Preached by the Apostles. In the second chapter of the Book of Acts, the Spirit of God was poured out upon the followers of Christ, and it was this event that brought the church age into existence. The very first message preached in the newly inaugurated church was preached on the Day of Pentecost by the apostle Peter. As he concluded his message of Jesus Christ, people in the audience asked what they must do to be saved (Acts 2:37). Peter’s response began with a command to repent. All through the Book of Acts the ministers of the early church consistently preached the necessity of repentance in order to be accepted by God. That which was a requirement in the days of the beginning of the New Testament church is still a requirement for those who would live for Jesus Christ today. There is still a need for people to turn from a lifestyle of sin and surrender their heart to the will of God as revealed through Jesus Christ and His apostles.
Thank You for your time in reading this tract. I hope in some way, I have helped your understanding of the Biblical Subject of Repentance. May the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with You All, Amen!
Repentance Repentance is the first step toward forgiveness of sins. True repentance is always evidenced by turning away from sin.
PASTOR VERNON HOUSE
PERRYVILLE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH
Repentance is the means by which a person by faith initially responds to the gospel. It is his first move toward salvation, the act of turning away from sin and submitting himself to God. Through the door of repentance God’s grace is kept open in our life and God will continue to work His provision of salvation in us. To refuse to repent, however, closes the door to the working of God in a person’s life. If a person does not turn to God in repentance of sins, he will face the judgment of God and eternal damnation.
Repentance in the Old Testament No matter in what era or dispensation a person may have lived, the requirement of God has always been for men to repent and to live a life submitted to Him. Instances of repentance abound throughout the Old Testament, but perhaps none are as vivid as the account of Jonah. This short book of the Old Testament yields some vivid insights into the nature of repentance in several ways. First, we see that Jonah suffered greatly and almost perished as a result of having resisted the will of God. It was only when he again submitted himself to the hand of God that his life was spared and he was used to preach to the citizens of the city of Nineveh. Second, we can see that the message of judgment that had been predetermined by God upon Nineveh because of its great wickedness produced profound repentance on the part of the citizens of Nineveh. This repentance evoked the compassion of God and, as a result, He withheld His judgment. The example of Jonah is only one of many examples that could be used to demonstrate several important points concerning the need of repentance. First, for those who know better, to forsake the surrendered life is to reap great anguish and frustration, either immediately or eventually.
Second, the compassion of God can be touched by a repentant heart to the extent that God will refrain from judgment and show mercy. Third, the most contented and fulfilling life a person can live is not one that is replete with material gain and worldly pleasures, but one that is lived in a state of repentance and surrender to the will of God. The benefits of this apply to both this present life and the life that is to come.
who occupy the position of the ministry to renounce the sins that the Scriptures clearly indicate to be an abomination to God? Sexual perversion is sanctioned by many people, and violence is rampant throughout the cities of North America, while those who stand for biblical truth are condemned and ridiculed as intolerant “Bible thumpers” and “Jesus freaks.”
Repentance in the New Testament
Luke 1:17 declares that John the Baptist came in “the Spirit of Elijah.” Can we not say that the True Church of Jesus Christ needs to manifest that same spirit in its denunciation of sin and its urgings for men to repent? Surely the voice and spirit of John the Baptist are as sorely needed now as they were 2,000 years ago.
Preached by John the Baptist The ministry of John the Baptist throughout the four Gospels was characterized by his admonitions to the people to whom he preached to repent. His pronounced emphasis on repentance was such that when he baptized people it was “unto repentance.” Though his ministry was to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the soon-coming Messiah, His fearlessness in the denunciation of sin earned him the hatred of the Pharisees and Sadducees alike. These he had pronounced as a “generation of vipers” and had commanded them to bring forth fruits befitting repentance. (See Matthew 3:7-8.) Because of his boldness to condemn sin even in governmental rulers, he was beheaded by King Herod. Is it not a terrible need of our generation for those
Preached by Jesus Christ In the days of His flesh Jesus Himself also preached the need of repentance (Mark 1:15; 2:17; Luke 5:32). After His resurrection from the dead, He told the apostles that they too should preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations (Luke 24:47).
