Repent and Live

Along the lines of the last article, the Bible makes a strong point of the need to Repent. Repentance is simply changing. It isn't just confessing that we've done wrong; it is a commitment of heart to being a different person, to not repeating the wrongdoing. Throughout the Bible, OT and NT, we find the teaching of the need to repent, to turn away from the evil of the world and back to God. One of the beauties of the Bible is that it shows that God has always been willing to give man a second (and more) chance, a chance to turn and come back. God always provided a way, a leader, a miracle, an opportunity for man to see that He is the Way, that He is for us, that His way triumphs. In the OT He sent prophets, when things got really bad, to lead the people back to Him. The OT is full of teaching on this principle, but an example of the prophetic teaching is to look at Hosea, like 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you...." And 5:4, "They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the Lord." And talking about the Jews, He said in 9:17, "My God will cast them away, because they did not obey Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations." This is still true today about the Jewish Nation. Yes, Israel still exists, but no more like it did; and never again like it was. Then there is Malachi, the prophet. Note 3:6, "For I am the Lord. I do not change." And 4:5-6, "Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." This is apparently speaking of the sending of John the Baptist and Jesus to follow. All through the Bible history, God continued to do for His people and call for repentance. This was a major message of Jesus. Both John and Jesus taught "Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand." And following Jesus, the Apostles were given to carry on the teaching. The Apostle Paul taught in Acts 17:30, as he was speaking to the "wise" people in Athens, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." And Peter was asked by some Jews in Acts 2:37 what they needed to do. He answered, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." God has always called for repentance.....and He has always provided a way for us to come back. He loves us, so much that He gave His only begotten Son. Such love! Thanks for reading. See you next week.