What is Repentance and Why Do We Need To Repent? –

What is repentance? Repentance (Fear of the Lord) is to hate evil and depart from it.

Several times I’ve been asked, “What is repentance and why do I need to repent?”  Repentance is the first principle doctrine of Jesus Christ.  Without repentance there is no forgiveness of sin.  Repentance is critical to our eternal welfare.

• Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

• Psalms 34:11-14, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”

What is Repentance: Why Do Men Have To Repent?

Because of the wrath of God.

• Romans 1:18-21, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Man has completely rebelled against a Holy and Righteous God! Mankind from Adam to the present has been in rebellion against God.

• Genesis 6:5-6, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”

Jesus also witnesses to the depravity of man.

• John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

It is obvious through God’s Word that Repentance (Fear of the Lord) is to hate sin and depart from it. It is also obvious that all who do not repent will see the wrath of God.

The next blog will show the purpose of repentance.

In Christ
J-me
copyright 2009 J-me

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