Repent or Perish!!
These were the words of the incarnate Son of God. They have never been cancelled; nor will they be as long as this world lasts. Repentance is absolute and necessary if the sinner is to make peace with God (Isa. 27:5), for repentance is the throwing down the weapons of rebellion against Him. Repentance does not save, yet no sinner ever was or ever will be saved without it. None but Christ saves, but an impenitent heart cannot receive Him.
A sinner cannot truly believe until he repents. This is clear from the words of Christ concerning His forerunner, "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him" (Matthew 21:32). It is also evident from His clarion call in Mark 1:15, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." This is why the apostle Paul testified "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). Make no mistake on this point dear reader, God "now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30).
In requiring repentance from us, God is pressing His righteous claims upon us. He is infinitely worthy of supreme love and honor, and of universal obedience. This we have wickedly denied Him. Both an acknowledgement and amendment of this is required from us. Our disaffection for Him and our rebellion against Him are to be owned and made an end of. Thus repentance is a heartfelt realization of how dreadfully I have failed, all through my life, to give God His rightful place in my heart and daily walk.
The righteousness of God’s demand for my repentance is evident if we consider the heinous nature of sin. Sin is a renouncing of Him who made me. It is refusing Him His right to govern me. It is the determination to please myself; thus, it is rebellion against the Almighty. Sin is spiritual lawlessness, and utter disregard for God’s authority. It is saying in my heart: I care not what God requires, I am going to have my own way; I care not what be God’s claim upon me, I am going to be lord over myself. Reader, do you realize that this is how you have lived?
Now true repentance issues from a realization in the heart, wrought therein by the Holy Spirit, of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, of the awfulness of ignoring the claims of Him who made me, of defying His authority. It is therefore a holy hatred and horror of sin, a deep sorrow for it, and acknowledgement of it before God, and a complete heart-forsaking of it. Not until this is done will God pardon us. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Prov. 28:13).
In true repentance the heart turns to God and acknowledges My heart has been set upon a vain world, which could not meet the needs of my soul; I forsook Thee, the fountain of living waters, and turned unto broken cisterns which held none: I now own and bewail my folly. But more, it says: I have been a disloyal and rebellious creature, but I will be so no longer. I now desire and determine with all my might to serve and obey Thee as my only Lord. I betake myself to Thee as my present and everlasting Portion.
Reader, be you a professing Christian or no, it is repent or perish. For every one of us, church members or otherwise, it is either turn Or burn; turn from your course of self-will and self-pleasing; turn in brokenness of heart to God, seeking His mercy in Christ; turn with full purpose of heart to please and serve him: or be tormented day and night, for ever and ever, in the Lake of Fire. Which shall it be? Oh, get down on your knees right now and beg God to give you the spirit of true repentance.
"Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31).
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Cor 7:10). -A.W. Pink
Labels: Repentance
posted by Scribe at 10:09 PM
27 Comments:
Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31)because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
Notice that God through Paul does not hope, suggest, or exhort men to repent and he is not worried about giving them too much information. NO, God commands men to repent.
(command: to direct with specific authority or prerogative; order:)
Wayne
August 01, 2007 11:04 PM
Excellent point Wayne. I've pointed out Acts 17:30 to people to let them know God is not asking to "come into your heart", so to speak, He commands you to repent!
The wicked methodology of modern evangelical scripture twisting would have Rev. 3:20 have our Lord pleading to come into one's heart, but this is completely contrary to the context.
August 02, 2007 6:36 AM
"The wicked methodology of modern evangelical scripture twisting would have Rev. 3:20 have our Lord pleading to come into one's heart, but this is completely contrary to the context."
Yeah, I met this weird Arminian Pentecostal type who kept quoting that.
He insisted that the only valid way to evangelize people was to tell them to 'ask Jesus into their heart.'.
I tried to explain to him the context of that passage, but he just kept quoting the verse and insisting that what he was doing was right.
God Bless
Matthew
August 02, 2007 6:54 AM
Sam, this was EXCELLENT!!! Very well written and scripturally accurate; and done as an invitation for the unsaved to repent and believe. Great work!
August 02, 2007 7:51 AM
Scribe,
This is the kind of preaching we need to hear from the pulpit today.
I think much confusion and carnality exists in the contemporary church due to a lack of hearing this.
Thank you.
Jazzy,
Good comment. And thanks for the dictionary explanation. It made me laugh. ;-)
August 02, 2007 8:39 AM
Susan,
Glad you noticed that Calvinists also know how to use the dictionary!
August 02, 2007 9:09 AM
"It is therefore a holy hatred and horror of sin, a deep sorrow for it, and acknowledgement of it before God, and a complete heart-forsaking of it. Not until this is done will God pardon us" "turn with full purpose of heart to please and serve him: or be tormented day and night, for ever and ever, in the Lake of Fire."
very, very excellent presentation of the critical need for all (saved or unsaved) to deal with their sins. It is a well known fact (and one that need not be debated) that repentance is a requisite part of true salvation. No man can serve two masters. We either love Christ or we love ourselves (which is akin to loving "self")
"...and a complete heart-forsaking of it. Not until this is done will God pardon us"
I have a bit of a problem with statements like this however. The truth of the matter is that our "heart-forsaking" is not complete. We are yet encased in a cage called the flesh. We have two personalities: one that loves sin (the old man) and one that hates it (the new man). There is not a one of us here on this blog that can boast of a complete forsaking of sin. And if we are honest with each other, there are pet sins (besetting sins) that we hate in Spirit but still like to pamper in the flesh.
"turn with full purpose of heart to please and serve him: or be tormented day and night, for ever and ever, in the Lake of Fire."
