Description
If someone were to say to you, “You need to repent!”, what do they mean by that?
So often we say that we are sorry for something we did but how sorry are we really? If we are caught with our hand in the cookie jar, are we sorry for what we did or only because we were caught? Sadly, the only sorrow expressed was because we were caught and not because of what we did. Yes, that was a silly example, but it does make a point. If we are truly sorry for what we did, we will repent of that and determine never to do it again.
People from religious walks of life have their beliefs of where they will spend eternity when they die. The founders of those religious beliefs have died and are buried. Turning to Christianity, the Christian faith is established on Jesus Christ. It was Jesus Christ who left Heaven and came to earth to die on the Cross of Calvary and by doing so He paid the sinful debt of humanity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” {John 3:16} When Jesus died on the Cross, He shed His innocent blood on our behalf: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” {1 Peter 1:18-19}
What happened to Jesus after He died on the Cross? He was buried and three days later He bodily rose from the grave {Matthew 28:1-6} and today the grave where Jesus was buried is empty. {John 20:1-7} He is in Heaven {Hebrews 10:12}. For those who believe and would trust Him as Saviour Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” {John 10:28} Scripture [the Bible] promises that “For whosoever [that means anyone] shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” {Romans 10:13}
What does all of this have to do with repentance? Unless people repent and turn to God, they will spend eternity in Hell. Jesus himself said when talking to religious people, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” {Luke 13:3,5} If people, anyone, want to go to Heaven, they MUST repent of sin. Webster says: “Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life. Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God.” [Webster’s Dictionary 1828] A godly sorrow works towards a true repentance. True repentance involves a complete turnaround!
THIS IS A 4-PAGE TRACT – IT DEALS WITH BIBLICAL REPENTANCE.
