Necessity of Repentance

But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are! [Nehemiah 9.31]

This is just one instance of many a repeated characteristic of God in this portion of Nehemiah's writings.

If we know nothing else about God, the Bible is VERY clear that He is gracious and merciful and forgiving.

Oh how gracious and merciful and forgiving He is!

However, there is one thing we must understand - we play a part in this. The only thing that presents an obstacle to God's continuing grace and mercy is pride and arrogance on our parts - our refusal to repent.

Make no mistake about it, there is nowhere in the Bible that teaches or even suggests God does not require repentance from His people. Never are we told that we can just sin and go on like nothing happened. We must repent!

How have we failed to see, in all God's grace and mercy on Israel, that God's grace and mercy always was highlighted against the backdrop of Israel's repentance? It is like we want to praise Him because He is good, while still bowing down to our idols! We want God's blessings and we want to continue to sin!

May I just say, based on the Truth of Gods Word, that God will never bless disobedience - He never has and He never will. We can cry "Grace!" all we want to - but without repentance, there is no grace available!

No repentance - no grace. Period.

But, thank God, when we repent - especially in these New Testament times in which we live  -confessing faith in Jesus, there is abundant forgiveness, mercy and grace.

Father, help us all to remain mindful of the necessity of repentance - always.