Repentance Precedes the Kingdom

Working my way though the book of Mathew, I came to these verses this morning:

In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Mathew 3:1-2)

In reading this I was reminded that our salvation… our “ticket” into heaven is more than praying a perfunctory prayer… more than ascribing to a certain philosophy… more than associating with a particular sect or denomination… more than engaging in upstanding religious activity… more than attending “services”… more than being “a pretty good person”… more than mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Repentance precedes the Kingdom of God.

Repent means “to turn from.” That means we do a 180° turn from the direction we were previously heading in – whatever that direction may be. Perhaps we’ve oriented our lives (consciously or unconsciously) toward consumerism, materialism, humanism, or self-sufficiency (which is pride). And it is my belief that our repentance… our “turning from” must be a daily occurrence, lest we find ourselves aligned with a trajectory which leads to destruction. As a side note, I believe the most dangerous direction we can head in isn’t the one that’s blatantly opposed to the things of God… (that’s easy to detect). The direction that’s most dangerous is the one that’s off by just a degree or two (usually in the form of one small compromise or another). Those are harder to detect, and can often be socially acceptable… even fashionable. But if left unchecked, it can lead to the same destruction as if you’d been headed in a direction directly opposed to the Kingdom of God. As one of my favorite authors/speakers, Art Katz used to say, “A little leaven, leavens the whole lump” (referring to 1 Corinthians 5:6).

So, as we love one another (which is a sign that we are followers of Jesus), there must be a place… a point… when out of our love for them, we call people to repentance. For repentance precedes the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 3:2 (NIV) and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Mark 6:12 (NIV) They went out and preached that people should repent.

Luke 13:3 (NIV) I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Acts 2:38 (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 3:19 (NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord

Acts 17:30 (NIV) In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.