Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus
It has been a long time since I last posted here. In the last few sessions, we finished learning about Jesus' demands on not to be anxious and to always pray. Now let us move to one of Jesus' first demands- to repent.
It has been a long time since I last posted here. In the last few sessions, we finished learning about Jesus' demands on not to be anxious and to always pray. Now let us move to one of Jesus' first demands- to repent.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matt. 4:17
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. - Luke 5:32
Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. - Luke 13:3,5
The first demand of Jesus' ministry was, "Repent". He spoke this command indiscriminately to all who would listen. It was a call for radical inward change toward God and man.
WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
Two things show us that repentance is an internal change of mind and heart rather than mere sorrow for sin or mere improvement of behavior. First, the meaning of the Greek word behind the English "repent" (metanoia) points in this direction. It has two parts: meta and noia. The second part (noia) reffers to the mind and its thoughts and perceptions and dispositions and purposes. The first part (meta) is a prefix that regularly means movement or change. In view of the way ths prefix regularly functions, we may infer that the basic meaning of repent is to exercise a change of the mind's perceptions and dispositions and purposes.
The other factor that points to this meaning of repent is the way Luke 3:8 describes the relationship between repentance and new behavior. It says, "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance." Then it gives examples of the fruits: "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise" (Luke 3:11). This means that repenting is what happens inside of us. Then this change leads to the fruits of new behavior. Repentance is not the new deeds, but the inward change that bears the fruit of new deeds. Jesus is demanding that we experience this inward change.
In the next session, we will see why Jesus demands that we experience this change in ourselves. May the Lord Almighty bless you all and keep you in all your ways.
Please do uphold me in your prayers.
Your Brother in Jesus Christ
Jobin George
P.S. The above extract has been taken from the book "What Jesus demands from the World" by John Piper.
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