Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

TO URGE REPENTANCE

This entry was posted on 09-17-2009 and is filed under RESPONSIBILITY.

An often neglected responsibility by many Christians is our duty to urge men to repent of their sins. Repentance was the first word in the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'" (Matt. 3:1, 2 NIV).

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'" (Matt. 4:17 NIV).

"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38 NIV).

Concerning the audience's response to Peter's epic message, Leighton Ford wrote: "It is not recorded that they were 'impressed by his learning' or 'stimulated by his ideas' or 'intrigued by his literary allusions' or 'amused by his good humor,' but that they were 'cut to the heart.' One wonders whether Peter would have received a passing grade from his homiletics professor if he had preached this sermon at a theological seminary today! Our soft-soap evangelism is so anxious not to disturb anyone. Some caustic critic of modern ways of winning church members has said that the older evangelism at least disturbed its prospects and made them ashamed of what they were, but now you can join the church and hardly feel it." (The Christian Persuader, Harper & Row, NY, 1966).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance..." Let us never shirk our Christian responsibility to urge repentance from all to whom we speak. John did. Jesus did. Peter did. We must!

Prayer/Hymn: "I've wasted many precious years, Now I'm coming home; I now repent with bitter tears, Lord, I'm coming home. Coming home, coming home, Nevermore to roam, Open wide Thine arms of love, Lord, I'm coming home." (Wm. J. Kirkpatrick)