Aim for Repentance

Aim for Repentance

Do you know what the first word out of Jesus’ mouth in His ministry was? “Repent”. This word is also the foundation for the first Christian sermon in the book of Acts. After Peter proclaims the gospel, the crowds ask him, “What shall we do?” Peter decidedly does not tell them to close their eyes, repeat after him, or raise their hands. Instead, Peter determinedly looks them right in the eyes and says, “Repent” (Acts 2:37-38) Repentance is a rich biblical term that signifies an elemental transformation in someone’s mind, heart, and life. From that point forward, they think, believe, feel, love, and live differently. God tells His people in the OT, “Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!” (Ezekiel 14:6)

What do you think of when you hear about worshiping idols and false gods? Do you picture an African tribe performing ritualistic dances around a burning sacrifice? Isn’t it odd that we can’t fathom a Christian on the other side of the world believing that a wooden god can save them, but we have no problem believing that religion, money, possessions, food, fame, sex, sports, status, and success can satisfy us. Do we actually think we have fewer idols to let go of in our own repentance?

For every Christian in every culture, repentance is necessary. This doesn’t mean that when people become Christians, they suddenly become perfect and never have any struggles with sin again. But this does mean that when we become followers of Jesus, we make a decided break with an old way of living and take a decisive turn to a new way of life. We literally die to our sin and to ourselves-our self-centeredness, self-consumption, self-righteousness, self-indulgence, self-effort, and self-exaltation.

So when we witness, don’t aim for a decision. Rather aim for repentance, without which there is not conversion.

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