Repent in the Gospels

 

Essentially, to repent means to change your mind; but, as I will demonstrate, that change of mind is the engine that pulls a train. I discovered that repent rarely stands alone, there’s almost always an and that follows. Even when it is not spelled out, it is assumed. Repent and... Let’s look at this.

John the Baptizer

Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.

Repent and be baptized; and confess your sins; and bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John’s message was, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. I know you are waiting and longing for it, but you are not ready for it. You need to prepare yourselves.”

What did they repent of? Sins, which they confessed; attitude, We have Abraham to our father, they thought they were in because of their family ties. They had the proper hope, the kingdom is coming, but they had grown lazy and lax in their living and faith. “Change your mind. Confess your sins. Turn away from this careless living and bring forth good fruit.”

Jesus

Mark 1:14 Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Repent and believe the gospel. “I know you are waiting for the kingdom of God and you think it’s going to come some day. I’m telling you, the time is now. Stop thinking it is going to come, it is here. Believe this good news!”

The Jews had held the hope of the coming Messiah, to some degree, since Abraham. They had been through a lot as a people, and it had been 400 years since the last prophet (Malachi). The hope had become somewhat stale. “He’s coming. Probably not today, maybe not tomorrow, but the Coming One will come. One day.”

Jesus said, “Stop thinking that way. The kingdom is at hand.” (This is the gospel.) “Repent and believe the gospel.”

Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Why was Jesus eating with publicans and sinners? Was he approving their life of sin? No, he came to seek and to save the lost and lost people are sinners. He was seeking to heal them and restore them to righteousness.

I came to call…sinners to repentance - They need to confess their sins, turn away from that life, turn to Jesus, and follow him.

Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

This is the story of the rich man and Lazarus, which is part of the larger context. In 1-13 he taught his followers, No man can serve two masters…Ye cannot serve God and mammon. In 14, the Pharisees, who were covetous, derided him. This is part of his response. The poor man Lazarus dies and goes to Abraham’s bosom; the rich man dies and goes to hell, where he is in torment because of his covetous ways (25). He doesn’t want his brothers to follow him. The repentance he wishes for them and which they need involves embracing No man can serve two masters…Ye cannot serve God and mammon. A change in thinking and living.

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Repentance and remission of sins is at the beginning of the gospel and at the end of the gospel. Repentance and remission of sins are still part of the message for all nations. Repent, believe, be baptized, remission (forgiveness) are all still intertwined.

 

Repent means to change your mind (change your thinking about the kingdom, salvation, sin, Jesus), confess your sins, and take the appropriate and required action.

 

NEXT: Repent in the Book of Acts