REPENTANCE FROM SIN

The gospel message of salvation by faith through grace is presented to man as a free gift. Inherent in saving faith is a change of mind regarding the practice of sin which is known as repentance. This is not to be construed as man made "works" or as a person earning their own salvation by doing good works. This call to repentance is found throughout the New Testament and is the natural byproduct of a true understanding of the nature of sin and it's consequences.

The need for salvation is the result of man rejecting the authority of God. In breaking God's commandments and disregarding God's plans and purposes in life man has brought condemnation upon himself and untold misery on the human family. The invitation to receive forgiveness of sin is the call to reconciliation with God. True conversion takes place when the sinner sees the folly of life lived apart from the will of God and the blessing of living in total obedience to God.

Repentance then is not a man made requirement but a God given blessing which is inherent to true conversion. One wonders how anyone could conceive of a "Plan of Salvation from Sin" that invites men to acknowledge some facts of history and continue in disobedience to God. Salvation from sin is not just forgiveness of the moral debt of sin but deliverance from a life of sin through personal repentance and obedience to the word of God under the Lordship of Christ.

(Acts 3:26) "For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

THE CALL TO REPENTANCE

Consider the call to repentance as found in scripture:

1. Jesus: "...and He said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; {47} and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.' " (Luke 24:46-47)

2. Peter: And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. Paul: I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, {21} solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21)

"Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, {20} but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. (Acts 26:19-20)

RECEIVING JESUS AS LORD

Going hand in hand with the call to repentance from sin is the call to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord of ones life. The New Covenant based on the death of Jesus brings with it a new way of life which has it's roots in the Old Testament Law but has been given new life so to speak in the teaching and example of Jesus. Again, true conversion takes place when a person repents, not just from one or two sins, but from a life lived apart from the rule of God in the totality of life.

God calls all to repent of this defiance and indifference by becoming obedient from the heart in every area of life in response to the Lordship of Christ. God has given all authority to His Son Jesus and made Him Lord of all and judge of the living and the dead. This was not done without purpose but with the intent that all would repent of sin receiving Jesus as their Lord.

(Acts 2:36) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified."

(Matthew 28:18-20) And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, {20} teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

(Acts 17:30-31) ... God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, {31} because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

(Philippians 2:9-11) Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(John 1:12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

(Romans 10:9-11) ... if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; {10} for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. {11} For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

If you are reading this explanation of the meaning of true repentance as it is expressed in a decision to receive Jesus as the Lord of ones life and you realize that you have never done that before we urge you to go to the Salvation Page now and review the plan of salvation as it's found in the Bible and call upon the Lord, trusting in Jesus death, repenting of your sins and receiving Jesus as Lord of your life.