Author: Gary Witcher

Questions from Malachi - 5

     "From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes, and have not kept them," God says in Malachi 3:7.  "Return to Me, and I will return to you."
     This promise by God is followed immediately by a question from the people: "How shall we return?"
     Has there ever been a more critical question in history?
     The first recorded words of John the Baptist are found in Matthew 3:2.  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," John warns.
     The words of Christ's first message are written in Matthew 4:17.  "Repent," the Master says, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
     In Mark chapter six Jesus sends his Apostles on their first preaching assignment.  "And they went out," verse 12 notes, "and preached that men should repent."
     It's not hard to get the impression that repentance is important.  It was the first message preached by John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostles.  But just how important is repentance?
     "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick;" Jesus states in Mark 2:17, "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
     Is Jesus saying here that some people are not sinners?  Is He saying that some people do not need Him?  No, because Romans 3:10 says that not one person is righteous.  And verse 23 teaches that all have sinned.  What is Jesus saying, then?  He is saying that some people think they are righteous and therefore think they don't need Jesus.  Jesus cannot do anything for a person who does not have a repentant heart.
     "If we say that we have no sin," 1 John 1:8-10 points out, "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.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
     Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 24:47 that they should preach a message of repentance for the remission of sins.  It's no surprise, then, to hear what Peter tells the people in his first sermon when they ask what they need to do to be saved.
     "Repent," he responds in Acts 2:38, "and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."
     How important is repentance?  It is essential for salvation.  And that's pretty important!
     In Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus reproaches the cities where most of His miracles have been done, because they have not repented.  He says that it will be more tolerable in judgment for Sodom than it will be for the cities that have seen Him and have not repented.
     Verse 41 of the next chapter states that the people of Nineveh will stand up and condemn that generation because Nineveh repented at Jonah's preaching.
     "I tell you," Jesus warns in Luke 13:3, "but, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."  He repeats the same warning two verses later.
     How important is repentance?  It is necessary to avoid being condemned at the judgment.  And that's pretty important.
     "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours," Peter tells Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:22, "and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you."
     If one message is repeated to the churches addressed in the second and third chapters of Revelation, it is the message to repent.  Look at Revelation 2:5,16 and 22 and 3:3.
     How important is repentance?  It is required for a Christian to maintain the proper relationship with God.  And that's pretty important.
     We know, now, that repentance is very important.  But what is it that causes us to repent?  The world has many answers to this question, but these do not always correspond with the answers found in the Bible.
     The story of the rich man and Lazarus is found in Luke 16.  In this account, a rich man dies and goes to a place called Hades.  A poor man dies and goes to a place called Abraham's bosom.  The first thing that the rich man does is try to get Abraham to send Lazarus with a little water.  Abraham explains why this is not possible.
     "Then...send him to my father's house," the rich man pleads in verses 27-28, "...that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment."
     The rich man has it figured out.  A messenger from heaven will cause his brothers to repent.  Don't many people claim to have this kind of experience today?
     "They have Moses and the Prophets," Abraham responds, "let them hear them."
     "No, Father Abraham," the rich man argues, "but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!"
     "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets," Abraham replies, "neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead."
     It's the word of God, and not some strange experience that causes repentance.  After this song we'll look at some other things that are involved in repentance.

     "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior," Acts 5:31 says of Jesus, "to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."  Repentance comes through Jesus.
     "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience," Romans 2:4 asks, "not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"  The kindness of God leads us to repentance.
     "I now rejoice," Paul observes in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, "not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
     "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death."  Godly sorrow leads to repentance.
     "Be on your guard!" Jesus teaches in Luke 17:3.  "If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."  Sometimes it takes a brotherly rebuke to lead us to repentance.
     One common misconception about repentance is that it is something we do entirely in our hearts.
     "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance," John the Baptist instructs in Matthew 3:8.
     According to Acts 26:20, Paul declared to everyone that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.  Repentance, then, is an action and not just a feeling.  It begins in our hearts, but it ends up in our actions.
     Once we repent, what can we look forward to?
     "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents," Jesus promises in Luke 15:7, "than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."  Repentance leads to rejoicing.
     "Repent therefore and return," Acts 3:19 suggests, "that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  Repentance leads to times of refreshing.
     "Well, then," the disciples recognize in Acts 11:18, "God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."  Repentance leads to life.
     "With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition;" Paul admonishes in 2 Timothy 2:25, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth."  Repentance leads to the knowledge of the truth.
     Unfortunately, there is something else that must be pointed out about repentance: it does not always happen, and it will not always be possible.
     "I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you," Paul worries in 2 Corinthians 12:21, "and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced."
     "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have be made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come, and then have fallen away," Hebrews 6:4-6 points out, "it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame."  The following two verses explain why this is so.
     Revelation chapter nine tells of many things that God does to try to bring people to repentance.  But the last two verses of the chapter inform us that the people do not repent.  The same is true in chapter 16.
     There are two more things that should be said about repentance.  First of all, God expects it.
     "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent," Paul says in Acts 17:30.
     Secondly, God desires repentance.
     "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness," 2 Peter 3:9 instructs, "but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
     God wants everyone to repent and turn to the truth that will set them free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."