Oh to God that we had a complete forsaking and a full purpose of heart. But our Savior is touched by the feeling of our infirmities. He knows we are but dust. Even the best of men are only men at best. Is the Spirit willing. Oh yes and thank you for that gift Lord. But alas the flesh is weak.
August 02, 2007 9:31 AM
I see the biggest contender for the throne in my life daily, when I look in the mirror. Christ free me from me...
August 02, 2007 10:26 AM
----------
Luke 13:1-9
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
---------
Galileans physically died. On 18 the tower of siloam fell and it "killed them". Unless Jesus' audience repented, they too would perish. They would "likewise" perish. This word "perish" (apolumi) is the common and usual Greek word for "physically die".
If they wouldn't repent, they would suffer the same fate as these people, IOW, physically die.
"Unless you repent, you will LIKEWISE perish". What like wise? These people physically died! If these Jews did not repent, they would die like these men. Look further:
6 The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' 8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'"
This is the fate of the Jews in A.D. when the Roman armies cut down Jerusalem and 1 million Jews died. John the Baptist preached repentance and said that the consequences was that the axe was already at the base of the tree and all God had to do was to chop if they didn't repent.
The same with this parable. He was giving them another opportunity to repent. But they didn't, so temporal punishment came upon them and Jerusalem was destroyed along with their lives.
Repentance, among other things, averts and stops God's temporal wrath against sin. (See Jonah!)
Does this passage have anything to do with eternal salvation? No.
Antonio
August 02, 2007 11:29 AM
So Antonio, are you saying that those Galileans and those who did not repent at John's preaching went on to spend eternity with the Lord?
August 02, 2007 11:43 AM
... Or is this yet another instance where your lexical studies trump context???!!!
August 02, 2007 11:57 AM
Blasted, we've been spammed...
August 02, 2007 1:30 PM
...De-spammed
August 02, 2007 1:59 PM
"Blasted, we've been spammed..."
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a good one Scribe!
August 02, 2007 3:00 PM
spoken in a shrill Monty Python-esque voice:
"I don't like SPAM!"
:-D
August 02, 2007 3:11 PM
Mark,
the context is national repentance to avert the calamaty of 70 AD. Jesus says that if they did not repent, they woulr "likewise" perish. We don't know if those upon whom the tower fell or whose blood was mingled with the sacrifices were eternally saved. That is not the point of Jesus. The point is that they physically perished.
Jesus states that if they did not repent, they would
LIKEWISE
perish. Well, in the context and wording of the passage, what is the meaning of them perishing?
Physical death:
tower falling on them
being killed by Pilate
Jesus says that if they do not repent, they will LIKEWISE perish. In other words, that they will suffer a calamaty causing physical death such as what happened to those on whom the tower fell and those killed by Pilate.
The parable given in the same context to the same people explains further what is meant.
John the Baptist and Jesus preached for the national repentance of Israel. John the Baptist said "Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" He said that the axe was already laid at the root of the trees.
There was no fruit on the tree in Israel. The owner came looking for it and it wasn't there. The dresser said give it another year, and I will dig around it, water it, etc. If it bears fruit, good, if not, chop it down.
Israel did not repent. So the tree was chopped down. AD 70, 1 million Jews died at the hands of Rome.
Repentance averts or stops God's temporal judgement for sin. Look at Jonah. God pronounced in 40 days Ninevah would be destroyed. The Ninevites repented, and God did not destroy them. Yet they were destroyed about 150 years later because the went back to their wicked ways.
Mark, if those on whom the tower fell and those whose blood was mixed with the sacrifices had eternal life, then they went to be with the Lord. Tragedy does not only happen to unsaved people.
Jesus was using what happened to them as an illustration on what would happed to Israel unless they repented:
They would LIKEWISE die.
Antonio
August 02, 2007 3:51 PM
Jer 18:7-8
The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
And to Judah, Jeremiah was told to say (18:11):
Now therefore speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return no every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good’”
But the opposite possibility is also true (Jer. 18:9-10):
And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.
Ezekiel 18:23:
“Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?”
And it is stated again in Ezekiel 18:32:
“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live.”
August 02, 2007 4:02 PM
""I don't like SPAM!"
How about a Spam sandwhich? Would you eat a Spam sandwhich, Sam I am?
August 02, 2007 4:13 PM
Would you eat a Spam sandwich, Sam I am?
Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat it here or there.
I would not eat it anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and spam.
I do not like it, Sam-I-am.
August 02, 2007 5:10 PM
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 3:19 Repent ye
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
2Cr 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though [it were] but for a season.
Hbr 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
August 02, 2007 5:52 PM
Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Act 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2Cr 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2Cr 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
August 02, 2007 5:56 PM
How about a Spam sandwhich? Would you eat a Spam sandwhich, Sam I am?
Not sure... maybe, if I were hungry enough! ;D
August 02, 2007 5:58 PM
Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat it here or there.
I would not eat it anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and spam.
I do not like it, Sam-I-am.
LOL Susan, this seems to be more of my sentiment towards spam....
August 02, 2007 6:00 PM
Antonio,
Would you say the person that rejects the trinity, believes in only the one false god allah of the muslim Koran and you claim is saved (due to their belief that Jesus gurantees eternal life) is in danger of an early temporal punishment of death for the sin of idolatry?
Have you ever known of any faithful Christians that died young? (Hint martyred missionaries)
August 02, 2007 6:29 PM
Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat it here or there.
I would not eat it anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and spam.
I do not like it, Sam-I-am.
Try it! Try it! You will see! Would you, could you, in a tree?
August 02, 2007 6:36 PM
Try it! Try it! You will see! Would you, could you, in a tree?
I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not eat it in the rain.
I will not eat it on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!
:-)
August 02, 2007 8:27 PM
Thanks Susan...now I don't have to formulate a reponse...
August 02, 2007 10:06 PM
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