REAL REPENTANCE

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!’” (Matthew 3:1-2 HCSB)

If we came to the church house this Sunday and found Jesus was going to preach, what message would you expect Him to bring? He might address a wide variety of subjects, but I am very sure I know one topic He would be sure to bear down on.

He would say, “Repent!”

That was His message when He began to preach in His earthly ministry and it was His final word in the New Testament. His last message to the church was not the Great Commission, but a call to repentance.

What is repentance? Literally, it means “to change your mind.” It is a change in thinking that leads to a change in action. Repentance is both negative and positive. We turn from sin and we turn to God. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin of salvation. That is real repentance.

I say real repentance, because there is a false repentance.

There is the false repentance that only pertains to emotion. While sorrow over sin and joy in salvation may be the fruit of real repentance, they are not the root of it. Emotions fluctuate—and may dissipate as quickly as the morning mist before the heat of the sun. We might be sad because of the problems caused by our sin, and happy about the prospect of heaven, yet stop short by only resting on those feelings. Then, when the trials come, we wither under the heat, for we have no root in real repentance (see Matt.13: 20-21).

There is the false repentance that only pertains to reformation. Indeed, there will be a change in the way we live, if there has been a change in our heart. But, it is the change of heart and mind—regeneration—that brings true transformation and not mere reformation. Reformation, as I am using the term, is an external change as we clean up our conduct, while we retain the same sinful passions within. We are like the hypocrites Jesus condemned—white-washed tombs, shining without, but full of death within (read Matt.23:13-36). We cannot be saved by trying to reform our lives without placing our faith in Christ to save us. All our self-righteousness is but filthy rags, wholly inappropriate to wear to Heaven’s wedding (Compare Isa.64:6 and Matt.22:10-14).

There is the false repentance that pertains only to profession. We know about repentance and talk about Christ, but think that knowing facts is the same as having faith and that saying the right thing is the same as doing the right thing. In that case the demons are converts because they confess Jesus is the Son of God (read Matt.8:28-29 and James 2:19-20). Make no mistake about it, the one who is truly repentant will know the truth and will confess their faith, but go beyond an intellectual assent, to an internal allegiance, and the words we speak will come from a heart that is surrendered. Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone—as Luther noted.

Faith that doesn’t produce a changed life is not real faith (note James 2:14-26). The weeds of the world soon choke out the seeds of the Word that have sprouted, before they bear fruit (observe Matt.13:22).

Then, what is real repentance?

There are several aspects of real repentance to explore.

First, we learn THE ROOT OF REAL REPENTANCE.

The initiative is with God. He calls for repentance. When man sins in the garden, He comes to confront Adam. When He is ready to wash the world clean of its filth, He sets Noah to preaching and preparing an ark. When He wants to reach the world, He summons a man from idolatry named Abraham and establishes a chosen people. When those people fail, He sends prophet after prophet and their message is the one which summarizes the Old Testament, “Repent!” Turning to the New Testament, we find God raises up the herald of the King, John the Baptist, and his sermon is, “Repent!” When John is imprisoned and then beheaded, someone else would rise to preach the same sermon and so Jesus came preaching, “Repent!” The Lord ascended back to heaven, and the same message was given to His church—and so the rest of the New Testament finds the Apostles calling for repentance—and it is still the word for modern man.

God reaches out to us. Repentance is rooted in the activity of God. It is not produced by our efforts to change, though it will produce a changed life. It isn’t about your struggle for self-improvement, but God’s Spirit shaping you from the inside out.

Repentance is rooted in GOD’S RESTRAINT.

Those who heard John preach deserved wrath—they were sinners. But God’s mercy restrained the judgment they merited and gave them opportunity to escape the wrath to come (Matt.3:7-12).

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

We are all sinners and the wages of sin is death. Each of us deserves hell, but God desires we have heaven. Do you wonder why Jesus has waited so long to return to earth? Peter tells us that He is giving us time—that everyone who will might have opportunity to repent.

Real repentance is also rooted in GOD’S RICHES.

John appeals to them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt.3:2). The repentant not only avoid hell, they attain heaven.

God doesn’t just delay His wrath which He might justly deliver—that’s mercy—He dispenses the wealth we could never deserve—and that’s grace! Every goodness God shows to sinners is grace and a summons to the greatest gift—the grace of salvation.

“Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Rom.2:4)

God sends rain upon the just and the unjust. The same showers that water a righteous man’s garden, water the wicked man’s. God’s goodness is meant to lead one to look up for the Source of blessings. Then we might, through the call of the Holy Spirit, see that His greatest gift sent down was His only Begotten Son and that by turning to Him, we can be saved.

