The Need for Repentance for Restoration

(Overcomer Wu)

“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.” -- Ezekiel 18:32

“Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman...” -- Jeremiah 15:19

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent.” --Acts 17:30

Whenever we commit an offense or sin against God or our fellow man, the Lord requires us to repent, gives us a chance to repent, and He is gracious to us if/when we repent. We dare not test Him in this matter by delaying our repentance and continuing in sin and unrighteousness, especially when it is against a group of dear brother and sisters in the Church who are the dear children of God. As the Apostle Paul stresses: "…Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Rom 6:1-2). In his second letter to the Corinthians, he expressed his fear that some of the Corinthians may still be living in sin: "I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced” (2 Cor 12:21).

Now some brother actually told me that an offending brother don't need to repent or confess his sin or offenses to us whom he had offended; he said rather it is incumbent upon us to forgive our offending brother regardless of whether he wants to repent or confess or not. He then quoted to me Matthew 18:21-22 and said that the Lord asked Peter to forgive our brother seventy times seven times without stating any condition for forgiveness. Well, that is a classic case of misinterpreting the Bible by taking things out of the context. If we examine the context carefully, we shall see that quite the opposite is true. It is true that in those two verses themselves the Lord does not mention the need for the offending brother to first confess or show repentance. The reason is that the stress of those two verses is on how many times we should forgive a brother. However, the surrounding context sure do show the need for that! For instance, in Matt 18:15-20, right before Peter asked the Lord the above question, it tells us clearly in regards to the sinning/offending brother : "If he will not hear you..." (v.16), then when 2-3 approaches him and "if he refuses to hear them" (v.17) and then finally when the whole church confronts him and he still "If he refuses even to hear the church", then "let him be unto you as a heathen and a tax collector!" "Refusing to hear" does imply the need for repentance and repentance implies the need for at least confession first followed by the change in his course of action or make amends for his wrong doings!

Then in the verses immediately following Peter's question, the Lord then gave a parable of the a king two servants owing a person some debts. In verse 26-27, the Lord clearly said, "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt." So, again, the servant first pleaded for mercy (which is a form of confession of wrong/debt, but also for the Master to be compassionate and merciful) before the master released him and forgave him! Furthermore, we are all familiar with the verse 1 John 1:9 where is says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The condition stated is incontrovertible and plainly laid out.

Thus, we dare not put off repentance, thinking we don't need to repent or that we have plenty of time to repent. We do not know what tomorrow holds. Judgment for our sin can come in various ways and at any time. Consider Jesus’ words to the church in Pergamus: "Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (Rev 2:16). Likewise, He warns the church in Sardis: "So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent . Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (Rev 3:3).

If we are harboring any sin in our thoughts, attitudes, and/or actions, the Lord calls us to repent! He does not, however, issue this call to rob us of what may seem to be the temporary pleasures of sin, but rather to help you discover something far greater that He can offer to us: "…the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18), the more abundant life which only He can give (Jn. 10:10b). Here are some of the reasons the Lord calls us to repentance:

1. He Does Not Want Any Should Come Under His Judgment.

I believe we can all concur that there is no doubt whatsoever that there are a consequences to sin (Rom 6:23). And one of the consequences of sin is God's judgment. The Apostle Paul writes that "because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom 2:5). Jesus warns that "…unless you repent, you will all…perish” (Luke 13:3). Likewise, to the church in Ephesus, He declares, "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Rev 2:5).

If we refuse to repent, we will face the judgment of the Lord. This judgment may come in this present life or most definitely it will come at the judgment seat of Christ for the believers at His soon return (1 Cor 3:13, 2 Cor 5:10). We experience God's judgment in a lesser degrees in this present life. The Lord, however, wants to spare us from the ultimate judgment which could deprive us of His loving Presence for up to a thousand years, which is not His delight to see us go through. Thus, He "…is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Consider again His words to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:5. His desire was that the church repent so that her lampstand/testimony of the church and the Lord's Presence in their midst would not be removed. The Lord wants us to repent for our own good, that we might escape adversity and sufferings caused by the consequence of our wrongful deeds, destruction and His judgment.

2. He Desires to Restore Sweet Fellowship with Us.

Whereas the Lord certainly wants us to escape the impending judgment, He has an even greater reason for calling us to repentance: He wants to restore the sweet fellowship with us. One aspect of repentance is turning from the sin in our lives and the judgment that sin inevitably brings. The other aspect is the turning to God. Note both elements of turning in these passages: "…so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God…" (Acts 26:18); "…that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance" (Acts 26:20); "…and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thes 1:9); "We…preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God..." (Acts 14:15).

The Lord’s desire is not just that we keep from sin. His greater desire is that we know Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. Since sin separates us from Him (Isa. 59:2), He wants us to turn away from sin so that our fellowship with Him may be unbroken. His call to repentance is motivated by His love for us: "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent" (Rev. 3:19). Yes, He wants us to forsake sin, but more importantly, He wants us to embrace Him. He wants us "to return to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls" (1 Pet. 2:25). He desires this fellowship so much that He extends His kindness and forbearance and patience toward us in order to lead us to repentance (Rom 2:4). He draws us toward repentance, granting us the opportunity to turn from our sin and to turn to Him. There is great joy in heaven whenever we repent and turn to the Lord (Luke 15:7,10).

3. He Wants Us to Enjoy His Fullness of life

Restored fellowship with the Lord is accompanied by many blessings. As we repent and return to Him, our sins are wiped away and times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). Genuine repentance is "without regret, leading to salvation” (2 Cor 7:10). As we "…turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God…[we] receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith…” (Acts 26:18). The veil is taken away and we are able to behold the glory of the Lord (2 Cor 3:15-18). Repentance also leads to forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) as well as to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 2:25).

When sin is present in our lives, the Lord tells us to "be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19). To those who repent, He has promised to restore the sweet fellowship with us by dining with us and we with Him (Rev 3:20b). We need to embrace genuine repentance that produces earnestness, indignation for the wrong-doings, fear of God, longing for sweet fellowship with the Lord, zeal for the care of the saints, and avenging of wrong (2 Cor 7:10-11). Those who heed the Word of God will "bear fruit unto with repentance” (Matt 3:8) and do works "appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20), which includes the righting of the wrongs that we have done which is a proof of true repentance, because the Greek word used in the Biblical manuscript for repent means to make a turn in the opposite direction (as in 180 degree turn). Ex: After Zacchaeus was saved and repented of his sins, he restored four times the amount he had wrongfully exacted from others as a tax collector (Luke 19:8).

If there is sin or offenses in your life, now is the time to repent! Turn from your sin and seek not only the Lord's forgiveness, but also to confess our wrong doings before the ones we have offended and make amends for them. Even the offerings we bring before the Lord will not be accepted by Him until we first clear up our offenses with our fellow brothers and sisters as Matthew 5:23-24 affirm: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” After we clear up our offenses with out fellow men, then we of course need to also confess our sins before God and "draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (Jam 4:8). In genuine repentance, you will not only find life, but also the One who is the Life (Jn 11:25, 14:6). “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD” (Isa 59:20).