Jesus Commanded Repentance to Escape Judgment

There are many today who curse the idea of repentance, calling it salvation by works...a false teaching. This is a far cry from the truth, as repentance was the very first thing that Jesus preached:

14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15) and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; **repent and believe in the gospel.**” ~Mark 1:14-15

The Greek word for repentance means a change of mind, to change direction, and to turn around. It's a decision that is made, and not necessarily accompanied by 'feeling sorry.'

Specifically, to repent means to see your own sin as repulsive, to the point of walking away from sin. The one who truly repents is not perfect and can make mistakes, but the direction of their lives is toward obedience to God.

"Is repentance something we do to 'earn' the benefits of salvation?" Someone will ask. That's impossible, because people don't conjure up repentance at all! It's the gift of God:

24) And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25) correcting his opponents with gentleness. **God may perhaps grant them repentance** leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ~2 Timothy 2:24-26

We get into theological trouble when we try to take credit for something we don't do. If we could make ourselves repent, then you could say that it's us earning our salvation! But, like faith (Ephesians 2:8), repentance is a gift that God gives us.

"Hey! How on earth do I know if God is giving me repentance?" Well, do you want to repent? "No." Then you don't have it, but if the answer becomes 'yes,' then He put that desire in you!

After rising from the dead, Jesus touches on repentance again with His disciples:

45) Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46) and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47) and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ~Luke 24:45-47

Repentance brings forgiveness! Some will tell you that repenting only means giving up your unbelief in Jesus, but the next verse says otherwise; it relates directly to our actions.

30) “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but **now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.** 31) For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” ~Acts 17:30-31

You see, Jesus Himself has shown us that repentance is intimately connected with the gospel. That's because repentance is turning away from continual sin, toward Jesus. It's saying "no" to the thing that kills you in order to say "yes" to the One who gives you life. It's acknowledging that you've sinned against God and need a savior. Without this realization, there's no point in wanting the blood of Jesus to cover your sin, because you wouldn't even believe you're guilty of any wrongdoing.

The realization of wrongdoing is essential to believe the gospel, so repentance is necessary for salvation!

Some who reject the concept of repentance argue that a believer can sin as much as they want and still go to heaven, but is that a reasonable belief? Once a person is saved, why would they go on willingly sinning, when acknowledging wrongdoing was a part of coming to Christ in the first place?

The apostle Paul addressed this very thing:

1) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2) By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ~Roman's 6:1-2

26) For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27) but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ~Hebrews 10:26-27

A Christian, according to Paul, has entered into a new kind of life. They will begin to fight against urges to sin in a way they were never inclined to before. Gradually, they will surrender more and more of their lives to the Lord. If the life of the believer isn't changed, however, it may be an indicator that they were never saved at all.

No one born of God [[makes a practice]] of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and **he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.** ~1 John 3:9

This is not a condemning word to anyone. It's for me too. This is just me asking where our heart's affections lie. Do you and I really love the Lord more than our "pet sins?"

Why am I talking about this...?

You guys...we're going to see God! Everyone will see Him! No matter how long we live, our lives are going to be over before we know it. We'll suddenly find ourselves standing in front of Him, watching books be opened containing everything we've ever said, done, or thought about doing.

We will all be judged (rewarded or condemned) based on what is in those books.

12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, **according to what they had done.** 13) And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, **according to what they had done.** 14) Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15) And [[if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life]], he was thrown into the lake of fire. ~Revelation 20:12-15

To be written in the book of life, you need to be saved. And we cannot be saved without repentance.

Please understand, I really want us to be ready for that day. Are we ready to meet Him? Is there anything that has a hold on our lives, something from which we need to repent?