The Call To Repentance

OF WHICH GROUP ARE YOU?

I want you to see clearly today, that in the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the first message always, always, is the need for repentance.

John came, “baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Mark 1:4

Jesus came back from His wilderness temptations and began His public ministry with the words, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” Mark 1:15

Luke records some of the parting words of the risen Christ to his followers in chapter 24, verses 46 & 47, saying, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

On the day of Pentecost, after the coming of the Holy Spirit on those in the upper room, Peter preaches his first sermon to the masses in Jerusalem, and says, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

Before the elders of the church in Ephesus, Paul said, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:21

Peter in his second epistle, chapter 3 verse 9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some would count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

Something I can tell you with a certainty because I have witnessed it in my own lifetime, is that the church in our culture is guilty of, to a large degree, precluding the call for repentance in her evangelistic efforts and programs over the past 30 years.

I remember the billboards and bumper stickers and t-shirts and buttons all over Southern California proclaiming “I FOUND IT!” And when people attended the rallies or asked the wearer of the buttons what that meant, they were told that they had found peace and fulfillment and salvation in Jesus Christ. And they were invited to come along and ‘find it’ too.

So-called ‘revivals’ are widely advertised and held, with fine contemporary music and charismatic speakers. If the money is there, then celebrities are brought forward to dredge up all the muck and filth of their past lives before they ‘came to Jesus’ and were made whole....their empty lives filled with meaning and purpose, joy brought to their lackluster lives...and won’t you come along and find this joy and meaning and purpose too?

Building programs are started and ads go in the paper. Signs are put up at the building site. “LOOK WHAT WE’RE DOING! WE’RE A HAPPENIN’ PLACE! COME, CHECK US OUT!

And a congregation grows, just because the curious paid a visit, were made comfortable, were made to feel like family, and stayed...

...and where is the invitation to repent?

It’s not there, because far, far too often, there has been no attempt made to bring them to see that they are sinners!