Repentance

One of the controversies in the modern church is about the importance of repentance in salvation.  Matthew 3:7-10 addressed this issue.  “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.   And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming to Jesus to be baptized because they hoped it would enable them to escape the judgment to come, just as many today make a profession of salvation to avoid having to go through the Tribulation, or ending up in hell.  The Pharisees were very moral and devoted religious people, while the Sadducees just followed the Old Testament law as a part of their culture, but didn’t really believe the teachings.   John refused to baptize either group until they showed some evidence of repentance, of a changed attitude.  They needed to realize just being descendants of Abraham or keeping the old traditions was not enough.    If they did not show signs of a real change in their attitude toward God, they would be cast into hell just like those who didn’t bother, because as Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:10 explains, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”  They were just as sinful as the publicans and Gentiles they looked down on. 

I John 1:8-10 warns, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  If we refuse to admit we have done wrong, we are fooling ourselves, and in effect saying God lied when he said all have sinned.  If we honestly believe we have done wrong, there should be a desire to do better and make things right, an attitude of repentance.  Mark 1:4 tells us, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

 John was baptizing the people as a sign they were repentant, and if they were not, the baptism meant nothing.   They would be judged just the same as everyone else, as we see in Luke 13:2-5.  “And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

It is the recognition of our sin and repentance of it that leads us to accept Christ as Savior, as we see in I Corinthians 7:10.  “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  The sense of guilt either causes us to repent and come to Christ, or makes us angry and resentful.  Until we admit we have sinned, we see no need for a savior, as Jesus said in Mark 2:17.  “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  If there is no sense of repentance, there will be no salvation. 

At the same time we need to realize that repentance is an ongoing process, and salvation is only a beginning step.  While the Holy Spirit gives a new attitude, the person still has the same old habits they have learned, and it may take quite a while to eliminate them.   As a result, in Luke 17:3-4, Jesus said, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”   While repentance is an integral part of salvation, it will only be completed as the Holy Spirit works in the person’s life.   Judging whether they have repented properly is God’s business, not ours.    Problems arise because people tend to carry things too far.