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Repentance - The Ultimate Message of Love

- by Chris Rosebrough

Originally posted on the website A Little Leaven

Relavant Christian, a blog dedicated to ‘staying current with today’s culture, has a post entitled ‘Why Christian’s Suck’ written by Timmy Gibson that rails against pharisaical Christians who violate John 8.

According to Timmy, John Chapter 8, the story of the woman caught in adultery is a passage of scripture that teaches us that we are not to judge non-believers to a ‘fiery hell’ because Jesus didn’t judge the woman caught in adultery to a ‘fiery hell’. According to Timmy ‘faith works by love’ and ‘love leads people to faith’. But in Timmy’s way a thinking preaching a message of repentance of sins to non-believers violates the message of ‘love’ and those who do so are ‘sucky Christians’.

After reading his post I thought that Timmy’s reasoning contradicted scripture, especially as it relates to Paul’s preaching of the gospel. So I decided to ask him to clarify his position. I asked Timmy:

Do you think that the Apostle Paul is someone who you would label as a sucky Christian?

He told people they were sinners, preached Christ Crucified everywhere he went and every opportunity that he had. He openly rebuked other ‘christians’ who disagreed with the gospel that he taught, (See the entire book of Galatians and Acts 15).

He preached in the streets, in the synagogues, on Mars Hill. Got people so upset and riled up that they stoned him, rioted or both. They thought that he was such a dangerous nut job that they followed him from town to town trying to stir up trouble against him.

So if Paul were alive today, doing what he normally does what would you say about him?

Timmy’s response was astonishingly uniformed when it comes to the scriptures and this post is a response to Timmy and those who think like him. Here was Timmy’s response:

I think the time we are living in now is a bit different then in the times of Paul. I am thinking that those things were important in establishing the church - then. I think with each generation and in each culture you use different tools to effectively (this is a key word) reach people for Christ! I am for anything that works! I am not too convinced that street preaching is effective these days! Though I will tell you that we’ve done some creative “street” preaching of sorts even recently and it proved to be a positive experience… though we did not use a megaphone and soap box!

Oh believe me I am all for stirring people up… especially if it causes growth, change and reflection… and ultimately a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.

One thing to always keep in mind Chris, we (as Christians) are to be LIKE JESUS, not Paul! (emphasis mine)

Two things struck me about Timmy’s reasoning. The first is his assumption that preaching a message of repentance and the consequences of non-repentance is an unloving message. The second is the false belief that Paul’s message and the means he employed for spreading the gospel are different than Jesus’.

This post will address both of these issues by looking at what scripture says on the matter.

I will demonstrate four primary concepts from scripture. They are:

1. The New Testament gospels clearly show us that the core of Jesus’ message was a call to ‘Repentance’.

2. Jesus instructed his disciples to preach and teach this exact same message of Repentance.

3. The disciples obeyed Jesus in regard to preaching this message, including the Apostle Paul.

4. Jesus has instructed the Church to Preach the Message of Repentance to all nations, including 21st century America.

First. It is a false and Biblicically incorrect notion to say that telling unbelievers that they are sinners that need to repent is angry, hateful, judgmental or contrary to a message of love.

Instead, faithfully proclaiming the message of repentance is the very epitome of what it means to “love your neighbor”.

How do we know this?

Answer: Because Jesus, who is love incarnate, preached a message of repentance everywhere that he went and his disciples followed His example. Please consider these passages of scripture.

Matthew 4:17 - “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This verse tells us that Jesus’ standard message from the time of John the Baptist’s arrest was a message of repentance. Therefore, unless one is willing to argue that Jesus was calling for people to repent of something other than their sins, Timmy’s argument already contradicts God's word.

This also means the tax collectors and prostitutes that Jesus 'hung out with' first heard Jesus' message of repentance.

Furthermore, unless one is willing to say that Jesus was unloving and uncaring when he told people to repent of their sins then Timmy’s argument is not based upon the full council of scripture.

So that you do not think I am engaging in sophistry I will provide more passages that bear this fact out.

In Mark 1 we see a cross-reference to Matthew 4:17 that confirms that the message Jesus preached to everyone called for repentance and belief.

Mark 1:14-15: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Not only did Jesus' message call for people to repent of their sins, Jesus actually reproached and called down judgement on those who would not repent. This is an important fact because Timmy tries to argue that John 8 should form the basis of Christian evangelism. But, Timmy’s argument falls flat because he’s ignored those passages of scripture where Jesus acts contrary to John 8. Matthew 11:20 is a prime example. In this passage we find out that Jesus reproached the inhabitants of cities that did not repent.

Matthew 11:20: “Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

Furthermore, in Luke 13 Jesus told his listeners in no uncertain terms that they were sinners and that unless they repented they would perish.

Luke 13:1-3, 5: There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

These passages clearly and directly contradict Timmy’s argument about John 8.

