Why Do We Plead With You To Repent?
Why do we plead with you to repent? Because each and every one of us need to repent. God commands it. Acts 17:30-31 says: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
God commands all men every where to repent. In other words He calls every single human being to repent. Why? Because we have all sinned against the great Creator God. We have all fallen short of the glory of the One True God. Every one of us have gone our own way. We have all rebelled against God. Not a single one of us are righteous on our own. We are sinners. Are you a sinner that’s been saved by God’s grace or are you still a Hell-bound sinner? It’s one or the other. No other options.
First Message Jesus Preached
Why plead with you to repent? Because the first message Jesus said in His earthly ministry was: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).
Don’t miss this; Jesus said repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus said these words. Yes, the very same Jesus that many people picture in their mind as being very gentle, soft spoken, all loving Savior that loves everyone said repent and believe the Gospel. Doesn’t repent and believe sound a little harsh? At least the repent part does.
Unless You Repent
Why call you to repentance? Because Jesus also said: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 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 (Luke 13:1-5).
Did you hear that folks? Two different times in Luke 13:1-5 Jesus said except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Why do we come out here and warn you that you need to repent? Because Jesus said you need to repent! We aren’t telling you some strange, new religion. We are crying out in the streets the same message Jesus preached 2,000 years ago.
Message From Jesus To The Religious Leaders
Jesus told the religious leaders in His day the following: For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans (or tax collectors) and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him (Matthew 21:32).
Do not misinterpret the Scriptures. Jesus never condoned sin. When he said the publicans and harlots believed, you need to understand that they didn’t continue in their sinful lifestyles. The tax collectors quit robbing the Jewish people (think of Zacchaeus). The harlots quit being prostitutes.
Jesus will meet you tonight where you are at, but when He saves you, He cleans you up. He doesn’t leave you in the gutter of your sins. The point of Matthew 21:32 is that everyone needs to repent and believe the Gospel, from the person who appears to be religious to the alcoholic or drug addict that can’t get any lower than they are right now.
Jesus Called People To Repent
Why do we plead with you to repent? Because Jesus called people on many occasions to repent. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:46-48).
Jesus warned them that He was going to suffer – that He was going to die on the cross for guilty sinners, and then rise from the dead on the third day. Then repentance and remission of sins would be preached in His name. In other words, He is the only Savior. There is no other. No man-made religion can get you to Heaven. Only the shed blood of Jesus can wash away your sins. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (in other words forgiveness) of sins.
Jesus Came To Call Sinners To Repentance
Why do we call you to repent? Because Jesus called you to repent. Luke 5:31-32 states: And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior tonight, you are sick. You have a deadly disease. It is the deadliest disease known to man. That disease is sin. The soul that sins, it shall die. You cannot cheat death. You will die one day. Will you die as a sin-sick person or will you die as a person who has been healed or made whole by the Great Physician?
Why plead with you to repent? Romans 2:4-5 says: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
God’s Mercy Will Run Out
We call you to repent because God is merciful and patient with sinful people. But it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. One day, God’s mercy with your sinful rebellion will run out.
One day will be your last. If you die in your sins as an unrepentant sinner, then all you have done your whole life was store up more wrath against the day of wrath. Judgment Day is coming. What will be your defense? What will you do with your sins on Judgment Day?
There will be nowhere to hide on that great and terrible day of the Lord. No excuses. No second chances. Did you repent and surrender your life to Christ in this life or did you die a rebellious sinner? It’s Heaven or Hell. No other options. Are you saved? Or are you just storing up more wrath for the day of wrath?
Wrath To Come
There is wrath to come. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain (Isaiah 26:21). God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet (Nahum 1:2-3).
Still not convinced? 2 Peter 2:9 states: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). John 3:36 says: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
God’s Anger Abides Upon You
Why do we plead with you to repent from your sins? Because God’s wrath, His anger abides upon you right here, right now, if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior. We plead with you because Judgment Day is coming and you will have no defense if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior. Your sins have separated you from God and if you die in your sins, then you will be separated from the love of God for all of eternity. Hell is no joke. It’s a place of awful suffering and torments.
Each and every one of us deserve Hell. But you can be saved. You can receive everlasting life; if you repent and trust Jesus. Even though our sins separate us from God, Jesus is the great bridge between man and God the Father. Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cross, bearing God’s wrath, the same wrath that we deserve. The Lord Jesus rose from the grave three days later. Salvation is freely offered to those who repent and put their faith in Jesus.
What Is Repentance?
Repentance is more than just saying you’re sorry. Yes, it is admitting that you are a sinner. Yes, it is confessing your sins. But it also includes godly sorrow. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation. It’s recognizing, admitting, confessing, that you have offend our Holy and righteous God. You have gone astray. You have rebelled against the One True God. Godly sorrow is where you hang your head in shame, recognizing that you are the guilty criminal.
Oh, but godly sorrow works repentance to salvation. If God is convicting you tonight that you are a guilty sinner and He’s revealing to you that Jesus is the only Savior, you can cry out for Jesus to save you. Cry out for Jesus to have mercy upon your soul. Confess and forsake your sins. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. He is the only Savior. He is the only way of salvation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5). Trust Jesus because: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Repent And Be Converted
In Acts 20:20-21 the apostle Paul says: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to have repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. You can be saved today if you do this.
Why do we plead with you to repent? Because you must repent to be saved. Acts 3:18-19 states: But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
We call you to repent because through God’s Holy word, He calls you to repent. Our hope, our prayer is that you will repent and be converted. We want you to be saved. We want to see you in Heaven someday. Our prayer is that you will be converted. That Jesus will make you spiritually alive.
Your Sins Can Be Blotted Out
When you repent and surrender your life to Jesus, your sins are blotted out. God remembers your sins no more. He no longer holds them against you. He is no longer angry with you. His wrath no longer abides upon you because Jesus bore God’s wrath while He hung on the cross. He bore your wrath that you rightly deserve; if you truly repent and trust Jesus.
If Jesus is calling you tonight, don’t reject this great salvation. Confess and forsake your sins. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Be saved today. Repent and be converted so your sins will be blotted out. Instead of dreading Judgment Day, you can look forward to the times of refreshing that shall come from the presence of the Lord.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on December 9, 2016)