THIS IS YOUR RADIO FRIEND, PASTOR AMARA UWAEZIOZI, BRINGING YOU: “HEALING WORDS FROM THE MASTER”, A RADIO PROGRAM OF THE MASTER’S VESSEL MINISTRY WHOSE AIM IS TO LET YOU KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND GOD’S UNSEARCHABLE RICHES AVAILABLE TO YOU.
Friends, you are welcome to today’s broadcast. I hope you have enjoyed the former topics. Today we shall be considering, Understanding the Concept of Repentance. We shall read from the Bible, The Book of Acts 3:19 – just one verse.
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to GOD, so that your sins will be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD. (NIV)
Let us Pray.
PRAYER
Our FATHER in heaven, we bless YOUR Name for a day like this. Grant us access to YOUR Word, so that we will believe YOU and benefit from YOUR promises and unsearchable riches which are available to those who do YOUR Will. This we pray…in JESUS’ Name. Amen!
THE CONCEPT OF REPENTANCE
This concept of repentance was a major subject in the churches during the revival of the early 1970’s. Repentance is central in Christian Life. It is unfortunate that in recent times many churches no longer preach about the need for repentance anymore; yet a correct understanding of repentance is absolutely fundamental to biblical Christianity.
Let us answer the question, What is repentance? To repent means to turn to GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and to turn from evil. For example, if you were cheating on an examination, or cheating on your wife or husband before, to repent means to stop cheating and apologize to GOD and request forgiveness.
In The Book of Proverbs 28:13, it reads this way,
Proverbs 28:13
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. (NKJV)
Repentance normally includes the use of one’s mouth. In The Book of Romans 10:8-9, and I read,
Romans 10:8-9
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. (NKJV)
The verse 10 goes ahead to read,
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
So you see that confession involves the use of the organ of the mouth personally.
Apart from the involvement of the mouth, repentance often includes the emotions. For example, When Peter recognized his sin of denying JESUS, he went out and wept bitterly.
In Matthew 26:75, the Bible tells us that Peter went out and wept bitterly. Genuine and authentic repentance may involve the emotions while requesting GOD to forgive. Let me take that again, “genuine and authentic repentance may involve crying or weeping while requesting GOD to forgive”.
Furthermore, repentance always includes the will – the will: a determination and commitment to stop doing or continuing in the evil. In Acts 17:30, the Bible says,
30 In the past GOD overlooked such ignorance, but now HE commands all people everywhere to repent. (NIV)
One of the biggest examples of repentance in the bible is Paul’s conversion. That is the former Saul who later became Paul. When Paul repented, he stopped persecuting the church, and started preaching about JESUS. His thinking changed, his friends changed, his activities changed – his whole life was turned around and set in a new direction.
Friends, permit me to quote one more important scripture in Mark 1:15. And it reads,
15 “The time has come,” he said, “The Kingdom of GOD has come near. Repent and believe the Good News!”
Let’s look at the results of repentance.
- The first is that genuine repentance leads to forgiveness of sins. The one who repents will obtain mercy. The bible says in 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
So, genuine repentance leads to the forgiveness of sins. And the bible says, blessed is he whose sins are forgiven.
2. Number two: Repentance restores relationships. GOD looked into the future and saw that Israel would turn against HIM. HE made a promise. You will find it in 2 Chronicles 7:14. And it reads, If my people, who are called by MY Name, will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
So – repentance restores relationships with the Maker.
3. Thirdly, repentance clears consciences. When David prayed, Create in me a clean heart, he was requesting GOD to clear his conscience – so that he will not be going about with a guilty conscience.
There are two levels of repentance:
a. Individual repentance.
At this level each person is responsible to repent and confess his or her sins. In the bible, Jonah did not look for a professional priest to confess his sins to. He confessed them personally. It is our duty to confess our own sins personally to GOD.
b. The second level is corporate confession. There are times when the need for corporate confession and repentance arises. This may be a family, a kindred, a community or even at the town level led by the traditional ruler or even a church led by the priest or a nation. In the bible, Ezra confessed the sins of his people. The Levites led in the confession of the sins of the people of Israel while Nehemiah was the governor. Again, Prophet Samuel led the people in confession of their sins.
Communities or churches or nations or other groups who are guilty of corporate sin should come together and engage in corporate repentance.
Friends, may I humbly request that you do yourself a great favour by giving heed to my voice today. The bible says, Today, if you hear HIS Voice, that is, the Voice of our Master JESUS CHRIST, do not harden your heart. It did not pay those who ignored HIS Voice in their own time.
PRAYER
Pray this simple prayer but effective one, my LORD and my SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, I admit that I am a sinner. I plead with YOU to have mercy on me. I repent of all my evil ways, and accept you as my LORD and my SAVIOUR.
If you have done so I want to pray for you now. Our MASTER and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, I approach YOUR Throne of Mercy with all humility. I pray YOU, FATHER, that as many as are responding with all their heart to this message, have mercy on them. Save them; give them Your HOLY SPIRIT to dwell in them. Forgive them and give them power to be YOUR children. Let the power of sin and attraction of sin be broken in their lives…in JESUS’ Mighty Name. Amen!