Why We Should Repent?
Repentance is acknowledging our sin, wanting to forsake it, and turning away from our old ways. It’s not about achieving immediate perfection, but about having a sincere desire to live a life that honors God.
This attitude of repentance, combined with faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, is the essential starting point of our spiritual journey. It’s the foundation upon which we build our relationship with God. Unfortunately, the message of repentance is often overlooked in contemporary Christianity. While faith is emphasized, the crucial element of turning away from sin is often minimized or ignored.
It's not enough to simply believe in Jesus; we must also actively repent. A person who hears the gospel and merely intellectually acknowledges Jesus without a corresponding desire to change their sinful behavior is not truly forgiven. Forgiveness comes to those who both repent *and* believe. This is the clear message of the apostles, like Peter and Paul, who consistently preached the need for both repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).
Therefore, true repentance is a turning toward God, not merely a pursuit of prosperity or healing. It's not about escaping sickness for health, or poverty for wealth. That's a distorted message. Genuine repentance means turning away from anything that opposes God in our lives and placing our faith in Jesus. Like the Thessalonians, we should turn from idols to serve the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
An idol is anything that usurps God's rightful place in our hearts. This could be our well-being, riches, career, possessions, or even our loved ones. Just as Isaac became an idol for Abraham, anything can become an idol if it overshadows our devotion to God. Repentance is turning away from these idols and everything that prevents God from being paramount in our hearts. It's about prioritizing God's kingdom and His righteousness, trusting that He will provide for our needs.
Even if we don't become wealthy, we can be confident that our necessities will be met when we put God first. Unfortunately, some Christians equate material wealth and good health with God's favor. This is demonstrably false, as many non-believers experience greater prosperity and health than devoted Christians. Furthermore, they lack the freedom from sin that characterizes a true follower of Christ.
The primary message of Jesus, which we must continue to share, is repentance. He instructed us to teach everything He taught. What did He teach? To turn from wrongdoing, turn toward God, and embrace the kingdom of heaven, focusing our minds on spiritual matters – righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The primary message of Jesus, which we must continue to share, is repentance. He instructed us to teach everything He taught. What did He teach? To turn from wrongdoing, turn toward God, and embrace the kingdom of heaven, focusing our minds on spiritual matters – righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Blessed Grace
Reviewed by Brother Glenn and written by Brothers Patrice and Poonan
