Repentence

We are fortunate in that we have literature to enable people to understand the Gospel of salvation and to realize that they are sinful and need to repent and seek forgiveness, so that they may escape the consequences of sin and have a place in God’s Kingdom to be established soon on this earth, at Jesus’ return. Fortunately “The Lord...is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Repent means we have to be sorry for the wrong things we do, to change our mind, “For godly sorrow produces repentance, leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10). The gospels repeatedly tell the hearers to repent. John the Baptist commanded them to “repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17) Jesus came to call “sinners to repentance” (Matt 9:13). When they heard Peter preaching the Gospel, they asked him what they should do he said “Repent and let everyone of you be baptized for the remission of sins”. So baptism is necessary after true repentance of our sins and when we fail after that we have to seek for forgiveness through Jesus our advocate before God. So Brethren and Sisters, we have to try to do the things of God and, where we fail, repent, as the day of opportunity will soon be over and we have to stand before the judgement seat of Christ. God is so merciful to us. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Bro Joseph Mulawo (Muzoka, Zambia)