In point of fact, if we are to truly follow Jesus example of evangelism and His treatment of un-believers then we need to look at more than just John 8. We must also look at those passages where Jesus clearly calls people to repent and threatens punishment to those who refuse.

The next fact to consider is that the disciples followed Jesus’ example and His instructions regarding the message that they were to proclaim and take to the ends of the earth. Their message, just like Jesus’ was a message of repentance.

Mark 6:7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.* 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

From this passage we can also say with certainty that, it is an untenable position to argue that the message of repentance is either unloving, unkind, or hateful because the disciples were preaching the EXACT SAME message that Jesus’ preached.

We also have a blistering example of the Apostle Peter holding his audience responsible for murdering Jesus in the sermon he preached at Pentecost.

Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

If we were to believe Timmy and those like him, we’d have to conclude that Peter was a ‘sucky Christian’ and that he was being unloving, harsh, judgmental and contradicted the example of John 8. But if we believe the scriptures we have to believe that this was not only an act of love but that his words were prompted and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As a result of this powerful and blistering message, Peter’s audience was literally convicted of their sin and unbelief. Here is what the next verse in this passage says:

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter’s audience felt horrible. They were convicted and mortified of their sins.

Who convicted them?

Answer: The Holy Spirit. That means the Holy Spirit was the one who inspired Peter to say those blistering words and the Holy Spirit used those words to convict Peter's audience of their sins.

We shouldn’t be surprised by this because this is EXACTLY what Jesus said the primary job of the Holy Spirit is in John 16. Here is what Jesus said:

John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me

In Acts 2 we see the fulfillment of Jesus’ words regarding the Holy Spirit. Far too many people get caught up by the fact that the Apostles were speaking in tongues when the Holy Spirit came upon them that they overlook the fact that the Holy Spirit was also actively convicting people of their sin and unbelief. This was just as much a miracle as the gift of tongues.

What was Peter’s response to those people who had been convicted of their sins by the Holy Spirit? Read for yourself:

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 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...

Peter’s answer was the same as Jesus’. Once again we see a clear call to repentance.

Now it is time to dispel this false notion that Paul was not following the example and message of Jesus. As if Paul was some type of loose canon or renegade Christian who acted contrary to what Jesus would have done. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here was the message that the Apostle Paul brought to the meeting of the Areopagus on Mars Hill.

Acts 17:29 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. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 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.”

Paul was in Athens and his audience was 100% pagan and he brought them a message of repentance from the sin of idolatry. The message of repentance was a core component of Paul’s gospel presentation. But, where did Paul learn to preach like this?

Answer: Paul received his ‘gospel message’ directly from Jesus Christ.

Gal. 1:11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.* 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Scripture even records for us the EXACT words that Jesus spoke to Paul upon his conversion. These words also confirm the message of repentance . Here is what Jesus told Paul.

Acts 26: 19 I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

If Timmy is correct and Paul acted in a way that was contrary to Jesus’ example and his message was different than Jesus’ then we’d expect that Jesus or the other Apostles would have rebuked or corrected Paul. Instead, we have clear passages of scripture that tell us that Jesus not only approved of what Paul was preaching and doing, but that Jesus didn’t want Paul to stop.

Acts: 18:9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Paul never did stop. He was NEVER silent. He was even bold enough to proclaim the message of repentance to governors and kings.

Acts 26:19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Scripture clearly shows us that the message of repentance from sins is not an optional part of the proclamation of the Gospel. Instead it is a core, non-optional component of the Christian message.

In fact, the Christian church is under direct orders from Jesus Christ to preach the message of repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations.

Luke 24:45 Then he (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Notice the Jesus commands that the message of repentance be preached to ALL NATIONS this includes early 21st Century America.

Repentance was Jesus’ message. This was the message He taught his disciples to preach. This was the message that the Apostles proclaimed. This is the message that we are bound to.

The only ‘sucky Christian’ is the one who refuses to obey his Lord and preach the message that Jesus has commanded the church to preach.

An Online Witnessing Encounter

From time to time I'll submit an email I've either received or sent out to someone who has written in to an Online Counseling Website that I set up several years ago to help people with their challenges while trying to, at the same time, be a Christian in today's society.

The website is HELPinChrist.com.  And I admit that when I set up the website, I was not yet a Christian, I was, in fact, what Jesus refers to in the Parable of the Sower as, a false convert or, one upon whom the seed of the Word of God had fallen on thorny ground.  Matthew 13:3-9

In December of 2004, God sent a messenger to where I was at to share His Laws with me to show me that I was still in need of salvation, and the salvation I thought I had was false.  The image I held in my mind of who God was, and the real reasons why Jesus died on the cross were all without a true Biblical foundation.

