"Repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand " (Matt.3:2).
Repentance is something many Christians know nothing about. Because Jesus died for our sin in a one-time sacrificial blood offering in place of the Old Testament Jewish annual sacrifices, Christians have come to believe their sin is now covered and they don't need to worry about it any more. Like all great truths, this one has been perverted by Satan.
Yes, it IS true that Jesus died once and for all in a supreme sacrifice. But for whom did He die? He died that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) Jesus also said, that unless we are born again, we can never get into the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
If the Israelites had to come to the temple to repent of their sins while they burned their animals, would it not be true that Christians should also come to their church to repent as they remember the death of the Lamb of God on their behalf? For this reason, during His last supper with His disciples, showed them what they must do. Jesus gave them bread and said, "Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of Me." He also took a cup of wine and said "This cup is the new testament in my blood. Do this in remembrance of Me" (I Cor.11:24-25).
This act is a `communion' with the risen Jesus. It is essential that we get rid of all anger and bitterness to keep a right relationship with Him. This will help us keep free from physical ailments brought about by ungodly thoughts. But how many set aside that day as a special one which they cannot afford to miss? How many see it a day of repentance? Repentance is not SAYING we are sorry, it is BEING sorry.
We must take a fresh look today at the full implication of sin. What is sin? It is doing and saying things which are contrary to the rules God has set up for us to obey. Jesus said He did not come to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets, but to fulfil them (Matt.5:17). He said the greatest Commandment was a summary of all the old laws to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbour as yourself (Matt.22:37-39). If we do love God and our neighbour (everyone), we could never disobey any of His Commandments. We all know that there are times we just can't stand some people we know. But right there and then, we are in danger of God's judgment (Matt.5:22).
How often have we used our money to buy something we really didn't need rather that giving it to God to be used for His purposes? How much time have we spent worshipping the god of Money rather than the true God, and thereby broken the first of the 10 Commandments as well as Jesus' commandment to love God rather than money. He said, "No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will be devoted to the one and despise the other; you cannot serve both God and Money" (Matt 6:24 NIV).
How often do we say, "I don't need to attend church as I am a much better person than those hypocrites down the street who go every Sunday"? If we say this, we commit the greatest sin of all--spiritual pride. And if we are proud, we feel no need to look at our sin. The only people Jesus spoke unkindly about were the proud Pharisees, the priests, who looked down their noses and appeared very righteous but inwardly they were full of corruption (Luke 11:40-44).
Those who condone sexual activity outside of marriage are not obeying God's laws about adultery and fornication. Jesus even said that if we dwell on such thoughts, we have already been guilty of committing the act. He also said "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matt 7:1), so when we criticize another, this is also sin. Using Jesus' or God's name profanely is a grave sin as it shows we don't love God and have broken the 7th Commandment. None of us has kept the laws!
"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth no sacrifice for sins is left but...The Lord will judge His people...It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb.10:26-31).
As we partake of the bread and wine, let us ask forgiveness for having broken His laws. Without repentance, we break communion with the living Christ who died for our sins.
© 1999, Doreen Palmer