We hope that God has enabled you to appreciate what sin is, and what sin has done in separating us from Himself. We all know something of the effect of sins in our individual lives, but God desires us to turn from sin, trust in Christ, follow Him and avoid the judgement reserved for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41. See also 2 Peter 2:9.) The Bible - the traditional Authorised Version - clearly teaches that there is a hell to be avoided as well as a heaven to be gained. (Luke 16:19-31.)

We have all turned from God into the paths of self-will and sin. As Isaiah 53:6 says: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way... ". Therefore to find our way to God we must:
    (a) turn from our own way (i.e. repent);    (b) trust Christ who is THE Way (i.e. believe).

Central to the teaching of the Lord Jesus is "repent and believe". This has become all the more urgent because the world has crucified the Son of God, and terrible consequences are about to fall upon it. This is why Paul wrote "God.... now commandeth all men everywhere to repent because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness...." (Acts 17:30, 31).

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

Repentance means a change of mind or heart. But it is a change toward someone, and involves a new attitude and relationship.

If we have offended a friend, it is our duty to say we are sorry and then prove the sincerity of our sorrow by a new attitude toward that person. How much more this should be so with the God on whom we depend for every breath we take! Repentance is therefore a forsaking of the sin of which we are ashamed and sorry, and a turning toward the God we have offended.

1. A CHANGE OF MIND. We review the past and admit that we have left God out of our lives. We realise our own sinfulness in contrast to the perfection of Christ. We accept God's verdict that we are sinners.

2. A CHANGE OF HEART. We see how a holy God hates sin, and yet such is His love that He sent His Son to die for us. Surely a realistic appreciation of what happened at the Cross will break my stubborn will, and turn my heart in gratitude to the God who so loved me? We admit that self-effort is futile, and ask God to take over as Manager.

3. A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. We now have a new purpose in life arising from our new attitude toward God. We desire so to live, as to please Him. With His help we put aside the sin which constantly hinders us, and look to Jesus! He is now to be our Object, our Life, our All.

We may see these three changes illustrated in the story of "the prodigal son" (Luke 15).
    [1] In Luke 15, verse 17 we notice his change of mind: "he came to himself".
    [2] In verse 19 notice his change of heart: "I will say... I have sinned.., no more worthy".
    [3] Then notice, in verse 20, his change of direction: "and he arose and came to his father. He thought about what he had done - he was sorry and willing to admit it - and he did something about it. That is repentance.

FROM JOHN'S GOSPEL
Please answer the following questions, asking for God's help before you begin:

    1. What changes are described in these scriptures?  3:7,    5:24,    9:25
    2. What supreme act should cause us to repent?    10:11
    3. What two things will happen to the one who disobeys God, rejects His Son and does not repent?  3:18,    8:24
    4. Why can we hide nothing from Christ?  2:25,    16:30,    21:17
    5. In what way do you feel a need for repentance, and why?

The immoral person, the thief, the liar, will repent by changing their mind and leaving these sins. The man who may be living a moral life also needs to repent. His repentance, however, will involve a rejection, a casting aside of trust in his own morality as the basis of his acceptance with God. Self-righteousness must go!

The Bible frequently refers to REPENTANCE and FAITH together, e.g. Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 20:21. So our next study deals with FAITH.

Thoughts to consider:
If to repent means that (a) I acknowledge that I have sinned, (b) I am truly sorry for my sins, and (c) I am willing to forsake my sins and do so, then ask the question "HAVE I REPENTED?"

In the normal way of life, things generally run quite smoothly. Simple decisions are expected occasionally, such as, 'Where shall I go for my holiday this year?' or, 'What is the most important job about the house I should be doing next?'

Occasionally decisions we make can have life-changing results: 'Shall I marry this friend for whom I find my love is clearly increasing, or not?'; 'Is it time to move to a different house or flat?' Such decisions can affect others and require very careful consideration.

Some people live and die with hardly any thought of what will happen after death. Many people have only time to think of those things which pertain to this life. The rich fool (see Luke chapter 12) was such a person. But there came a time when he made a wrong decision at the wrong time. There is a lesson here for every one of us.

Here then is meditation passage No. 3: The parable of the Rich Fool. Luke 12:16-21.

"[16] And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: [17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? [18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Or, as someone has paraphrased it poetically.........