The importance of Repentance (Part 3)

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By Charles E. Wigg

In chapter 3:19 Peter once more pleaded with the Jews to repent, and to be converted. In chapter 8:22, he solemnly warned the magician to repent. This man Simon, had believed but had not repented. Consequently he trembled at the prospect of the judgement of his sin, but evidently did not ever repent. When Paul spoke to the pagan citizens of Athens, he told them that God was willing to overlook the times of their ignorance, when they worshipped idols. But now He commanded all men to repent. Acts, 17:30.

When speaking to King Agrippa Paul said, that immediately after his conversion and baptism, he had at Damascus, in Judea, and then to the Gentiles, urged those to whom he spoke, "To repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts, 26:20.

The Lord Jesus said in Matt. 9:13, Mark, 2:17 and Luke, 5:32, that He had not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. In Luke 15:7, He spoke of the greater joy that would be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance". Here He was exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and religious leaders, and their self-righteous attitudes. They were those that thought that they needed no repentance. In Luke 24:47, just before returning bodily to heaven, He said that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations".

When the prejudiced Jewish believers heard Peter's testimony about his going to the house of Cornelius, they glorified God because He had "also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" Acts. 11:18. When recalling his ministry to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus while he was with them, he said that he had testified to both Jews and Greeks, "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ". Acts, 20:21. Finally Peter assures us that God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance". 2 Pet. 3:9.

Thus we have the abundant testimony of the New Testament scriptures, in the words of the Lord Jesus and His Apostles, of the necessity of repentance, before the person puts faith in the Lord Jesus and His finished work.