True Christian Religion #528
528. VI. Real repentance is examining oneself, recognising and acknowledging one's sins, appealing to the Lord and beginning a new life.
There are in the Word many passages and plain sayings of the Lord which establish that the act of repentance is definitely required, and a person's salvation depends upon it. The following quotations will serve for the present.
John preached the baptism of repentance and said, Produce fruit worthy of repentance, Luke 3:3, 8; Mark 1:4.
Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, Matthew 4:17.
And He said, Repent, because the kingdom of God is at hand, Mark 1:14-15.
Again:
Unless you have repented, you will all perish, Luke 13:5.
Jesus told his disciples that they should in His name preach to all nations repentance and the forgiveness of sins, Luke 24:47; Mark 6:12.
Therefore Peter preached repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, Acts of the Apostles 2:38. Peter also said:
Repent and be converted, so that your sins may be wiped out for you, Acts of the Apostles 3:19.
Paul preached to all everywhere that they should repent, Acts of the Apostles 17:30.
Paul also announced in Damascus, in Jerusalem, throughout the whole district of Judaea, and to the gentiles, that they should repent, turn towards God and do deeds worthy of repentance, Acts of the Apostles 26:20.
He also preached both to Jews and to Greeks repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts of the Apostles 20:21.
The Lord told the church in Ephesus:
I hold it against you that you have abandoned your first love. Repent; otherwise, I will remove your lampstand from its place, if you have not repented, Revelation 2:2, 4-5.
He told the church in Pergamum:
I know your deeds. Repent, Revelation 2:13, 16.
He told the church in Thyatira:
I will hand it over to affliction, if it has not repented of its deeds, Revelation 2:19, 22-23.
He told the church of Laodicaea:
I know your deeds. Be zealous, and repent, Revelation 3:15, 19.
He also said:
There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, Luke 15:7.
There is more elsewhere. It is plain from these passages that the act of repentance is definitely required; it will be shown in the following sections what kind of repentance, and how it is to be effected.
Revelation 2
1
"To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:
2
"I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.
3
You have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary.
4
But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
6
But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
8
"To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
9
"I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10
Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won't be harmed by the second death.
12
"To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: "He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13
"I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15
So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
16
Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.
18
"To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
19
"I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.
20
But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
21
I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22
Behold, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent of her works.
23
I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
24
But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.
25
Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.
26
He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
27
He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:
28
and I will give him the morning star.
29
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
