Purpose of Repentance – What Does It Do For Us

Purpose of Repentance: Prepare Man’s Heart

What is the purpose of repentance? It prepares man’s heart to receive the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.

The following parable that Jesus spoke reveals God’s purpose of repentance.

• Luke 18:9-14, “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes into heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Purpose of Repentance: There is no man that is sinless.

The Pharisee’s problem was that he compared himself to others which only leads to pride. He did not humble himself before God.  He did not understand God’s purpose of Repentance.  The Pharisee was trying to establish his own righteousness.  He was not submitting himself to the righteousness and mercy of God.  He did not consider that no man is righteous.

• Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The Publican saw himself in relation to the holiness of God and knew he could not measure up and placed himself purely in center of God’s mercy.

Remember what Jesus said.

• Matthew 9:13, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Purpose of Repentance: Central Points

The following points are central to God’s purpose of repentance:

1) Man has rebelled and sinned against God. (Romans 3:23)

2) God’s wrath remains on men because of their sin (dead works). (Romans 2:18-21)

3) Without repentance all will perish. (Luke 13:1-5)

4) Repentance (Fear of the Lord) teaches men to hate evil and to depart from it. (Proverbs 8:13 and Psalms 34:11-14)

5) Repentance comes with godly sorrow and humbles a man before God. (Luke 18:9-14 and II Corinthians 7:10)

6) The Purpose of Repentance is to prepare man’s heart to receive forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ by turning their heart from sin, and toward the living God. (Matthew 3:1-3 and Acts 3:19)

Repentance is central to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, and without Repentance is no forgiveness of sins.

God’s Purpose of repentance is to prepare man’s heart to receive the mercy and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Copyright 2010 J-me

Let me know your thoughts on”Purpose of Repentance: What is It?”