REPENTANCE
What is repentance? What does it mean to repent?
We have often been told that the word repentance means to turn around, to change one’s mind and go the other way. Zondervan’s Bible Dictionary states that the two words translated “repent” in the New testament denote a change of mind with regard to sin. It involves a change of mind about sin and a change of heart-attitude toward sin, “a sorrow that leads to turning away from sin.”
What do we need to know and accept in order to be able to repent?
There can be no true repentance without the knowledge of sin. One must realize that he or she has broken the commandments of a holy God and is therefore a sinner. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 One must realize that sin displeases God and separates us from Him.
Isa. 59:2.
What accompanies repentance?
Conviction of sin leads to repentance. After Peter’s message in Acts 2, it is stated that “they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles: ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” Repentance is often accompanied by such a conviction of sin with a feeling of guilt before God with genuine sorrow that leads to turning away from sin. According to 2 Cor. 7:9 this sorrow leads to repentance. Often tears of repentance are shed when one realizes how sinful he is. Zechariah speaks of the day when Christ returns and the genuine repentance of Israel as they look on the Savior: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn,“ Zech. 12:10. And in Matthew 3:6 we see that confession of sin was in this case a result of repentance.
Is repentance necessary for salvation?
Repentance for salvation was preached by John the Baptist in Mark 1:4, Jesus in Matthew 4:17, Peter in Acts 2:38, and Paul in Acts 17:30. Since salvation is by faith alone, the question is whether or not a person can believe without having repented of sin. If there is no realization of sin, why would one need or want a Savior? Repentance lays the foundation for salvation. It prepares one’s heart for the reception of Jesus as Savior. It certainly is important, if not absolutely necessary.
Must the need for repentance always be emphasized in an evangelistic message?
Apparently not, since neither Christ nor Paul were consistent in mentioning the need for repentance. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, he made no mention of repentance, but emphasized the need to be born again. To the ex-blind man in John 9:35-38, Jesus asked if he believed. Not if he repented. The apostle Paul told the Philippian jailer to “believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.” No mention of repentance. While Peter was preaching to Cornelius and his kinfolk in Acts 10, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they were converted. He had just stated that “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sin through His name” when the miracle occurred. Who would doubt their salvation? And no mention was made of their needing to repent. There are other stories in the Gospels and Acts along the same line. No mention of the need for repentance, only that one must believe. Perhaps they had already repented,
Will those who have “just believed” be saved?
Is repentance a requisite for salvation? Or are we saved by faith alone? Scripture is very clear that salvation is by faith alone, without any kinds of works. Without anything else. It is not by repentance and faith. Not by faith and works. Not by faith and baptism. By faith alone. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Romans 4:1-8, Acts 16:31, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 5:24, etc. The one and only requisite for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. But can we believe without having repented of our sin? Probably many people cannot. Children may be able to. I had no particular conviction of sin or repentance when I accepted Christ. There may be the realization that one is a sinner without the special conviction that causes sorrow and tears of repentance. Besides who knows what is in the heart of one who places his faith in Christ for salvation? The Mennonites claim you do not need to have a salvation or new birth experience. They don’t know when they believed, but they do claim Christ as Savior. We should not judge the work of God in the hearts of men. A friend of mine from Bible School related that he did not know when he became a Christian, but don’t try to tell him that he is not one now. He knows that he is. Salvation is by faith alone.
Now if we take repentance to be a change of direction, then certainly repentance is necessary for salvation. Those who are on the wrong road that leads to destruction must choose the narrow road that leads to life. Salvation is a life-changing experience. If there is no change in one’s life, then his salvation is doubtful. The turn around and change of direction may not be that dramatic, as in some conversions, but there must be some change in the lifestyle, even that of little children.
One more thing needs to be said. The faith that saves is the faith that works. James states very clearly that our faith should be accompanied by good works, by obedience to Christ, by a changed life. Ephesians 2:8-10 brings out the same thing. There is saving faith and there is intellectual faith that does not save until it gets down to the heart and becomes full and unreserved acceptance of Christ as Savior.
Much repentance takes place after one’s salvation experience, as we daily repent of those sins that we commit.