Real repentance, likewise, has its roots in GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Sinners streamed to hear John’s thunder and they trembled under the sound, as their forefathers did when hearing the booming voice from Sinai. That righteous standard, God’s Holy Law, was held up as a perfect mirror for them to see themselves that they might realize they had all fallen short of the glory of God.

Fast forward to the Day of Pentecost, three and one half years after John preached, and a fellow named Peter took up the same sermon:

“‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!’

When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: ‘Brothers, what must we do?’

‘Repent,’ Peter said to them, ‘and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:36-38)

Peter’s proclamation pricked their conscience and brought conviction of sin. If we compare ourselves to other sinners, we may not seem to need repentance, but when exposed to the righteousness of Holy God, it is a dagger to the heart. Repentance is when we face God’s Holy Law that drives us to our knees crying, “God, have mercy on me—a sinner!”

From the root of real repentance, we next turn to THE REACH OF REAL REPENTANCE.

Repentance is a sermon sent to two audiences: wayward sinners and wandering saints.

Repentance reaches ONE SEPARATED FROM GOD’S SALVATION. John held out that only those who repented could be saved.

Jesus would later say this, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!” (Luke 13:5)

A topic of conversation in Jesus’ day concerned a group of Galileans who had been massacred by Herod as they offered sacrifices, and those in Siloam where a tower fell and killed them. People imagined this happened to them because they were sinners. Jesus lets us know that we all are—and must repent or perish.

Repentance also reaches ONE STRAYING FROM GOD’S SANCTIFICATION.

The New Testament message of repentance doesn’t stop with believing unto salvation, but extends to the believer’s sanctification.

It was to Christians that Jesus spoke:

“Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you[a] and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Rev.2:5)

This is Christ’s word for the church today. When we repent in salvation we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But sheep tend to go astray. We need to surrender to Him as at the first. You aren’t saved all over again, but you experience a renewed submission to Him as in salvation. If we do not, then a loving Father can make us wish we had! The Good Shepherd will bring His sheep into His fold, even if He must use a rod and staff.

Real repentance goes from the root to the branches that reach out and lead to fruit—which is THE RESULT OF REAL REPENTANCE.

John told them that real repentance would produce true transformation (Matt.3:8-10).

It results in REGENERATION.

Peter linked these together in Acts 2:38, quoted previously—there would be a repentance of sin and a reception of the Spirit, and that is regeneration. True repentance is a new birth, becoming a new person! Our water baptism is an outward profession of this inward reality. We put someone under the water, signifying that the old sinner they were is dead and buried, and bringing them up out of the water that they have been raised to walk in new life. If they aren’t a new person, then they go into the baptistery a dry sinner and come out a wet one. John refused to baptize anyone who did not give evidence of repentance and regeneration.

Real repentance results in REJOICING.

“‘I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.’” (Luke 15:7)

If you only knew how much God loves you! All heaven celebrates when a sinner comes home! Come to Christ, and let the party begin! If you, although saved have grieved the heart of God because of your backsliding, mourn over your sin and pray with David,

“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:8-12)

It results in REPRODUCTION.

John demanded, “Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.” (Matt.3:8)

We reproduce after our kind. The fruit of our lives is determined by its root. The presence of Christ within us begins to show itself in Christ-like character and the fruit of the Spirit is produced. This is character and conduct consistent with our claim.

It results in RESTITUTION.

John told those who were repentant that the evidence would be displayed in their restitution—being right with God means attempting to be right with man.

The Baptist preacher said this:

““What then should we do?’ the crowds were asking him.

He replied to them, ‘The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.’

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’

He told them, ‘Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.’

Some soldiers also questioned him: ‘What should we do?’

He said to them, ‘Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages.’” (Luke 3:10-14)

There is a wonderful example of a tax-collector’s repentance in Luke 19:7-9:

All who saw it began to complain, ‘He’s gone to lodge with a sinful man!’

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much!’

‘Today salvation has come to this house,’ Jesus told him, ‘because he too is a son of Abraham.’”

Zacchaeus wasn’t saved because he made restitution, but he made restitution because he was saved.

Real repentance will also result in REVIVAL.

This is why the message of repentance is also directed to carnal Christians and cold churches. What is needed is revival, and revival requires repentance.

Here is a promise conditioned on repentance, given to the Old Testament saints, that is still applicable to New Testament era:

“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chron.7:14)

Hear this word from Peter:

“Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.” (Acts 3:19-20)

In these last days, the Bride needs revival to clean up and dress up in anticipation of her Bridegroom coming. God grant us a season of refreshing! There have been some in the past (note the plural “seasons”) and why not one last time?