Follow the Course to Repentance!

Moreover, true repentance never exists except in conjunction with faith, while on the other hand, wherever there is true faith, there is also real repentance. The two are but different aspects of the same turning--a turning away from sin in the direction of God...The two cannot be separated; they are simply complementary parts of the same process. -L Berkhoff, Systematic Theology, p. 487.

Luke 13:1-5 continues on about "an innumerable multitude of people" that had gathered to hear Jesus speak. What a sight it must have been to see people pressing forward to hear the Word; to take a chance on inconvenience and danger rather than miss an opportunity for their souls. Incredibly, the more the Pharisees strove to drive the people from Christ, the more flocking there was to him!

The prevailing belief among Jesus’ audience was that calamity was caused by the sinfulness of those affected. Jesus denies this and gives warning about His audience’s need to repent. Why? Because a far greater calamity awaited those who refused to repent. The Bible is clear on the necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30-31).

Most of us are familiar with the often asked question that we need to answer, "How to repent?" This is how we’ll spend our time today, making sure we understand how to repent. Repentance is, from beginning to end, a mental process. It is, literally, a change of mind. “To change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins,” Thayer. Repentance, however, will show. There will be fruits, amendments, restitutions that will testify to this change of mind.

So, how do we repent? First you need to come to a realization that your course leads to destruction. This is what Jesus was seeking to get across in Luke 13:3-5. There is a source of conduct outside of man (Jeremiah 10:23). Breaking that code of conduct is called sin and it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23).

Paul stressed the judgment to the Athenians, Acts 17:30-31. Then there are the Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3); Simon of Samaria (Acts 8:18-24); and even a mention of Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Next, you should enquire as to the correct course. What shall we do? (Acts 2:37). What wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6). For some it’s a matter of remembering a course already learned (Revelation 2:5). We can certainly stress the need for Bible study here. Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:18; Matthew 5:6).

Additionally, we should resolve to follow that course. Why? Because this is the point where repentance comes in. It is the change of mind that causes change of direction (Romans 6:17-18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Just look at Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:3; Acts 22:4; Acts 26:9; Galatians 2:20). Yes, we should follow that course to the death (Revelation 2:10).

I stress that the act of repentance is a mental act. We must recognize that the effects of repentance are often physical. So, when we study how to repent we must show how one may see repentance. This leads us to our final example. In addition to everything that has been mentioned, we must bring forth fruits (Matthew 3:8; James 2:18); pay restitution to others (Luke 19:8-9). After all, a thief cannot repent AND keep the stolen goods. A slanderer cannot repent AND fail to correct the lie. A kidnapper cannot repent AND keep the stolen child. An adulterer cannot take a wife, repent AND keep the wife God has not authorized.

To repent, means walking in the light. No repentance ever took place with just mere words. For one to have repented their direction must have changes 1 John 1:7-9; John 8:31; Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 2:10). There is definite labor involved (Philippians 4:3).

In closing, I will try to break this all down into basic terms.

How To Repent:

1. Know the course you’re on leads to death.

2. Learn the course you should be on.

3. Resolve to follow the course.

4. Follow the course.

Prayer:

God, my good and loving Lord, I acknowledge all the sins which I have committed every day in my life, whether in thought, word or deed. I ask for forgiveness from the depths of my heart for offending You and others and repent of my old ways. Help me by Your grace to change, to sin no more and to walk in the way of righteousness and to praise and glorify Your Name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Tawny