I was living in the midst of transgressing the 2nd of His 10 Commandments.  I had created for myself a god to suit myself and my own sinful desires.  One that would overlook my sins, and still let me into heaven - and it was at the point of salvation that I knew if I was going to have anything more to do with this website, I would have to share the same truth with anyone who was in danger of being deceived by the same delusions I had previously been mired in myself.

What you will read below is my reply to a young man who is living a similar life to the one I lived the better part of my adult life...  He is a Youth Leader, therefore, he claims to be a Christian...  However, he struggles with pornography - but he doesn't just struggle with that particular sexual sin, he has been dabbling in, and quite recently, as you will find out, he has given in to the lusts of his flesh - namely, homosexuality...

This is not an easy post for me to share because I realize now as I read, and re-read what I've written to him, that I am exposing a lot of my own personal past.  A LOT of which I prefer to leave out of my testimony whenever I share it in mixed company for obvious reasons - not the least of which is that I wouldn't want to cause you to judge me in any way that was not righteous in it's intent.  Though, I have decided to post it here in the hopes of possibly encouraging even one person, while warning others as I myself had been warned.

His name has obviously been changed, and I have left out any references to personal, geographic or otherwise distinguishable information for the sake of total anonymity.  My purpose is to edify, not embarrass.

Joe:

In case you haven't thought I was being serious up to this point, I want you to understand that I am absolutely serious now...

Your problem with porn and homosexuality is sin, and the Bible says that sin brings about death in the life of the person who is living in it.  Jesus said that the person who dies in their sin will be cast into hell.  And the primary reason I'm here, doing this, is so that you won't end up in hell...  I haven't asked you for money, I'm not telling you to join my church or buy my cassettes or videotapes - I'm pleading with you to get this fixed between you and God before another day goes by because you do not know when your soul may be required of you...

It is clear that you understand that your situation is sinful, no doubt there...  What is not clear, however, is how real you believe God's punishment to be for those who sin against Him.  You mention that you hate yourself for some of the things you do - and you should...  You are committing offenses against the one who gave you life and breath and every good thing that you have...  It was your sin that put Christ on the cross - therefore, based upon your own admissions and testimonial, it is difficult for me to talk to you as a person who is a follower of Christ because you continue in your sins.  1 John 1:6, 2:4, 15-17 & Hebrews 10:26-27

At this point, I have to insist that you post-pone your organization and participation in any youth-related activities including the youth conference you are organizing, particularly because of your unresolved, un-repented of sin.  I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm trying to help you get the help you need...  You don't need someone to tell you that everything will be alright, all you need to do is pray to God and believe that He answers prayer.

Joe, I have to be honest with you here because my position in all of this, and the Word of God compels me; I am not telling you these things with a smile on my face.  I am fully aware that this is the exact opposite of what you want to be told when it comes to your involvement in ministry...  However, I have to think about those you have been put in charge of. (the teens in your Youth Group)  This is a situation that you need to take to your Pastor, whether you repent of it or not...  Obviously, if you repent of this sin, it will be easier to share with him because you will simply be asking him to help you through the sanctification that God will bestow upon your life.

What you need is to put everything on hold and get on your knees before God and repent of ALL of your sins once and for all.  Cry out to God for mercy Psalm 51 and confess your wretchedness against God. 2 Corinthians 7:10 You are aware of your lawlessness, but do you realize the severity of the offense?  God will not overlook your sins because you serve in youth ministry, on the contrary, you will be judged more severely because you put yourself in the place of a teacher, one who should know better. Romans 2  You do not want to be one of those who God gives over to the desires of their hearts Romans 1:22-32

And I speak to you as one who was once in your place.  I am not sitting up on my high horse looking down on you as some would.  I've been where you are at.  I once acted upon my sexually sinful desires with another man.  Things didn't go as far as they could have because my conscience (God's Law written on my heart) was screaming at me, telling me that what I was doing was wrong!  As a Youth Leader, I was living in a sinful relationship with a girl I knew, while all the while immersing myself in pornographic lusts...  I was truly playing the part of the hypocrite.  Telling the teens I was working with to be holy because God is holy, while living like the devil in my private life.

Therefore, until you repent of your sins and trust in Christ completely to deliver you from your sins - rather than your own ability to overcome "the moment" you are getting wrapped up in, you will continue this cycle of temptation, lust and sin...  Yet there are four factors in that equation...  And if you are not reconciled to Christ before you come to the final factor, death, and you will suffer eternally for what only happened in a moment.

You wrote in to HELPinChrist.com two months ago today, letting us know that you were addicted to pornography, and struggling with homosexuality.  That you hadn't yet had sex, and now you write in mentioning that "last week for the first time ever..." "...some very bad things happened..."  I have to take some responsibility here for not writing these things to you when you first wrote in - because I am terrified of the idea that you could have died within the past two months, let alone the past week, without hearing the Truth...

