The Message of Repentance (Episode 141)

Repentance is a change of mind that results in the turning of one’s heart to God. Hence, whenever genuine repentance occurs, at least two things happen. The person has a change of mind, and the person’s heart is turned toward God. In this episode, Frank King addresses the importance and the power of the message of repentance.

The message of repentance can be offensive. In effect, it sheds light on a person’s current or past misconduct. And no matter how lovingly you convey it, people take the message personally.

Some people today are down on the message of repentance. They argue that under the grace dispensation, repentance is not required even for salvation. But when John the Baptist came, he preached the message of repentance. When Jesus came, He confirmed the need to repent. In Luke 13:3, He said to the people, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. In Acts 3:19, Peter told the people to repent so their sins may be blotted out.

Jonah the Prophet's Message

God sent Jonah the prophet to preach to the people of Nineveh. His message was simple. He said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:5, KJV).

Jonah’s message was one of the most efficient sermons in all the Bible. According to the Scriptures, it was a one liner.  It yielded a penitent response unlike any other place in the Bible. “The people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.”

God responded favorably to the people’s response to Jonah’s message. He changed His mind and chose to not destroy Nineveh as He had intended. Hence, God used Jonah’s simple but in-your-face message to bring the city to repentance and to avert God’s judgment.

Every genuine Christian has been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9, KJV). Continued misconduct in the eyes of God grieves the Holy Spirit. But God does not want you going around carrying the load of guilt and/or shame.

Instead, He wants you to turn your heart toward Him, so you can be freed from that guilt or shame. That’s what the message of repentance is all about.