Essentials of Spiritual Growth and Multiplication

Jesus' Commandments: Repentance

After Jesus' baptism and temptation in the wilderness, His first words which sort of launched His ministry were, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) This is a very authoritative statement, of course. And we can't help but think, when that sentence is yanked out of its context, of the guy standing on the streetcorner with a billboard, declaring that his listeners are all going to hell.

I think Jesus' emphasis was quite different, though. He was always surprising those who paid close attention. The truth is, His teachings are still surprising today. The Pharisees we like to critique would have been the most upstanding citizens available. The good and faithful, who would have seemed a real contrast to he fishermen, political dissidents, tax collectors and ne'er-do-well's Jesus allowed to hang around him. They were convinced they had figured out all of God's demands which would result in their being welcomed into eternal life with eternal rewards. They believed all the "right things," in contrast to the Sadducees, who didn't believe in Angels, spirits or resurrections.

It's not that clear from the context if this is what was going on here, but often the Pharisees would come to Him with some example or controversy to try to trip Him up. It may have been the case here as well:

“Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”” Luke 13:1-5.

It seems Jesus turned the question around on them. They probably wanted Him to criticize the martyrs or the Roman leadership. He told them the condition of their own heart was such that similar unexpected death and judgment would fall on them unless they repented.

The fact is, this is the case with all of us. We're born sinners and our first sin against conscience confirms it. We judge others, then violate the same standards. We perceive the eternal nature, wisdom and power of God from creation itself, then imagine Him to be some creature like ourselves.

Then, we have a tendency to think He grades on the curve. Comparing ourselves to others just like ourselves, we reason that He will either have to condemn everyone or else wink at a certain level of sin. (Always something a bit more serious than our estimate of our own!) Surely, our good works will outweigh our bad.

Hebrews 6:1 implies that a TURN (repentance) of this attitude is the very foundation of Christian teaching when it mentions "repentance from dead works." Repenting from our sinful acts is not the point so much as repentance from our assumption that our works will earn us the Kingdom! In Isaiah 64:6, God calls all OUR "righteousnesses" FILTHY RAGS.

Once we recognize God's goodness and patience to us in spite of the fact that we've only been heaping up iniquity all our lives and estimating it to be shares in the bank of heaven, repentance, then a proper grieving (2 Corinthians 7:10) and realistic faith in God, can start.

Judas Iscariot recognized that he had betrayed an innocent, and even felt regret...but that he didn't fully turn to and trust God is apparent from his suicide. Yet Peter himself denied the Lord 3 times, returned to fishing as a career, but was sought out and restored by the Lord when he grieved and recommitted himself. Jesus even told him that his ministry would lead to his (Peter's) death (see John 21:18-19).

Ironically, it's not only before our initial conversion where we often have trouble with "dead works' but also before our rededication. Don't we often want to "clean up our act" before going back to church, or praying regularly? We who have understood and responded to the Gospel ought to know better--if we wait for that, we'll never come.

Repentance is said to be a change of heart which leads to a change of life. A Christian's repentance shouldn't be a one-time thing, there ought to be a life of continual repentance--because we of all people can't say we have no sin.

“but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9.

In Romans 8, we are promised that NOTHING in all creation can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus. Let's commit today to let nothing keep us from walking closely with Him. Not shame, opinions of others, time spent living for ourselves, not even misplaced notions of trying to repair the breach from our side.

He LOVES us and HIS direction for our life is better than anything we could ever come up with. When we pray for His Kingdom to come on earth, as it is in heaven, we should be realigning with His purposes and proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven in our lives and the lives of others.

by Study-Leader @ 12:32 PM