“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:12) Jesus had just sent out His twelve disciples, two by two, preaching that men should repent.

What does it mean to “repent?” Really, what is “repentance?”

·        Some say it is a mental decision and has nothing to do with the heart; i.e. belief without repentance or no-lordship theology.

·        Others say repentance is not a “head” decision but must be a change of the heart; i.e. feelings are primary.

·        Still others contend that both the mind and the heart must be included in repentance; i.e. a decision made based on a need to be rescued.

So who is right? The attitude of the Publican in Luke 18:13 should give us the answer,

“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.”

Many years ago, when I was a much younger man, I used to preach that it is not necessary to feel sorry for ones sins, but simply to believe on Jesus and follow Him. As I look back, I understand that I was overly concerned with mixing works with salvation, which of course, would be anathema to God’s grace per Ephesians 2:8-9,

“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.”

As I’ve continued to age physically and grow spiritually, I now see that there is no conflict. True repentance is not works and therefore does not negate God’s grace. The order of spiritual birth would be: the sinner calling out to God in repentance and faith simultaneously to be saved (forgiven, rescued, delivered) from sin, judgment and hell. Repentance and faith work together totally separate from works, but in compliance with God’s grace. I don’t remember where I read it, but someone else said that in conversion, repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. In repentance we turn from sin to Christ, and in faith we embrace Him as our only hope of salvation and righteousness.

Some people confuse repentance with feelings. Now there is nothing wrong with feelings, but feelings, on their own, do not save anyone. Repentance may involve feelings. I’m sure the Publican had feelings about his wretchedness before a holy God, but his feelings were a result of his seeing himself as God sees him. He did not like what he saw, and therefore repented before God for mercy. The ultimate outcome of true repentance would be a change in our behavior, but to merely attempt a change in our behavior on our own will not work. We will soon be right back where we were. God provides the behavior change by helping us to grow in Him as a new believer. He saves us by His grace. He helps us change by His grace.

Neither is repentance just a change of mind. Judas changed his mind. For that matter, he was sorry for what he had done. He changed his mind. He was sorry. He did not repent. He could have repented and asked Jesus for mercy for the horrible thing he had done, and it would have been provided, but he did not do so. On the other hand, Peter did repent, and went on to become one of the greatest Apostles for Jesus. Both men had a change of mind. Both had a change of heart and was sorry, but only one repented.

True repentance calls for both a change of mind and a turning away from the love of sin in our life. A beautiful Old Testament example of the call to conversion is found in Isaiah 55. Notice verses one through three and verse six;

“1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

These verses are emphasizing our need for faith in Him to be saved. Then verse seven is telling us that along with that faith, we must repent; i.e.

“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.”

So is true Biblical repentance a requirement for salvation? Yes, I would say so, but it is not to be understood as an act of works. That is made very clear in the Scriptures. Works do become a major part of the Christian life after we are saved, but never as a prerequisite of being born again in Christ. Also, in the Christian life, our works are evaluated by Jesus Christ for rewards, but never ever to “keep” what Jesus has given us; i.e. eternal life in Him.

Is it to say we lose our salvation if we have repented in faith and been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ and then sin again? The answer is an emphatic and resounding “NO!” I cover this in some depth in an article I wrote called “Secure In The Arms Of God” which can be found at the websites mentioned at the end of this article. As a Christian, I still repent quite often for my Lord to forgive me and continue to help me to live for Him while restoring my fellowship with Him. I thank Him that as His child, I can repent while secure in His arms.

Have you repented of your sins and asked Jesus to save you? You may do so now, and He will save you.

Have you, as a Christian, repented and asked Him to restore your fellowship with Him? You too may do so now, and He will continue to help you live as He wants you to.

 

Grant Phillips

God came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a substitution for all mankind, then rose from the grave and returned to Heaven. He is called Jesus, the Son of God. Is that a reason to hate Him?