JOHN AND JESUS
It was wise Solomon who affirmed in Ecclesiastes 4:9 that "two are better than one." Why would two be better than one? They have a better return for their work, can help each other out, warm each other up, and defend each other against an enemy. This is Solomon's explanation. Remember that Elijah and Elisha worked together for a period of time, that Moses had his Joshua, and Paul his Timothy. In each case the second took over to continue the ministry of the first. As each of the four Gospels describes the coming of Jesus, it is interesting to note that they first tell of His forerunner, John the baptizer. John and Jesus. John means "Jehovah is kind, full of grace." Jesus, of course, means "Jehovah is salvation." Let's take a look at the two in a study of contrasts.
I. They represent two different times or dispensations
Although John appears in the beginning of the New Testament, he really belongs to the Old Testament. He represents the law and the prophets. Luke, the beloved physician, states that: "The law and the prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the Gospel of the kingdom of God is preached." He was the last of the Old Testament prophets, and thus finished out the dispensation of the law as given to Israel. He is a type of Israel under the law. It is interesting that God chose Zachariah and Elizabeth to be his parents, two elderly Israelites who had been married for many years without children. Barren! Like the law. Unable to give life. Yet God does a miracle and gives them and the law one last great effort. And John is born. The law, like the parents of John, is about to pass off the scene as a new day of grace approaches. It was John's mission to point to the Messiah: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.", just as the purpose of the law was to lead people to Christ, Gal. 3:24.
On the other hand, Jesus came to begin a new era in God's dealings with man. And so who did God choose to set the stage for this great event? Did He again look for an elderly couple? No. This time He chose a young couple, just married, just starting out in life, and gave them their first child, Jesus, born of Mary through the Holy Spirit's work in her womb. A new beginning would have new beginners. What was the parable that Jesus Himself later related? Something about new wine being put into new wineskins! As John was the last gasp of the old age of law, so Jesus is the first breath of the new age of grace. As the elderly Zachariah and Elizabeth, like the law they represent, pass off the scene, so the young Joseph and Mary come on the scene to raise the child Jesus to begin a new era. The old gives way to the new.
II. They had miracle births.
The story of John's miraculous birth is recorded in Luke 1:5-25. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah in the temple to give him the good news that his wife would bear a son, Zachariah was shocked. How could this be? They had never had a child. Elizabeth was barren, sterile, unable to have children, and both were old. And so was the law they represented. (Galatians 3:10-11,21 and Hebrews 7:19). It was old, barren, and about to pass off the scene. The birth of John came about through the physical union of Zachariah and Elizabeth. It was a work of the flesh.
How different the birth of Jesus! Once again a miracle took place, but this time a far greater miracle. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary through the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit, and without the aid of a man, Luke 1:26-38. When the same angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a baby, she had a different problem than Elizabeth. She was not married at the time. She was a virgin. There was no present possibility of a sexual union with a man. A great miracle was needed. To her question: "How can this be, since I am a virgin?", Gabriel's explanation was that the Holy Spirit would be the Father of the child. And so Jesus was born to Mary, a young virgin, as the first of her children, to mark the beginning of a new age in God's dealings with man. "In Him was life." This was a work of the Spirit.
III. Their birth announcements were reacted to in different ways.
The angel Gabriel visited both Zachariah and Mary with wonderful announcements. Both asked him a question, in fact just about the same question. "How shall I know this for certain?" was the doubt that bothered Zachariah. Was he asking for some kind of a sign from the angel? It was difficult for him to believe. After all, he had prayed for years for a son, Luke 1:13, and waited year by year until all hope had passed away. Now suddenly, as an old man with a barren wife, he is told that he will be a father. How could he believe? He simply did not. The angel then told him these solemn words: "And behold you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words," vs. 20. On the other hand Mary also had her question. "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" She also had a problem. But she had faith that God was able to do what He promised. She believed, but desired more information. Something miraculous had to happen. Virgins do not have children. Unless God intervenes! She was never reproved for her question, but was given the explanation that she had requested. The Holy Spirit would be the Father of her child.
How do you react to the message of the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus, the Son of God? May Mary's outcry become your prayer and promise this Christmas season: "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)