REPENT or PERISH
This is precisely what Jesus told us in Lk. 13:3 & 5. However, this is far from the only place where we find this word ‘repent’ throughout scripture. The first time it is used is in Ex. 13:17
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: KJV
In this instance, it is cleat that this word is being used in place of ‘changing their minds’ about escaping the Egyptians. Let’s flick over to where Solomon uses this word in 2 Chron. 6:37
Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly; KJV
The NIV gives us a better understanding what this is saying.
and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’;
When we look at what this word means in the original Hebrew, we see that it denotes a turning back, restoration, as in a repentance to God, from sin. We must understand that in the Old Covenant, the Jews were given the Ten Commandments along with the Mosaic Law. They had to sacrifice animals or birds on an altar in a temple to be forgiven for their sins. Clearly, they could live sin-free, but there was a strong tendency for them to sin, and at times they succumbed. We must remember that there were in excess of two million of them who escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. Imagine if they all sinned like all pew-warmers do today. How could they have ever kept enough animals or birds to make all those sacrifices for sin and not run out of these creatures? When they were in captivity with no temple to attend, the prophet, or in this case their king, called them to repentance. Here is Solomon doing just that.
and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple—
then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors. 2Chron. 6:29-31
“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near;
and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’;
and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name;
then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
“Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 2Chron. 6:36-40
We see here, a very important relationship between two words that have almost been forgotten in today’s churches. Repent, and fear. You see, these Jews were fully aware of the consequences of disobedience, and they were afraid of such. As a result, this fear, especially when addressed by one such as Solomon, ‘nudged’ them to true repentance. I am sure you are all aware of the passage in the very next chapter.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chron. 7:14
This makes it abundantly clear that one is not forgiven if one has not repented. It also assures us that God will not hear our prayers until we have stopped sinning. But of course, the most relevant truth God has given us here is that He will not bring healing to the USA until His people repent [stop sinning] and humble themselves. Today’s gospel that allows for sin is absolutely contrary to this truth which is repeated many times throughout God’s inerrant word. At this time in Israel’s history, they had prophets or kings who spoke to God on their behalf.
We must educate ourselves to God’s meaning of repentance. We saw above that it is connected to fearing God, and clearly is about turning from our wicked ways. Moses knew the truth regarding repentance.
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Ex. 20:20
This verse declares that there is a distinct difference between being afraid, and fearing God. As I have never been afraid of stage four aggressive prostate cancer metastisised into my right femur and lower spine, or open-heart surgery just after being informed of that, I have learned to fear God. I am fully and unquestioningly aware of the truth that sin’s wage is death/hell. I have always believed that simply because the bible tells me so. Today’s gospel tries to scoot around that, by assuring us that Jesus came to set us free from all sin. As that does not make sense, they assure us that His blood paid the price for all our sins, so that is how He set us free. Very sadly, millions of people have been convinced of that and subjected themselves to that big lie. As this has been going on for 150 years in America, it is obviously very easy to understand just how hard it is for such folks to reject what they have truly believed has given them something to hold on to. They never experienced the miracle of a new creation when they spoke or thought the sinner’s prayer, or ‘came to Jesus,’ but they spent their time since then attempting to prove that something did actually happen at that time. In times of trouble, they ‘lean on their faith’ and actually by the power of self will and mind, believe they can withstand such trouble, ‘in the name of Jesus.’ They struggle through that rough patch and testify later how Jesus helped them through it.
Let me give you God’s description of true repentance.
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’
“Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’
If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.
And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right—
if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.
None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live. Ezek. 33:11-16
The Greek word from which ‘repent’ comes from in the New Testament is ‘metanoeo.’ It literally means to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living. It is clearly light years away from just feeling sorry for sin. The saints of old new what it meant when they clothed themselves with sack-cloth and threw ashes over themselves, as they sat on dung heaps for days on end without food or water.
I keep hearing preachers and others speak of repenting over and over again. There is zero evidence of the possibility of that in scripture. God teaches us that when we repent, we receive the Holy Spirit and begin that amazing and miraculous journey of living in Christ where there is no sin and no darkness. God simply cannot dwell in a sinner’s soul.
You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil. With You the wicked cannot dwell. Ps. 5:4
God promises us that when we are born again, He re-creates us to a new creature where all the old has gone and everything is new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor. 5:17
Following is God’s description of living in Christ.’ It is extremely easy to understand, and obviously not rocket science.
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
No one who lives in him sins. No one who sins has either seen him or known him.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
No one who is born of God will sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot sin because they have been born of God.
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.1 Jn. 3:4-10
That is from the NIV, but I have left out the words man added when the modern versions were published. These folks were clearly of the belief that human beings could not live sin-free lives so they added some subtle words so that preachers who agreed with them could change the truth to a lie. The KJV has got it right, albeit in 16th century English.
Just as Jesus was not accepted in His home town, and all the prophets of old were ostracised and persecuted, so have I been when I have attempted to teach the simple and logical truth of God’s inerrant word. I have been hard [some would say, harsh] on so-called Christians who post nonsense on Twitter and been rebuked for that, but it does not do anything but grieve me because I know I am simply proclaiming God’s truth as Jesus and all those prophets did.
I spent nearly two decades in the USA researching Christianity, and returned to my home country of New Zealand broken-hearted. I wrote a book at that time, explaining why America is where she is right now, and detailing how she can come back again. There are some hopeful signs of light in the darkness at the moment but it will take far more than conservatives waking up to the woke insanity and fighting against that to being healing to the nation. It is going to take exactly what God said it would: His people living sin-free lives, doing what is right, as they live in the fear of God and the power of His Spirit.
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-35
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. Prov. 14:34
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Ps. 94:16
I have answered that call. I wept tears when God first called me to that task because I was addicted to a filthy sexual problem. Many moths later I was able to put up my hand. I truly want you to be able to do likewise.
‘A Nation Broken’ is available from Amazon or B & N. Get it today, and find God’s truth, embrace it, and become part of the great healing of the United States of America.
God bless you.