To understand repentance from Christs view we need to hear the gospel
“And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Luke 15:11-24
if I say to another “ repent repent or you will perish !” You’ll go to hell if you don’t repent , Christ won’t have you unless your sinless repent repent or die !”
that doesn’t really speak repentance like Christ does he says it’s like a sin who chose wrong , did wrong , lost the inheritance to sinful living and then one day he realized what was happening why he was so low .
it was his own Choice to leave and live by his own rules his father gave his inheritance early and he blew it was lost without hope. But then in his sorrow a moment of clarity strikes him “ my father I will return to him to his house and plead to be a hired servant so I don’t perish eating slop “
what the man doesn’t realize is his father is eagerly waiting and watching for him to turn towards home watching for him to be headed towards the Hope of his fathers mercy.
Before he makes it home though his father in his wisdom and aged reservation breaks into a run when he sees him , kisses and hugs him . As the son is busy trying to reconcile and make right his wrongs , the father is busy hugging and embracing and kissing , clothing his son with robes and putting the family ring back on his hand
the man came to repentance realizing his son failures and poor choices , he reached a pitiful sorrowful state looking at himself but it sent him home . When he got there his father was just overjoyed that he was come home where he could be loved and kept safe
repentance is viewed the wrong way early on in a sinners life. We convince ourselves “ it’s just normal and human to live in sin everyone does it “ but if we live much in sin as a Christian we’re going to find our inheritance with the father being wasted away in other places on the Will of the devil the prostitutes and wild living he went through
one day as a believer we need to really take stock of what Jesus did for us and why d how we are living in response to that. As bekievers we ultimately as we grow up come to this question asked in many ways in the gospel but here very clearly
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46
to acknowledge his point in this question calls us to repentance that challenge by the lord of allowed to work in us can provoke change in though , belief and posture regarding sin this kind of belief is what Spurs repentance
to Know that it’s not a condemnation to say “ye must repent or you will perish “ it’s a warning from love because he wants us to live and not perish.
repentance is a father who loves us waiting for us to return to that place where he dwells innocence and peace , righteousness and truth. Where we don’t have to hide like Adam from his word , or like the Israelites
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Genesis 3:8-10 KJV
“Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.”
Deuteronomy 5:25 KJV
we now can hear this word instead and draw near to god and live
“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
John 6:45
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63 KJV
we can do this now Instead of hiding and not hearing his word anymore
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”
Luke 15:1 KJV
“For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:19, 22, 24-25
we repent more because we hear more about repentance according to Christ
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Luke 15:1-2, 4-7 KJV
repentance is a great thing a good thing but if we use it to condemn others or try to say they don’t belong to Christ we’re getting out of our own lane. It’s a lifetime of discovering and repenting repentance is an attitude a decision we make
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity;
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
Romans 6:16-22
we need to change our own understanding of our role in salvation we’re not just floating on a raft or log we have oars and a canoe to steer and choose which direction to go repentance is to move from this place
as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity;
to this place
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
instead of “ everyone sins so it’s ok “ we need “ I used to be a sinner but now I belong to the lord attitude about life and our choices repentance comes from a right faith a right belief
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV
that kind of truth makes us change if we accept it for what it is it causes us to repent as our faith grows and matures but only if we make the decision to repent