Repentance is the emphasis Christ unmasked in the Gospel of Luke, chapter fifteen. Jesus directed these three parables to the Pharisees, heightening the essence of repentance and revealing their self-righteous hearts.
Each of them highlights the reality of salvation through being lost, then found and brought to the door of contrition.
Christ ends the first two parables with a sinner repenting (Luke 15:7, 10). The last parable ends with the result of a repentant soul (Luke 15:32).
These scriptures begin with a mixed atmosphere, in which sinners gravitate toward Jesus, while the Pharisees disapprove of His association with transgressors (Luke 15:1-3).
In Jesus’s first parable, He uses the image of a sheep. In the second, a coin, and in the last, a man.
Christ, in the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) and the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), uses the word lost ” explicitly.
However, in the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus reveals the actions of a sinner (Luke 15:13-14) and a call for repentance (Luke 15:17-19).
In all of them, Jesus unveiled the joy one receives from being found (Luke 15:7, 10, 24). Christ shows us that this jubilance isn’t just for the sinner but also comes from those in heaven.
Given these points, repentance plays a significant role in God’s plan of redemption.
What is Repentance?
The doctrine of repentance first appeared in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve fell from God’s grace, He provided a way of repentance.
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— Genesis 3:22, NKJV
In effect, repentance derived from sin (Genesis 3:1-11). From this point forward, all of humanity must do the same (1Corinthians 15:22). No one can reconcile with God until the spirit of remorse demonstrates itself in front of the Lord.
Then God used Prophets to bring the Israelites to repentance. He had the Prophets speak to His people and convey that unless there were a change in their behavior towards Him, consequences would follow.
For example, God used Moses to deliver His people from captivity and to lead them into a land He designated for them. But when Moses met with God (Exodus 24:12), they became impatient and created their own god (Exodus 32).
This action cost many of them eternity with Him (Exodus 32:33-35). They found themselves stuck in the wilderness and unable to reach the Promised Land (Exodus 33:1-3). God told them that their descendants would discover His land marked for their inheritance. This saddened them (Exodus 33:4).
Throughout the Old Testament, this rebellion against God continued. For this reason, God decided to change His approach and bring His Messiah (Isaiah 7:14).
Jesus, God’s Messiah, preached the doctrine of repentance (Matthew 4:17). One of the best lessons for understanding why one needs to get right with God came in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
In these three chapters, Christ illustrated the misinterpretation of God’s words taught by the Pharisees and the actual truth about God’s words. In this teaching, He corrected their errors in reference to marriage, adultery, and treatment of one’s adversary, to name a few.
Christ always showed the Jews the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14). His Deity never wavered from God’s absolute truth. Each of the Gospels depicts this undeniable display of testimony to God’s omnipresence.
Apostle Paul defines repentance as a change in mind, followed by deeds in alliance with God's ordinance. He spoke this in front of King Agrippa, whom he was brought before for judgment (Acts 25:13-27). The Jews accused Paul of disobedience to God’s truth.
Paul said:
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20, NKJV
As shown above, Paul indicates repentance is a change of mind (John 14:6), followed by actions demonstrating the fruits of salvation (Galatians 5:22-25). He explained to the king it wasn’t a false teaching but one that came from Christ (Acts 26:15-18).
Final Thoughts
As can be seen, God’s call for repentance coincides with His eternal salvation. It’s not to be taken lightly, nor is it a one-time action. At times, I find myself repenting for my disobedience to Christ. This is only a few representations; the Bible has many more!
What’s your repentance belief?
Each of them highlights the reality of salvation through being lost, then found and brought to the door of contrition.
Christ ends the first two parables with a sinner repenting (Luke 15:7, 10). The last parable ends with the result of a repentant soul (Luke 15:32).
These scriptures begin with a mixed atmosphere, in which sinners gravitate toward Jesus, while the Pharisees disapprove of His association with transgressors (Luke 15:1-3).
In Jesus’s first parable, He uses the image of a sheep. In the second, a coin, and in the last, a man.
Christ, in the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) and the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), uses the word lost ” explicitly.
However, in the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus reveals the actions of a sinner (Luke 15:13-14) and a call for repentance (Luke 15:17-19).
In all of them, Jesus unveiled the joy one receives from being found (Luke 15:7, 10, 24). Christ shows us that this jubilance isn’t just for the sinner but also comes from those in heaven.
Given these points, repentance plays a significant role in God’s plan of redemption.
What is Repentance?
The doctrine of repentance first appeared in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve fell from God’s grace, He provided a way of repentance.
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— Genesis 3:22, NKJV
In effect, repentance derived from sin (Genesis 3:1-11). From this point forward, all of humanity must do the same (1Corinthians 15:22). No one can reconcile with God until the spirit of remorse demonstrates itself in front of the Lord.
Then God used Prophets to bring the Israelites to repentance. He had the Prophets speak to His people and convey that unless there were a change in their behavior towards Him, consequences would follow.
For example, God used Moses to deliver His people from captivity and to lead them into a land He designated for them. But when Moses met with God (Exodus 24:12), they became impatient and created their own god (Exodus 32).
This action cost many of them eternity with Him (Exodus 32:33-35). They found themselves stuck in the wilderness and unable to reach the Promised Land (Exodus 33:1-3). God told them that their descendants would discover His land marked for their inheritance. This saddened them (Exodus 33:4).
Throughout the Old Testament, this rebellion against God continued. For this reason, God decided to change His approach and bring His Messiah (Isaiah 7:14).
Jesus, God’s Messiah, preached the doctrine of repentance (Matthew 4:17). One of the best lessons for understanding why one needs to get right with God came in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
In these three chapters, Christ illustrated the misinterpretation of God’s words taught by the Pharisees and the actual truth about God’s words. In this teaching, He corrected their errors in reference to marriage, adultery, and treatment of one’s adversary, to name a few.
Christ always showed the Jews the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14). His Deity never wavered from God’s absolute truth. Each of the Gospels depicts this undeniable display of testimony to God’s omnipresence.
Apostle Paul defines repentance as a change in mind, followed by deeds in alliance with God's ordinance. He spoke this in front of King Agrippa, whom he was brought before for judgment (Acts 25:13-27). The Jews accused Paul of disobedience to God’s truth.
Paul said:
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20, NKJV
As shown above, Paul indicates repentance is a change of mind (John 14:6), followed by actions demonstrating the fruits of salvation (Galatians 5:22-25). He explained to the king it wasn’t a false teaching but one that came from Christ (Acts 26:15-18).
Final Thoughts
As can be seen, God’s call for repentance coincides with His eternal salvation. It’s not to be taken lightly, nor is it a one-time action. At times, I find myself repenting for my disobedience to Christ. This is only a few representations; the Bible has many more!
What’s your repentance belief?
