not just confessing your sins and feeling remorse, it is making the decision to move away from your sin and not do it again. It is taking a stand and choosing to change the way you are living your life in order to live a life that pleases God.
Repentance should, also, not be a one time thing. It shouldn’t be: “God I’m sorry for all of the sins I have committed and will commit in my life, please forgive me”. No. True repentance should be part of our daily lives. Whenever we sin, and make a mistake, we should acknowledge it to God, straight away, and ask for forgiveness, and endeavour to not commit that sin again.
In order to get close to God, there are three fundamental things we need to do: to repent, get baptised in water and be baptised in the Holy Spirit. By repenting we are acknowledging that we were sinful, imperfect and that we want to change and become more like Jesus. By being baptised in water we are dying to ourselves and our old way of life and are being cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and when we rise up we are made new. When we are baptised in the Holy Spirit, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, which will help us discern God’s will in our lives and give us the power to perform miracles in Jesus’ name.
These three biblical processes enable us to fulfill the great commission and do God’s will. When believers are not doing God’s will they are not in a relationship with him. And then when the time comes for them to receive judgement Jesus will say to them: “Get away from me, I never knew you”.
“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of God, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Many will say to me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness’.
Matthew 7:21-23
Imagine that... To have spent your whole life assuming you will go to Heaven and then be turned away by Jesus. Forever.
I know this can be scary stuff, but it is biblical. It is the truth. Read your Bibles! It is all there.
Why so many churches do not use the word repentance often, I do not exactly know. Perhaps they fear alienating people, especially visitors, by telling them that without repentance they cannot hope to enter God’s kingdom. Maybe they think that message is a little too ‘up-front’ and ‘harsh’. The gospel message is not harsh, but it is radical. And we should never take it lightly.
So, talk about repentance. Make it a part of your daily life. And be careful not to sugar-coat the gospel message. We HAVE to talk about this, if we desire to do God’s will, have a relationship with Jesus and enter heaven’s gates.
Thank you, Francis Chan, for this powerful message.
That is a scary thought being turned away from heaven! Well said.
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