"A sincere and thorough changing of the mind and disposition in regard to sin, involving a sense of personal guilt and helplessness, apprehension of God’s mercy, a strong desire to escape or be saved from sin, and voluntary abandonment of it."

Notice in this verse the Bible says we are to accept God's reproof, repent at His reproof and He will regenerate us and give us revelation.

America is full of idols and abominations and we must all turn from them. It's our responsibility.

God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, but he is no respector of persons. Reject Jesus and He will reject you. Unlike you, God will do as He says. He takes no pleasure but will do as His word says.

Has your sins been blotted out, have they been forgiven?

Now that you've been told you can't claim ignorance, you are commanded to repent and accept Jesus as the only way to eternal life. All souls will live forever, some in eternal hell and some in eternal heaven. It's your choice. However, the choice must be made before this life is over. The unpardonable sin today is dying without Jesus Christ as your saviour.

That day will come whether you are ready or not.

Luke 13: 1.  There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

 2.  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

 3.  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

 4.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

 5.  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

As Dr. Ruckman says, 'the Bible isn't hard to understand, it's hard to believe.'

There was a day in my life that I believed, that if I didn't repent, and accept Jesus as my saviour, I would perish. The Bible says you too must repent!

However, the truth is you don't believe the Bible. Your unbelief will be the cause of your perishing. You don't believe there is a Hell. You don't believe God would send someone as good as you to Hell.

Jesus said, 'except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish'!

Luke 24: 46.  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

 47.  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luke 15:7.  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:10.  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry Clarence Thiessen

WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Copyright, 1949

Page 353

"A change of view with regard to sin, God, and self. Sin comes to be recognized as personal guilt and self as defiled and helpless. The Scriptures speak of this aspect of repentance as the knowledge of sin."

Romans 3:20.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

For me it's always sad to hear someone say they keep the law referring to the 10 commandments. They don't understand that keeping the law refers to all the writings of Moses, not just the 10 commandments. Most everyone who says that can't even quote the 10 commandments. My question to those who believe they've keep the law I ask, have you ever done a task as simple as picking up sticks on a Saturday? Any work on Saturday is worthy of stoning to death (Num. 15:32-35). Has a women with an 'issue of blood' cleaned herself properly as the law says? (Lev 15:19-30)

Psalms 51:3.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 4.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou Judgest.

 5.  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 6.  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 7.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Job 42:5.  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

 6.  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry Clarence Thiessen

WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Copyright, 1949

Page 353

"Sorrow for sin and a desire for pardon are aspects of repentance."

Psalms 51:1.  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 2.  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

II Corinthians 7:9.  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

 10.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

God knows if your repentance is worthy of salvation or death.

Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry Clarence Thiessen

WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Copyright, 1949

Page 354

"A change of will and disposition."

Acts 2:37.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Have you ever seen your sins as God sees it and asked Him 'what shall I do'?

Acts 8:35.  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

 36.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

 37.  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

Notice the man heard, believed, confessed and then was baptized. Romans 10:9-10, tells us that if we believe and confess we shall be saved. Baptism comes after salvation and is no requirement for salvation. The man had a change of his will to agree with God's will. God's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

II Peter 3:9.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Psalms 32:5.  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalms 51:3.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 4.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou Judgest.

I John 1:9.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Repentance is a condition of the heart necessary before we can believe unto salvation. True repentance never exists apart from faith. One cannot turn from sin without at the same time turn to God. Conversely faith never exists without repentance."