Except Ye Repent Luke 13:1-5 12-15-07
Today we’ll talk a little while about the not too often talked about subject of “REPENTANCE”.
Listen as I read today’s text found in Luke 13:1-5 - 1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
First of all Let me point out that there are 3 different meanings for the word, "repent or repentance"
And let me say that I’m certainly not a Greek or Hebrew scholar, [I speak the language of Pickens county] but according to the Greek dictionary here are the meanings.
Ø (Gr metanoia). Here in our text the meaning is, to repent of ones sins from the heart and have a change of mind and heart and come to true heart repentance in order to be saved.
Ø [Metamelomai] And this is the meaning that Judas Iscariot showed when he saw that Jesus was led away to be crucified.
Matt. 27: 1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, --
The Lord Jesus was there when Judas came. As the chief priests and elders were leading Him through that hall to take Him to Pilate, Why doesn’t Judas turn to the Lord Jesus and ask forgiveness?
He repented himself, “he regretted what he had done”.
The meaning here is different from the term for repentance to salvation (Gr metanoia). Judas shows every indication of still being unsaved: he betrays innocent blood for money, becomes guilty, returns the money, and commits suicide. These are the actions of a guilty conscience, not a forgiven and regenerate one.
The difference between meta-noia and meta-melo-mai, is one of “repentance” and “regret.”
And the 3rd meaning is:
Ø [Ameta- mele- tos[ “not repented of, and unregretted” ( it signifies “without change of purpose”; it is said of God in regard to his “gifts and calling,” Rom. 11:29 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (it signifies “without change of purpose”
The reason I gave you the different meanings is so we might under stand that when we read about repenting or repentance we’ll know there are different meanings for the word according to the the text.
Once again listen as I read our text verse found in
Luke 13:1-5 - 1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, [slaughtered] whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.* "2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
--4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Twice Jesus repeated identical words to reinforce the necessity of repentance, the victims of Pilate- and the men who were killed when the tower fell were not judged of God. God does nothing out of spite. But Christ was telling the religious crowd of His day that unless they repented, they would also perish.
~~The word "perishes" means~ {to be destroyed fully}
We see here that twice Jesus repeated identical words to reinforce the necessity of repentance.
It seems that Pilate sends his soldiers to find some Galileans and slaughters them while they are offering sacrifices. He sends his soldiers and finds them there and slaughters them up in a gruesome way, we’re told here that their blood was being mingled with the blood of the sacrifices.
And let us realize that these people were not pagans; they’re worshiping, they were doing what the Old Testament says. They’re worshiping God, they’re confessing their sins, and they’re bringing their offering. How can such a bad thing happen to good people we might say?
In verse 2 Jesus responds to the intention of their bringing this incident up, He say’s, “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things?”
He says in so many words; do you think that the reason this happened to them was because they are the greatest sinners in Galilee? are you thinking that that’s the reason?
He continues to say, as I’m paraphrasing; “Nay.” The Galileans who were slaughtered by Pilate were not greater sinners than any body else.
Jesus also says in our text verses, in Lk.13:- verse 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
The great truth that Jesus was telling them was, verse 3, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” --Verse 5, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” That’s what the great truth was & still is.
What’s really important here is, He is showing these people that the real calamity is not that these people were killed in the temple, or that the tower fell on the other folks, or that if they should have died by any other means, The real calamity is, that if you don’t repent, when death comes, you will perish.
The truth Jesus was pointing out was and still is, is that when you die and experience the judgment of God because you have not repented, you will surely perish.
The issue is not how people die or when they die or by what means they may die from, The issue is that they surely don’t want to die without repenting.
And the great truth is, that everybody’s headed for death if the Lord doesn’t rapture us out in our lifetime. All of us must repent now, in this lifetime, or perish.
