Except You Repent
“I tell you, no: but except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:5
“And in those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent you, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”- Mt.3:1-2
“Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:14-15
“Then opened their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; and he said unto them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” – Luke 24:45-47
“Now when they heard, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles,’ brethren what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, repent you, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”-Acts 2:37-38
“But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent you therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and that he may send the Christ who has been appointed for you, even Jesus.”- Acts 3:18-20
“how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward out Lord Jesus Christ.”- Acts 20:20-21
“or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?’-Rom.2:4
“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry unto repentance; for you were made sorry after a godly sort, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, which brings no regret; but the sorrow of the world works death.”- 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”- 2 Peter 3:9 “And I gave her time that she should repent; and she will not repent of her fornication.”- Revelation 2:21
It is the call to repent, to surrender ourselves to our Creator, that has often stirred hatred against Jesus and his disciples.
“But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.” – John 8:40
Disciples are called into a life-journey that requires repeated repentance toward God - as we become increasingly aware of his will and our sin.
We see from the words to the Corinthians that repentance will reoccur in the lives of disciples. Often pride keeps us from further repentance.
Even elders may need to repent. cf. 1 Timothy 5:20. For too long, too few have emphasized Jesus’ call for complete surrender to God.
“Truly I say unto you, except you turn and become as little children, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3-4
“We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech on behalf of Christ, be you reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20
2/23/04