While He was upon the earth as Jesus, he healed the sick, caused the blind to see, raised the dead, but yet He is hated. He wept over His friend Lazarus and He wept over Jerusalem, so why the hate? He called the little children to Him, and they loved Him. Why do the parents hate Him so?

He made provision for all who will to come to Him to share His riches in Heaven, to rule with Him, to experience all that is good, and have His protection from all that is evil. Could that be a reason for all the hatred? Surely this could not be it, since He has provided nothing but good.

When sin crept into the hearts of mankind from our first parents, Adam and Eve, a transformation took place. By disobeying God, they died spiritually. Since then, we all are born spiritually dead. Our only hope is to be spiritually born again.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Jesus made that provision to all who would come to Him in faith.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

So obviously the problem arises with sin, but doesn’t it make sense though that mankind would be grateful that God has made a provision to be re-born? Some will be grateful and act upon it, but most will not. But why would anyone not be grateful? I think the Apostle Paul says it best.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Man’s nature has been spoiled by Satan. By that I mean it is like food that has rotted, a leg that is gangrene, mold on the soul. Mankind is no longer in innocence, but treads the waters of a sinful nature. He no longer seeks after God, just as Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden after they sinned. Mankind’s true self is very clearly revealed in the following passage:

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)

Now we’re getting down to where the rubber meets the road. I wrote an article about four months ago called “God’s Word Ruffles Feathers” that certainly points us in the right direction. It said in essence that the Word of God, the Bible, is very dogmatic, and since it is His Word, Jesus is very dogmatic.

The world hates dogmatism … unless … you are dogmatically in their camp. We talk today of being “politically correct,” which is simply a means to avoid reality. For example, instead of saying that a person is “deaf” who cannot hear, the politically correct crowd says we are to use the term “the hearing impaired.” That sounds nicer. Therefore, to call sin “sin” is not politically correct and is hated by the politically correct boy and girls. Jesus called sin “sin.” Therefore, He is hated. Jesus also said that no one can be saved apart from Him. He is the only way to the Father.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Okay, now we are really getting to the source of the problem. The sinful nature of mankind does not want to think of himself/herself as a “bad” person. However, Jesus says that all mankind is corrupt (read again Romans 3:10-18), and He is the only way anyone can be saved from sin (John 14:6 above). Now that is really “in your face!” We can hear the response of sinful man. “How dare you say I’m a bad person!” So we see why the scribes and Pharisees were so eaten up with hatred toward Jesus.

Let us go one step further by asking this question, “What was the primary sin of the scribes and Pharisees?” It is the same primary sin of today for those who hate Jesus. It is called “pride.” It started with Satan.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Since fallen man has inherited this sin called “pride”, they are of their father the devil.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Does Satan hate Jesus? Does a pig love mud? Yes Satan hates Jesus, and those who are under his control do likewise.

Notice what Jesus says in the verses following John 8:44 (above).

“And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (John 8:45-47)

There is a saying “the truth hurts.” People do not want to hear the truth, but Jesus cannot lie. He cannot sugar-coat His words. He is Truth, because He is God. To believe Jesus is to admit we are a sinner and that our actions are sin. Also, many do not want to give up their sins, so they hate the Truth, Jesus.

A Christian wonders why anyone could hate Jesus, who is the very epitome of love. He is love itself. All that He does for us is in love. He even loves those who hate Him. He died for them.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Jesus tells us why the world hates Him and why we will be hated too,

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” (John 7:7) “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15:18-21)

If you are reading this article and hate Jesus, realize that it is because Satan has blinded your eyes. Jesus is being very truthful with you, but Satan does not want you to know that. He is lying to you just like he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden. The truth may hurt, but it will save you from an eternal damnation in hell, if you will listen to it and accept it. Would you rather accept a lie and suffer because of it, or swallow your pride and accept the truth? The truth will make you free in Jesus, and I, and millions of others, can assure you that love will blossom in your heart for the One you once hated and rejected. His name is Jesus.

 

Grant Phillips