~Jesus is pointing out to these people that Just because Pilate’s soldiers went by them to get to those Galileans, says nothing about their righteousness, He’s pointing out that, Just because the tower fell even though some of them may had just left a few minutes before; doesn’t mean that you’re more righteous than the ones who were crushed. But it’s by the mercy of God; you still have the opportunity to repent. ~
This was a bitter pill for the Jews to swallow. Repent? [they might say] We’re the righteous. We’re the godly. We’re the spiritual. We’re the chosen. We’re the blessed. What are You talking about repent?
They didn’t like His talk of repentance. They didn’t like it with John the Baptist either. And they didn’t like it with Jesus. It was because He called them to repentance that they plotted to kill Him and eventually did.
They refused to see themselves as sinners like every body else. They refused to see themselves as headed for judgment. They didn’t like to be referred to as a people that needed repentance.
Listen as I point out three words in our text verses in LK. 13:1-5 and the words are, “all,” and “repent,” and “perish,”
Ø "All” need to repent.
What Jesus teaches here is that all of us are sinful. There are no innocent human beings nowhere in the world.
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no not one”
Ø The 2nd word is [repent]
But what I want us to be aware of here in this passage is; that we’re all sinners but that we are spared and given another day to repent.
The really amazing thing is not that all guilty sinners perish, but that God is slow to anger and is merciful, and gave us who are saved a chance to repent.
~I can look back on my years wasted on the things of the world and see many instances that were really dangerous situations and I understand now that God had mercy on me. ~ I learned a lot about the world.
I joined the Marine Corp when I was 17 years old until I was 21, I’ve been to 8 different countries and saw how other people live, but you know what? If these people in these other countries don’t repent of their sins like all other people in the world, they’ll die in their sin and perish, and that includes the Jewish people as well. God is no respecter of persons or countries. ~
Acts.10: 34 34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
And sinner friend He is showing His mercy to you at this time as He extends His loving Hand to you.
The reality is, Repent or perishes; Acts 17:30 “--commandeth all men every where to repent.” The desire of God is for all men to come to repentance II Peter 3:9 -- but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God does not give us an option in the matter of repentance, He commands all men every where to repent.
There is no excuse from it, either people will repent or perish. Unless you repent you will surely PERISH.
There is no remedy from perishing except through repentance. The result will be—The judgment of God beyond the grave.
It is in the word “repent” that all mankinds hope lies, to escape Hell.
Without repentance and a turning to Jesus Christ, hell and the lake of fire is in their future.
Repent is an absolute necessity.
A. It was found in the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus preached the message of repentance as our text shows. Jesus began His ministry preaching repentance in Mark 1:14-15 14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
And before He ascended back to Heaven His final words were specific instructions to preach repentance. Luke 24:47 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
He commenced his ministry, continued His ministry, and concluded His earthly ministry preaching repentance. And so today, preachers are still to preach repentance.
How many times have you heard a message on, repentance? Probably not very many.
Repentance was the message of John the Baptist; Repentance was the message of the apostles -
Mark 6:12. 12And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Repentance was the message of the Apostle Paul. Acts. 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
Some folks might say, “Now, wait a minute, there has to be another way. Certainly, repentance is not the only way to avoid the wrath of God.” Repentance is not just a way. It is the only way!
Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
REPENTANCE is a necessity. It is decisive.
Repentance is just as necessary as faith is, and the faith that has no repentance going with it will have to be repented of.
Acts 20:21 21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. There has never been anyone who repented of their sin who was not forgiven, and there has never been anyone who has been forgiven who has not repented of his sin.
Repentance in the New Testament always includes faith in Jesus Christ as the only Savior. we can
talk about repentance in the sense that it is turning from sin, but in its New Testament gospel usage, it always embraces faith in Jesus Christ. It is a turning 180 degrees, so it’s turning from sin to something and the something or someone is always Jesus Christ.
The repentance that leads to eternal life is that repentance which embraces Jesus Christ. Repentance looks within, while faith looks above.
Repentance is a change of mind about self, sin and the Savior. This change always results in a change for the better. It is a change that results in change of conduct. It involves a turning from sin and a turning to the Savior.
the truth is sinner friend everybody must repent or perish.