It is appointed unto every person once to die, and then the judgement...  Sin is the transgression of God's Law.  If you've ever lied, stolen, blasphemed God's name, disobeyed your parents, hated someone or even called them a "fool" - wished that you had someone else's stuff as your own, or created a God to suit your own personal way of life...  Then you are guilty of sinning against God Himself.  He made your eyes, don't you think He can see what you are doing when you think no one else knows?  He formed your ears, do you not realize that He can even hear the thoughts you are thinking?  He requires truth in our inward most parts...

And He has set aside a day in which He will judge every person in righteousness, according to what they have done...  Acts 17:31  And He will by no means clear the guilty...  The soul that sins shall die and be cast into the Lake that burns with fire...  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  

But that's not the end of the story, and God's desire is not to send you to Hell...  2,000 years ago, He became a man, filled a body as a hand fills a glove, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.  He lived a perfect, sinless life, fulfilling the Law and then giving Himself up to be murdered to take upon Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would repent and believe in Him.  He did not come to condemn the world, because the world, because of it's sin, is already condemned...  Rather, He came to seek and to save those who are lost in their sins and trespasses.  John 3:14-21  And He calls all people everywhere to repent of their sins against God because His kingdom is at hand.  

He became the propitiation (substitutionary sacrifice - the sacrificial lamb that was slain) in our place - taking upon Himself God's Wrath for us.  Because we sinned, Christ came to die...  And if you will repent, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 13:14 as a skydiver puts on a parachute before jumping 10,000 feet, His Word promises that He will save you...  You will be Born Again and brought into a right relationship with God. John 3:3  Just as quickly as you can lose control of your situation (a moment) Christ can save your soul...  He can bring you from death into life, from darkness into light - He can give you a new heart with new desires and replace your heart of stone with a heart of flesh.  I believe that He is calling out to you today to be reconciled to Him through repentance and faith. Matthew 3:8 & Hebrews 3:15

All of this is not to say that you will be perfect this side of heaven...  But you will be "made perfect" in God's eyes - meaning, you will be given Christ's perfection...  You are still human, however, and will sin from time to time - however, you will fall into sin, rather than your current situation where you wade around in sin, ready to dive in the next time temptation presents itself as a viable alternative to whatever you may be doing at the moment.  Remember, I've been in your shoes...  Paul talks about how before we are Born Again, we are slaves to sin, and we commit sin because it is in our nature...  But when we are regenerated by Christ's sacrifice, we become slaves to righteousness - which is what God's Word calls us to, live lives of righteous behavior... Matthew 5:20 & Luke 1:68-75 & Acts 10:35 & Romans 6

I'm sorry if this all seems a little overwhelming, however, God is just that...  God is a consuming fire, and His Word is sharper than any two-edged sword...  Surgery is painful, that's why they sedate you first...  Removing the sin from a persons life is a spiritually surgical procedure...  I'm sure that's why Christ calls us to love one another...  If I didn't love you, and care for your eternal fate, it might be impossible for you to accept what I'm sharing with you.  That's the way it was for me when I heard this message, and the one I shared with you, Hell's Best Kept Secret,  I'd been a self-professed Christian for over 12 years at that point in my life, and a Youth Volunteer (and self-professed Minister) for over 10 years...  When I heard a man who was reading from the Bible tell me that if I was living in sin, that the Bible, and Jesus Himself offers me no assurance of my salvation.

My deepest prayer is that you receive this email with the same heart I received his words.  Because my deepest fear is that you would be one of those Jesus spoke about when He said that many will come to Him in the Day of Judgment saying, 'Lord, Lord...  have we not done many great things in Your name?'  and He would tell you to depart from Him, because He never knew you, because you were one who went on practicing lawlessness...

Jesus didn't promise us that following Him would be easy, in fact, He encouraged those who were not fully committed to following Him to simply return to their homes and families...Matthew 8:18-22  He didn't assure His followers a full moneybag, a new well, or healthy livestock...  (Today I suppose that would be equivalent to the modern-day gospel promise of a full bank account, large house, and a 4-car garage without an empty space in it...)  Nope, he promised that we would be hated for His names sake, that we would suffer tribulation, Matthew 24:9 and persecution, and not the least of which - and this is where Christ's promise hits home for you - we will be tempted... Luke 8:13 The call is for us to overcome temptation and endure until Christ's return...  And we will be blessed if we endure until the end...

I care about you, and don't want you to end up in hell - please consider what God has written, and I have been blessed to share.  And don't take my words for it, please look this stuff up for yourself.  Be like the Bereans and make sure that what I'm sharing with you lines up with God's Word...

I'm praying for you, and those you serve...


-Benjamin, Counselor
HELPinChrist.com

p.s. - Perhaps consider the words of my pastor - listen to the July 27th sermon, I believe you will find the message speaks to your specific challenge...  Not homosexuality, but unbelief...

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