Why Must We Repent?

To understand this requirement for salvation, we need to consider that we're dealing with a perfectly holy being. Our sinful nature makes us incompatible with the Lord, just as filth is incompatible with cleanliness.

Sin is an affront to God, just  as slander or libel is an affront to an honest person. Unless we are made holy through Christ's imputed righteousness, we're rebels in the sight of the Almighty. This is why the Bible says in Joshua 24:19(KJV), "And Joshua said unto the people, 'Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.'"

Joshua said that because the people claimed they'd worship and remember the Lord for all the great things he did in freeing their parents from Egypt. But Joshua knew that their hearts were still wicked and that they would return to idolatry.

Repentance must start in the heart, that is, in a person's will. Just like the joke about the psychologist changing the light bulb, we must want to change.

A good example of this needing to change one's inner desires and beliefs is mentioned in Psalms 95:8 (KJV). "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:"

In those instances, as well as in all times of testing, God is teaching us to depend upon him and trust him fully. Even when we suffer, we lean upon him. Paul knew whereof he spoke in 1 Timothy 4:10 (KJV). "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."

And as Peter, no stranger to suffering, wrote in 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) about our Lord's love, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Since God does care about us, why not rid ourselves of wickedness which offends him? Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) explains why. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

So we who love the Lord must reject any sin, no matter how tempting it is to us. This is why I'm working on my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? If people really want to go there, they must know the entrance requirements.

On Saturday, I'll post about a song used on an American TV show called Cops and how it applies to us sinful humans.