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Repentance And Obedience
April 27, 2014
Repentance is at the core of being the person that God wants us to be. Before we can live in true obedience to Him, we have to turn from our own misguided ways. - Bernie Parsons
Repentance And Obedience
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 04-27-2014
Presented to Load church of Christ on 05-18-2014
A concept has emerged in recent lessons regarding obedience to God’s word
and will. We studied in a recent lesson called “Doers, Not Hearers Only”,
the following:
Matthew 21:28 "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to
the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I
go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The
first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and
the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."
“Repentance” is translated from a compound Greek word whose two root words
literally translate as “after thinking” or “after consideration”, or “after
reflection”. It shows that one has a change of mind, or change of heart,
after considering one’s past actions.
When it comes to obeying God, what is important is that we repent of our own
stubborn will and insistence upon doing things our way in favor of doing
what God tells us to do. God rewards the repentant, but also takes vengeance
upon those who turn away from Him.
Ezekiel 18:21 "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath
committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be
mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord
GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and
committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the
wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done
shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his
sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of
Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he
die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath
committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul
alive.
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that
he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house
of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his
ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your
transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed;
and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of
Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord
GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
We also see the above reiterated and expanded in Ezekiel chapter 33.
God has stated that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He
prefers that everyone be saved, and that no one be lost.
1 Timothy 2:3 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth."
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Acts 17:30 "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 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."
We stray from God when we sin, and we all do sin.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is
not in us."
Jesus explained the importance of repentance, and how that God is pleased
when one of those who has gone astray returns to the fold.
Luke 15:2 "And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man
receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 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?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 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.
7 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.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth
not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find
it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours
together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had
lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of
God over one sinner that repenteth."
It is best to obey, but, first, repentance is necessary. God takes note and rejoices over those who repent and turn back to Him.
