Repentance: Who should repent, why and when

In this article I would like us to look into matters pertaining repentance. It is generally an overview of facts with scriptural basis on repentance as a doctrine—not of men, but of God. As John the Baptist was preparing the way for the LORD Jesus Christ, he called people to repentance (Luke 3:2,3). The same message of repentance is being taken to the ends of the earth.

So what's repentance? Repentance is basically the reformation of an individual through the turning away from sin. It is turning away from sin to righteousness. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23,24). There is a call for all people to repent. The necessity of the message of repentance is great and should not be underestimated.

Repentance entails confession of sins to God for forgiveness. While repenting, we first seek the forgiveness of God for our sinful lifestyles--which includes our actions, words, thoughts, desires etc. Therefore repentance goes hand in hand with confession. Confession is the genesis of repentance. We confess to God our sins. This means acknowledging before God that what we've done, spoken, etc is not pleasing before God. When we ask for forgiveness from our hearts, it is the blood of Jesus that washes us(1 John 1:7). We are assured that God will forgive us, for “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

A point to note is that John in his first epistle was writing to believers. He says “if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:7). We as Christians also stray from the path in many ways and need repentance.

The Call To Repentance Is At The Heart Of The Kingdom Message;
As mentioned previously, John the Baptist, the divinely chosen herald of Christ’s first coming, came preaching a message of repentance: “Repent,” he urged, “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus, too, called for repentance: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). The apostle Paul went to the Jews and Greeks alike “preaching the kingdom of God,” a message of “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21, 25). Notice how, in each case, the call for repentance is linked to the message of the Kingdom of God. Note also that the statements above are summaries of the things John, Jesus, and Paul preached. This is most revealing. It tells us that the call to repentance is at the heart and core of the Kingdom message.

God is calling people to repent so that they may inherit the kingdom of God.

Who do we confess to?

1. To God. God is the one who is able to take away our sins completely. Non believers, while accepting Christ as their Lord an Savior, make their confession to God . This is basically what happens when we go for evangelism. When we sin as believers, we confess to God.
2. To men. If I hurt a brother, it is acceptable before the Lord that I be reconciled to my brother first. Confess to your brother your wrong against him and seek reconciliation. (Mathew 12:23,24)

What does repentance entail?

1. Confession. As we have noted above, we must confess our sins to God, and to men where necessary.
2. Change of ways. “Therefore, if any one is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; the old is gone, and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). There is no repentance without the change of ways, behavior, character and attitude. If we confess our sins but there is no change of ways, the repentance is not genuine
3. Restitution. Restitution involves returning what we owe to someone. If we have anything in our possession that doesn't belong to us, the Lord still holds it against us; unless we return it. This also includes promises that we make but fail to fulfill. When we make promises to God and to men, we must fulfill them. (Mathew 12:23,24)

Why Christians also need Repentance

On one occasion Jesus used the word “repent” of a believer, instead of an unbeliever. He said, “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4). Jesus says that if a brother (fellow believer) sins against you, you should rebuke him. This means that we are prone to falling into temptations and we therefore need repentance as Christians.

Many Christians, both the new believer and the old minister face various struggles.

In James 1: 2 clearly shows that we are to face trials. We as believers face many kind of trials. These trials are the ones that make many fall. James 1:14 “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Sinful ways that entangle Christians

 

Idolatry. Christians are warned to keep off idolatry (1 John 5:21). Anything that takes the place of God in our lives is an idol. We must repent. This includes our gadgets such as phones, laptops; spending most of our time in social media rather than with God (facebook, twitter, whatsapp etc). We must repent from every kind of idolatry. 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 “Or do you know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived...neither the sexually immoral.., nor idolaters will inherit the kingdom of God”

  Worldliness. James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Christians must be free from any kind of secularism. We must not take what the world is offering. We are in the world but we are not of the world. We are the light, darkness cannot mix with light. Our ways should be different to the ways of the world.

Let us abandon secular music, secular TV, the love for money and all ways that are worldly. For what is highly esteemed by men is detestable before God. (Luke 16:15). Let us not sing, dress, dance, relate or live like those in the world. If we continue living like the world, we are headed for hell.

Therefore we need to examine ourselves and know the areas we are compromising in our walk and repent genuinely.

If you are a child of the King of kings, nothing in this world can satisfy you. Don't eat what the world is giving; eat from the hand of God.

In Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4, we are warned to keep off unwholesome talk, coarse joking and obscenity. We should be mindful of what proceeds from our mouths. Instead, we are exhorted to speak “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”

 

We have been called to be holy. Without holiness, no one shall see the LORD. (Hebrews 12:14). Therefore, let us repent genuinely and live for Christ.

(Revelation 21:8, Galatians 5:19-21)
Shalom.
I have just shared briefly as the Lord has enabled me.

PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN ABSOLUTE REPENTANCE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, TRUTH AND COMPLETE SURRENDER TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST . TIME IS ABSOLUTELY OVER; THE MESSIAH JESUS CHRIST IS IMMINENTLY COMING TO PICK HIS BRIDE!!!

REPENTANCE PRAYER:

LORD Jesus,
I acknowledge today that you are LORD and savior of all mankind, I believe that you died and rose from the dead for my sake, and today I have recognized my shortfall, I repent and turn away from all sin. Please wash me with your precious blood, and establish your word in my life, that I may be found in righteousness and holiness and write my name in your book of life and baptize me with the power of the Holy Spirit in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN.

Shalom!!! Shalom!!! Shalom!!!

Brother in Christ and A Servant of The LORD Peter Macharia