Why Repent?
Understanding the times, we now live in a dispensation of grace, the age of the Church, also called the “end-time” marked by the ascension of Jesus Christ after His resurrection from death to glorious life nailing sin permanently to the cross thereby freeing the believer from hell’s bondage of sin and casting joy into the heart of the repentant by the saving power of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit.
As it was in every dispensation before now, the End-Time dispensation comes with one simple message for all mankind to obey: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” (Matthew 3:1-3). This message is the Great Commission given to every follower of Jesus, our living God, to spread to every nation until He comes back (is at hand) again.
Yes, John the Baptist proclaimed this very statement almost 2000 years ago. Take note that time in the spiritual realm is not the same as time here on earth, man’s realm. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). We do not know the hour, or day, or month, or year in which our Lord and Savior shall return, so in the meantime, let’s put our ‘houses’ in order and be ready when He comes. The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent (2 Peter 3:9, NLT).
Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:29-32).
Why does man commit these horrible sinful acts? Because, where there is hurt and pain and lack and suffering, there is lack of forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross to bring the healing power of forgiveness of sin to hurting humanity. The power of forgiveness is locked inside this single act of love—crucifixion. Sin deserves death, not the sinner. But a soul bound in sin cannot even suppose it could join the heavenly multitude full of purity (with no sin).
So it is high-time one examines his or her thought life, words and deeds and lay them all out to the Lord of Love, repent, and forever shut the door to such sins. We need to get real with ourselves and stop the pretense performed before those from whom we seek approval. God is the only One whose approval we need because He lives forever as do our souls once our bodies here on earth go back to the earth.
The verb “repent” means to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin (1).
The noun is “repentance” means reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, which is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better.
In modern times, it is generally seen as involving a commitment to personal change and the resolve to live a more responsible and humane life. In other words, being sorry for one's misdeeds. It can also involve sorrow over a specific sin or series of sins that an individual feels guilt over, or conviction that they have committed. The practice of repentance plays an important role in the soteriological (salvation) doctrines of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Analogous practices have been found in other world religions as well. In religious contexts, it often involves an act of confession to God or to a spiritual elder (such as a monk or priest). This confession might include an admission of guilt, a promise or intent not to repeat the offense, an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible (2).
A biblical definition of repentance is to make a change of mind, heart, and action, by turning away from sin and self and returning to God (3). The Wycliffe Bible Dictionary gives the Greek metanoia which denotes that inward change of mind, affections [feelings/emotions], convictions, and commitment, rooted in the fear of God and sorrow for offenses committed against Him, which, when accompanied by faith in Jesus Christ, results in an outward turning from sin to God and His service in all of life (4).
There is no price or bribe to pay in the action of repenting. While other religions have the same concept, because all humanity was created by the same Universal Creator, what is permanent in Christianity is that Christ is alive! And so are we. Therefore, turning to a living God helps the repentant soul stay free from returning back to sin’s bondage. Repent in the biblical sense, is an entirely “foolish” concept for a world dormant in sin because you got to give up the “ways of the world” and obey the “the perfect Way of God”. Repent is to break free and stay free, in a long life of victory over the elements of evil ever hovering above and below, to the right and to the left.
Mother: Pastor, please help my daughter understand that by disrespecting me, she is practicing sin.
Pastor asks Daughter: How is it that you disrespect your mother?
Daughter: I tell her I won't do the things she asks me to do?
Pastor to Mother: What kinds of things do you ask her to do?
Mother: Common house chores, sweep, help wash utensils, go to the market, things like that.
Pastor to Daughter: Is that so? Do you find these things difficult to do? Does your mother ask too much from you?
Daughter: No, I just don't feel like doing it so I tell her, "I won't do it." And I don't.
Pastor: Do you realize how much of a sin this is when the Bible says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, so that things will go well with you, and you will have a long life?"
Daughter: Yes, Pastor.
Pastor: As you have said the Prayer of Salvation just a few minutes ago, do you want to be the one to crucify Jesus again by not respecting your mother?
Daughter: No, Pastor. I have repented. But pray for me to be obedient.
Pastor: God loves you, your mother loves you, and I love you. With all this love, you've got to love Jesus because He's the One that died for you and wants you to be ready for heaven when He returns. You love Jesus by obeying His word which says, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord" (Ephesians 6:1-3). Amen.
The Old Testament prophet Micah proclaimed: For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household (Micah 7:6). What can sons and daughters and household members do? “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” You are welcome into the arms of the Father of forgiving love.
The only way to experience the Love of our Forgiving Father is to digest His words in His love letters found in each chapter of the Bible. Read every day, meditate on what it means to you, then actively apply His word to your thought-life, words, and deeds.
© 2024 by Patience Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved. Published by The Light In Me Enterprise. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
4. Pfeiffer, C.F., Vos, H.F., and Rea, J. (eds). (1975). Wycliff Bible Dictionary. USA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.
The artwork depicted in the blog article is carefully selected to draw out the points made for healing of the soul, and by no means promote any ideologies from the various artists unless they are found in the center of God's perfect will.