Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Every now and then, someone will claim that repentance is no longer needed in order to be saved. They will say that all that is necessary is to believe on Jesus Christ and He will save (without turning from sin).
The truth is that repentance and belief (faith) in Jesus Christ are two sides of the same coin. Because God is holy and utterly hates sin of any kind, He created Hell for the first rebeller (Satan) and his followers (demons) – and for those that will not believe on Jesus Christ as Savior. They will go there because of sin: “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
God is eternally at odds with the sinner because they will not turn from their wicked ways. The definition of repentance is to turn from your ways in your mind that are contrary to God and be willing to start obeying Him.
Repentance is not trying to improve yourself before salvation: starting to keep the Ten Commandments, go to Church, get baptized, etc. – although a believer should do those things after salvation. It is realizing that you are in an utterly hopeless situation and do not stand a chance at God’s Judgment Bar because God is not pleased with you because of your sin – and He saw every one of them!
Repentance may be best illustrated by the thief on the Cross. The one thief that was pardoned by Christ could do no works because he would die there. When he turned to talk to Jesus, the Lord saw that he was sorry for His sin and admitted it. Then he called Jesus “Lord” – which means Boss: “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:41-43). A change of heart toward sin and believing that Christ would save Him was all that was needed to be forgiven.
Repentance in the Bible has always been a part of God’s plan to be saved (unbelievers) and for believers to get right with God after sinning (believers). This is seen in God’s formula for revival in II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
When Jesus started preaching, it was a major part of His teaching. He proclaimed, in Matthew 4:17: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
During His ministry, Jesus later confirmed that His message of demanding that sinners turn from their sin had not changed. He defended His working with sinners to the religious leaders in this way, in Mark 2:17: “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.“ At other times, He warned those that seemed completely indifferent to His message: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Just before His ascension back into Heaven, He told His disciples what to preach. He said: “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).
Even Paul the Apostle, who was saved a few years later, testified near the end of his ministry that he had faithfully preached a Gospel of repentance and faith. He boldly declared that he had been “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
There are those that say that God is love and He accepts people as they are – therefore, they say, repentance is not necessary. Or, they may not say it in those words – but their lives declare that they do not take a serious attitude toward sin. Paul acknowledged that God is good many times, but he also said that the reason that God is good is that you might repent of sin and start serving Him: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
Repentance and forgiveness go together. Where there is no repentance – neither is there any forgiveness. Paul told the Corinthian believers that “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of” (II Corinthians 7:10). This meant that when you are truly sorry for your sin, you will be willing to turn from it and want to start obeying God. Repentance is a change of attitude toward sin, and then faith is trusting that Christ will save you from the penalty of that sin once you call upon Him for salvation: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Did you notice the word “Lord?”
God wants you to call on Him today if you are tired of your sin and the guilt of it. Jesus Christ paid for all of your sin on the Cross and He is willing to take it away merely for the asking. Have you repented and asked Him to save you? Why not do it today?