But unless you repent,
you too will all perish.
Luke
13:3 NIV
In the past few
days we have discussed hearing about Jesus and believing in Jesus,
today we are discussing repentance and its significance. Repent,
Jesus said if we don't repent we will perish. So what does it mean to
repent? It means to regret our sinful past and make up our mind to
change our ways and follow Jesus. So, if we have heard the good news
about Jesus and come to believe in Him as the Son of God and our
savior we should be painfully aware of our need for forgiveness. In
order to truly seek forgiveness one has to come to the conclusion
that the way they have been doing things hasn't worked and its time
to make a change. That's where repentance comes in, and we decide its
time to turn around and go in the right direction.
Once we come to
the point of repentance we are no longer ignorant about the ways of
God and how sinful we truly are. Have you ever heard this statement
before? “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”. When it comes to
forgiveness of sins we cannot claim ignorance as an excuse before
God. We will be held accountable for the evil that we have done.
Paul said this
as he was addressing a crowd in Athens,”The
times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people
everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will
judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and
of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the
dead.”Acts 17:30,31
ESV Paul said this to his audience after he
proclaimed to them the unknown God. “What
therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
Acts 17:23b So
after Paul had proclaimed God to them they were no longer ignorant,
and were now aware of their sin. Paul said “he
commands all people everywhere to repent”.
Why? Because there is a day of judgement coming. On that day the
world will be Judged by Jesus the one God raised from the dead.
Repentance
is very significant, without it we cannot be forgiven. It is a part
of the God given plan of salvation. If we follow His plan we can be
assured of forgiveness and mercy when the day of judgement comes.
©
2012 Leo J. Woodman
