Repentance refers to a change of mind. It is a turning away from my own ways to Gods ways. It is may also refer to changing ones value system and as someone has said, looking at things and life from Gods point of view.
The message of repentance has been neglected in many preaching yet without it, there can be no true conversion. Looking through the new testament quickly, we see that;
John the Baptist preached that people should repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Mat 3:2, Mark 1:4
Jesus preached that people should repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Mat 4:17, 9:13, Mark 1:15
Jesus sent his disciples to preach repentance; Mark 6:12
There is joy in heaven when one sinner repents; Luke 15:7,10
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus sent his disciples to go all over the world preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name. Luke 24:47
The first gospel message after the day of Pentecost was that people should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38
Paul preached both to Jews and non-Jews repentance towards God and faith towards Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21
The last message to five of the churches in Revelation chapter 2 and 3 is that they should repent.
We now see clearly the utter importance of the message of repentance, not only to sinners, but to the backslidden church and believers.
We also see that John demands that there should be fruits of repentance otherwise the axe is laid to the root of the tree to cut down everyone who does not bring the fruits of repentance. Mat 3:8-10
John explains also the purpose of his coming was to prepare the way of the Lord and make his straight. Luke 3:4-9
He explains that the valleys shall be filled- there is no room for depression and discouragement
He explains the mountain and hill shall be made low-that is there is no room for pride in one who has truly repented.
The crooked shall be made straight- that is the areas in our lives where there is crookedness shall be set right, e.g. story of Zacchaeus restoring everything that he had taken wrongfully. Luke 19:1-10
Rough ways shall be made smooth-that is the rough areas in our lives, the way we speak to people, the way we treat others shall be smoothened that we start speaking politely and treating others gently.
He explains that when this happens people will see that such a person has truly been saved. He also gave other practical things for people to do to show that they have truly repented in verse 10-14
Paul also writing to the Corinthians addressing the evil that was happening there writes in the second epistle telling them that he had seen that they had truly repented 2Cor 7:11. This is what he mentions as the mark that the Corinthian Christians had truly repented;
He says about their earnestness- that is seriousness,
concern to clear yourselves and set matters right that need to be set right,
indignation, that is hating the sin,
alarm- that is awareness of danger due to careless living,
a longing to see me, that is not running away from church but willingness to come back,
such zeal- that is fervent to accomplish something to the end
avenging of wrong- judging the wrong things in our lives and forsaking them
God even today expects us to bring fruit unto repentance.
You are blessed to be a blessing
@blessed mambo
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