Category: Repentance

A discussion of the necessity of repentance, and what it is.  This truth is seen throughout the Bible.

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God chose to save the world through the gospel, the truth concerning the advent, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father reigning on His throne.  When we hear that gospel, our actions or lack thereof will determine whether we are saved . What must we do?

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Note:  PPTX presentation and verses supplied by Emberly Cox, age 9.

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An interesting phrase is found in Amos 2:4 regarding the punishment the Lord was to bring against His people. “Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Judah and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept His commandments.”

This passage indicates an important point about the longsuffering of God. One that has an application to us today. God is gracious and loves us very much. As such He is always willing to forgive transgressions that we commit against Him and His law for us. This forgiveness is contingent upon our repentance, but is available to us even after multiple transgressions. This is an aspect of God that we His children are to emulate, (cf. Luke 17:3-4).

However, at some point God’s longsuffering comes to and end with regard to persistent, unrepented sin. Thus our expression, “for three transgressions, and for four…” As it applies to us, we have no way of knowing when His longsuffering will be spent, but we know that is the day we are to experience God’s final judgment. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

On one of the occasions of Israel’s rebellions against God during the time of the judges, God chastised them. We are told that because of God’s anger for their idolatries, “He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon” (Judges 10:7). After eighteen years of harassment and oppression, “the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!’” Continue reading ““The gods which you have chosen”” →

The book of Zechariah was written after the return of the remnant from captivity. The temple was only half built, and the prophet encouraged the people to complete the task.

The name Zechariah is significant.  The Hebrew name means “Yahweh remembers” or “Yahweh has remembered.” What we know is that even through such a strong chastisement of the people (the captivity), God was always aware of the covenant He had with the people of Israel.  He had promised the Messiah would come to them, and the captivity and destruction of the temple had not changed His intent. As Zechariah said, “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers” (1:2). However, it was the Lord’s intent to reconcile with his people.

Note these words, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Return to Me,’ says the Lord of Hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Turn now from evil ways and your evil deeds.’” But they did not hear nor heed me,’ says the Lord” (1:3-4).

A lesson for us today. Our acceptance by God is conditioned upon our hearing and heeding His appeals. If we will return to God, be assured He is waiting and willing to receive us! (cf. 1 John 1:9).

In Joel 2, the prophet called for Judah to repent to avoided God’s judgment. As Joel wrote, “For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it” (2:11).

Consider this call to repent: “‘Now, therefore,’ says the LORD, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him — a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?” (Joel 2:12-14).

Lessons we learn from Joel:

1. Our repentance must be complete and without reservation (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10).
2. Mere outward expressions of sorrow are not sufficient, “rend your heart and not your garments” (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:9). It is not a show to others, it arises from genuine sorrow for the sins we have committed against God.
3. Repentance is what impacts God’s actions toward us. “Who knows if He will turn and relent.” Of course, as His children today, our emphasis is spiritual. Our repentance from sin ALWAYS brings forgiveness, though we might bear long with the physical consequences of our misdeeds (cf. 1 John 2:9).

The book of Nehemiah describes an interesting day in the lives of the remnant who returned to Jerusalem out of Babylonian captivity. The wall protecting the city had been finished, and the Jews had gathered at Jerusalem. Chapter 8 relates a reading of the law by Ezra, followed by the keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles. Chapter 9 picks up the narrative. The children assembled on the twenty-fourth day of the month and fasted “in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads” (1). These were signs of mourning as the sins of Israel weighed heavily upon the people as they woke spiritually. Verse 2 says, “Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.”

For a quarter of the day they read from God’s law. Another fourth was taken up in their confession of sin and worship to God. After half the day was over the Levites addressed the assembly, sharing the history of Israel.  They emphasized God’s graciousness despite the consistent rebellion of the people which led to their demise as a sovereign nation. I would suggest a reading of the address in verses 5-38 of the chapter. Continue reading “The Confession of Sin” →

A discussion of what God requires of man as a part of His covenant with man to be their God.  In other words, man’s obligations in God’s scheme of Redemption.

