A Little Word About Repentance

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD’s forgiveness before it is too late. For the LORD has threatened them with his terrible anger.” [Jeremiah 36.7]

The context of this passage is Jeremiah's prophecy warning Judah to turn back to God found in Jeremiah 36. In or out of context though, this passage speaks of God's character.

God's nature is to forgive.

While it is right to warn people about God's anger against sin and rebellion, it must always be remembered that, even in His anger, God has consistently shown mercy to those who repent.

His warnings to repent are God's call for people to boldly come to Him to obtain mercy and find grace. From Jeremiah's time up to and through New Testament times, God's call to repentance is the same.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. [Hebrews 4.16]

While Old Covenant people relied on the blood of sacrificial animals to accompany their repentance, New Covenant people rely on the blood of Jesus. However, New Covenant people are no less exempt from the necessity to repent than were Old Covenant people! Jesus' ministry was defined by the call to repentance:

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]

God will never force His forgiveness upon people. His forgiveness is available only to those who repent. 

This is all articulated clearly from Genesis to Revelation in the Bible, but modern religion (even that called "Christianity") speaks little of it. Bible history repeats the scenario of God warning of physical, material and emotional loss, but also of His willingness to forgive when people turn from their evil ways. In some cases people repented, and God relented. In most other cases however, people looked the other way and God made them pay.

As contemptuous before God as Old Testament man's refusal to repent and offer sacrifices was, modern man's refusal to repent and believe in Jesus is infinitely more irreverent. Think about that!

Father, may my regard for Jesus only increase in its depth every day. Thank You for Jesus: please forgive me for my self-centeredness and help me to yield my life to Him.