Repent

Repent

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (Matthew 4:17 NKJV). According to this verse, repent or repentance has some relationship to the kingdom of heaven. To repent is to turn from evil and return to God. When we sin we turn away from God to our idols or detestable practices (Ezekiel 14:6); to do offenses (Ezekiel 18:30). Isaiah says to “Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good” (Isaiah 1:16-17 NKJV). We are to turn from our evil wicked ways (Jeremiah 26:3) and return to God (Amos 4:6).

John the Baptist, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, picks up this theme and says: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance,”

Matthew 3:7-8 NKJV). Repentance not only seeks forgiveness for our wrong, but is to show evidence of a right heart by doing what is right.

We are to repent of our sin, come to Jesus to receive eternal life and then when we sin as a child of God, we are to turn back to our Father and confess our sin, for he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleans us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In this way, through Jesus, we enter the kingdom of heaven and maintain a walk worthy of our calling.

Prayer

Father, thank you for providing, through the sacrifice of your Son, access to you with provision to repent of our sin. Jesus can command us to repent of our sin because he shed his blood to cover our sin. No matter how hard we try, in our body of flesh we will continue to sin. You confirm that in your word, but one day, in heaven, we will never again sin. But for now, in obedience, we must continue to repent.

See "The Commands of Jesus" Index to view other commands.