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A discussion of the book of Ezra, giving an overview, and examining several points of importance suggested by the book.

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There is a text in Galatians 6 that begins in verse two by saying, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Later in the same context, verse five, he said, “For each one shall bear his own load.”

Now it is obvious to anyone who accepts the inspiration of scripture that there must be a difference between a burden and a load. The Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself, and if the two are the same, the thought produced is nonsensical. There are two aspects of the writing that serve to give us the true sense of Paul’s teaching. The first is an understanding of the definitions of the two words. The second and most important is the context, both immediate and remote.  Let’s consider. Continue reading “Burdens and Loads” →

In reading 2 Chronicles 12, we note a particular response of God to the unfaithfulness of King Rehoboam.  The chronicler wrote that it happened in the fifth year of the king (2).  Shishak, the king of Egypt waged war against Rehoboam at Jerusalem.  The scripture states clearly that such a challenge came “because they had transgressed against the Lord.”

The challenge was great: 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and “people without number who came with him out of Egypt” (3).  The challenge was succeeding as the fortified cities of Judah were taken and Jerusalem was threatened.  Shemaiah, a prophet of God, told Rehoboam the reason for the threat. “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak’” (5).

This declaration brought repentance.  “So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, ‘The LORD is righteous’” (6).  One might think that this repentance (which of course led to the return of God’s favor), was enough to change the course of events.  And it did.  When God witnessed the repentance of Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel, He granted deliverance.  But, the deliverance on this occasion was not total.  Consider the words of verses 7-8: “Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, ‘They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.’” Continue reading “Nevertheless” →

This is a hard thing for children. It might be because a child thinks that if he admits he has done wrong, there will be consequences. In fact, some children will continue to proclaim “I didn’t do it” or “It wasn’t me” even if they were caught red handed!

It can be the same for Christians as well. Why would a Christian who has sinned deny, or rationalize,  or excuse their actions? Well, it may be that they fear what others may think if they admit to not being perfect! But, no one is perfect, and that shows too much concern for what others think, rather than what God thinks! “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Continue reading “Acknowledging Responsibility for Wrong” →

This context is divided into two different passages so that first the event can be examined, and then the message Paul proclaimed (verses 14-21) can be addressed later.

When Peter came to Antioch of Syria, he and Paul had an encounter caused by Peter’s sin. Though by this time the inclusion of Gentiles into the kingdom was established (Acts 15), there was still opposition to it that Peter reacted to by “separating himself [from the Gentiles] fearing those who were of the circumcision” (12).

This was a public sin, and Paul responded publicly, admonishing Peter “before them all” (14). Peter’s actions were public, and they had led others, even Barnabas, to be “carried away with their hypocrisy” (13). Public sin can and often must be dealt with publicly. A little leaven leavens a whole lump (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6).

Apparently, this admonition left no hard feelings, as Peter wrote approvingly of Paul in his own epistle at another time (cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16). A penitent soul does not harbor resentment for admonition.

In our final lesson in the study of Jesus’ words in John’s gospel, we recount the conversation Jesus had with Peter in John 21:15-25

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The text here consists of two main points. The first is that Paul determined to deal with the issues with the Corinthians through writing them, instead of coming personally. Most probably he thought the letter would be a more advantageous way to bring them to repentance, and joy. They were at present at odds because of their carnality, but he wanted to be joyful, and for them to be joyful so he wrote them with “much affliction and anguish of heart,… with many tears” (4).

The second point is regarding the call to withdraw from an immoral man in 1 Corinthians 5.  They had done so, which had led to sorrow and repentance on his part.  Now, rather than continuing the punishment, Paul encouraged the church to take him back and comfort him, as it is possible for such sorrow to eventually be destructive.

To forgive is the responsibility of the church, based upon the repentance, and was also done by Paul.  His reason?  “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”