GOD COMMANDS ALL TO REPENT: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” Acts 17:30 Thus, to really believe God is to do it.
REPENTANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 The Bible offers no salvation from sin that is not accompanied by repentance on the part of the guilty sinner.
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47 Repentance is turning from our sin condition unto God for forgiveness. Remission of sins is God forgiving us of the sin condition we have turned from in turning to God for salvation.
REPENTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WHO CHOOSE IT.“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31 “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18Repentance is not a work, it is a gift. It is something available to man from the grace of God. Apart from this gift of God’s grace, repentance would be beyond man.
However, the very nature of what repentance is, means it cannot be an irresistible work of God upon man. “But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit” Isaiah 63:10 “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man” Genesis 6:3 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” Acts 7:31Repentance is what God makes possible for a sinner who believes God’s Word that he is a lost sinner, who accepts the Holy Spirit’s work of convicting him of his guilt as a sinner before God, and who is willing to trust Christ to save him from his sins. Since repentance is the gift of God’s grace to all who will accept it, it can never be regarded as a work of man whereby he merits God’s salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
REPENTANCE IS WHAT ENABLES THE SINNER TO HAVE A COMPLETE CHANGE OF MIND ABOUT THEMSELVES, UNTO A COMPLETE TURNING FROM THEIR SIN CONDITION UNTO THE LORD FOR HIS SALVATION: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55;7 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13
HAVE YOU REPENTED? IF NOT, WILL YOU – LEST YOU PERISH?
SHARING
