Hard Truth Four: No Repentance, No Kingdom

Hard Truth Four: No Repentance, No Kingdom

Repentance is a fundamental change of mind, purpose, and direction—turning away from sin and returning to God. It is a sincere, inward turning that results in an outward change of behavior and lifestyle. In order to receive the Holy Spirit that enables us to bear the fruits of the kingdom of God, we must first repent.

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

Repentance is not a once and done thing. Until we are "raised imperishable" we are still of the flesh and far from perfected, and we still sin.

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:14-15)

Until Jesus comes again (another promise) we must continually repent over and over as often as we sin. Every sin we commit requires a "refreshing", a re-cleansing through the Holy Spirit. Without continual repentance we cannot bear the fruit of the kingdom of God.

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:19-21)

We are not excluded from the restoration of "all the things about which God spoke" just because we are not born an Israelite. Nor are we excluded from the promises of the kingdom of God because we are "gentiles"

If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:17-18)

Again, it is through the repentance, commanded by God, that the Christian will inherit the same promises that God made to the people of Israel, the most important of which is the promise of inclusion into the kingdom of God

Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:29-31)

To the Apostle John, Jesus revealed the continual need of repentance and a stern warning

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. (Revelation 3:3)

Jesus also revealed that it is through His love, that he reproves and disciplines us to repentance with a promise that if we listen, He will open the door to commune with Him, even while we maintain our sinful fleshly nature.

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:19-21)

Read on... Hard Truth Five: God Disciplines Those He Loves