What is repentance? Let’s read from Matthew 3:
1 “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.
Repentance is the first step to the kingdom of heaven.
Repentance comes from a Greek word – metanoeo.
Meta=>amid or after
Noeo=>to perceive
Metanoeo means change of mind ie afterthought.
In Luke 3:8 we read, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham”.
Strong words indeed from the Apostle John.
Testifying again in Acts 20, the great doctor wrote, 20 “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, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Why do we repent and what are we to repent of?
We read in Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities* have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”.
What are iniquities? Vs.12,” For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins* testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them”.
Iniquities represents our sin or transgressions.
We need to remember the three Hebrew words, which occur together in Leviticus 16:21:
“And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities* of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions* in all their sins*, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness” Leviticus 16:21
- Iniquities =avah
- Sins = chatta
- Transgressions = pasha
Once a person repents and accepts the atoning power, one is made and accepted as a son.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1-2
We have seen when you repent and accept the saviour, you become a child of our heavenly father.
What and who may be this child?
There are seven words translated as a ‘child’ in the new covenant.
- Teknion – a young one
- Huios – a boy
- Teknon – a child of either gender
- Pais – a child in relation to the Law
- Paidion – an infant
- Karasion – a girl
- Neaniskos – a young man,(20-40 yrs)
We adults need to become as a child. One who sits on their Father’s lap, listens to him, obeys him, and trusts him. Unless we can put off our adult ideas of thinking we can take care of ourselves, we will have trouble seeing into the spiritual realm. We will continue to trust in our own abilities and foresight rather then what Scripture tells us to do. Placing our trust in someone else is very hard to learn as an adult. It comes so easy as a child.
As we continue, we are reminded of something else we need to consider.
Acts 2:36-38, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The Peter answered and told them to their faces: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
What then is the spiritual definition of this word ‘repentance’?
2 Corinthians 7:10 (MKJV) For the grief according to God, works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the grief of the world works out death.
Let’s look at this passage:
Romans 5:8-12 (MKJV) And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. 6 For we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will with difficulty die for a righteous one, yet perhaps one would even dare to die for a good one. 8 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned…
2 Corinthians 5:18 (MKJV) And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 whereas God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and putting the word of reconciliation in us. 20 Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Therefore, I implore you to repent and come to Yehshua.
Beyth Shalom Torah Ministry 