From the Book, Rules For Life: According To Jesus
1. Repent
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17
Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
(Luke 5:31-32)
About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.” (Luke 13:1-5)
To repent is to feel emotional pain, sorrow, or regret for something one has done or left undone. It’s an agreement in the heart that you are imperfect and require correction on God’s terms. And I would argue that it is to acknowledge that you cannot atone for your evil heart through your own effort, but that you must agree that Jesus alone can pay (and has paid) the penalty for your sins in the eyes of God.
We people must admit that we have inherited a corrupt nature from our parents, who got it from their parents, and so on, throughout the entire human race. If you are being honest with yourself and God, you must admit that you are imperfect and that this condition leads you into sin.
For those who believe that they have kept the Ten Commandments, Jesus took those commands to the next level in His Sermon on the Mount (which will be covered in later sections). Basically, He let everyone know that merely refraining from committing those sins is not enough. He made it known that one must not desire to do those things in the heart.
Therefore, everyone is guilty before God and needs to turn from (repent of) their evil ways and seek God’s forgiveness.
This is how Jesus began His earthly ministry at the age of 30. He knew that it was imperative that people wake up to the fact that they are not perfect, and that they all need His intervention with the Creator. Interestingly, we learn later that Jesus is the Creator in human form. Everyone needs to change their behavior and attitudes in all areas of life.
So this first commandment of Jesus is to stop pretending that you’re perfect. Be sorry about how you think, feel, act, and speak. Realize that you cannot ever be perfect before God, but that you can at least try to be.
If this becomes your new attitude (one of gratitude and repentance) then you will be living out Jesus’ first commandment. You will be taking the first step toward peace with God and life everlasting.
Previous – Introduction | Next – Be Born Again
Sections in this study:
Introduction
1: Repent
2: Be Born Again
3: Place God First
4: Love and Serve One Another
5: Live By Faith
6: Forgive Others
7: Remain in Jesus
8: Live Righteously Before Men
9: Avoid Bad Influences
10: Stay On The Narrow Path
11: Do Not Return Evil With Evil
12: Give More Than Is Demanded
13: Love Your Enemies
14: Check Your Motives
15: Pray Simply
16: Do Not Worry
17: Store Up Treasures In Heaven
18: Do Not Be Judgmental
19: Guard what is Sacred
20: Care For Those In Distress
21: Do Not Swear Oaths
22: Watch out for false prophets
23: Exercise Spiritual Power
24: Have Childlike Faith
25: Do Not Exalt Yourself
26: Settle Disputes Quickly
27: Settle Disputes Between Believers
28: Do not Oppose Brethren
29: Remember Me
30: Be Merciful
31: Make Disciples
32: Be Ready
33: Obey Jesus’ Commands
Closing Comments
