Jesus Preached Repentance

Matthew 4:17

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”

In order to experience the Kingdom of God we must repent. We must agree with God that we have been going the wrong way.

I learned that repentance is not an emotion – for example, not the feeling of “I am sorry”, or, “I feel bad about what I’ve done” – rather, it is a decision. It is like deciding to make a “U-turn” on a highway. You are then headed in the opposite direction from where you were going. Someone in true repentance does not just say, “I’m sorry I did that”; they will also live a different life demonstrating a new mind-set of “I won’t do it again”.

The Greek words translated as “repentance” in the New Testament mean “to think differently”, “to change your mind”, “to turn about in opinion”, “to turn about from an intended way”; and, Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “to turn from sin and resolve to reform one’s life”.

In order for me to return to the Father, I had to go by way of repentance. True repentance is the only way to salvation in and through Jesus Christ. Has true repentance changed your direction? Have you made a “U-turn”?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Let the Father know you realize you were once heading the wrong direction away from Him. Tell Him you are forever turning from your past. When you fall on this new path, resolve to repent quickly, get up, and keep heading toward God.

Repent, so you will experience the Kingdom.

Dive Deeper: Study and compare Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30-31; Acts 20:20-21; Acts 26:18; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 2:5, 16; Revelation 3:19.