When we were back in Scotland for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, my wife and I decided to visit Edinburgh, to see the Christmas Market. We were not a little impressed! What a variety of products from so many different countries - and, of course "the shows"!
It was as we made our way up from the Princes Street Gardens to the street itself, that we spied a gentleman with a large (and I mean LARGE!) placard hung from his neck, and a Gospel message written on it. We decided to say "Hello", and perhaps encourage this dear brother in the Lord, and we were so glad that we did because he was, indeed, encouraged. We chatted for a few minutes and then, as we left, he handed us one of the high-quality publications (I hesitate to use the word "tract" as this was so much more!) that he was offering to passers-by.
We accepted it, but it wasn't until much later, when we were back in the home of the friends who were providing us with hospitality, that I sat down to read it. I was disappointed! The main text was good but, towards the end, I read these words: "All you need to do is simply believe that Jesus died in your place to make a way for you to be born into His family."
Sounds good! Many will have used such words on many occasions. I confess, sadly, that I have done the same! Regretfully, those words are, Biblically, untrue! Believing that Jesus died in your place, on the cross, in order that the way into Father God's presence might be made available to one and all is, of course, necessary. But that is not "all you need to do"! The leaflet leaves out a most important step - one that has been playing on my own mind for some months.
The message of John the Baptiser is a good place to start. He preached: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt 3:2). What was the first message that the Lord |Jesus preached? "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt 4:17). Something similar about those messages, don't you think?! And the first word in each is the word "Repent"!
That, I am sorry to have to say, is what is missing in most (if not all!) preaching of the Gospel in what we refer to as "the west". In my private devotions, I am currently reading through the book of the prophet Jeremiah. I have been reminded that one of the key themes in that great book is that of repentance! Commenting on one section of the book, Warren Wiersbe writes: "The false prophets flourished in a ministry that was shallow and popular because they promised peace, and never called for repentance." (Be Decisive; p.22). Does that sound, in any way, familiar? It certainly makes me think of many of those who are the 'big names' in evangelical Christian circles. They don't have to be part of the "name it and claim it", or "prosperity gospel", scenes. But they are in the business of making everyone feel nice and comfortable, and ready to "ask Jesus into your heart"! However, they appear to have "airbrushed" repentance out of the salvation experience - and without repentance, there can be no salvation! By the way, as I was reminded in an e-mail this morning, it is not strictly correct to say or sing that Jesus can come into our hearts, unless it is clearly understood that He is there symbolically in the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. In this way, “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” (Gal.4:6) so that “Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Eph.3:17).
In the margin of the copy of the Bible that I use in my private devotions, are written these words: "Surely the most dreadful words in all of the Scriptures." Those words are written next to Matt.7:21-23, where we read: "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers.' " I have come to the conclusion that those to whom those terrible words will be uttered may well be those who have not repented! They have sought to live the Christian life, the life of a disciple of Jesus, without ever having truly been born again of God the Holy Spirit.
Many will be familiar with the little booklet, by A.W.Tozer, entitled "Worship, the missing jewel of the evangelical church." May I be so bold as to claim that repentance is the the missing message the church today? May I also recommend a series of brief (app. 35-40 mins each) messages by David Pawson, that are freely available on YouTube? There are six in all, including one on this subject of repentance. It is probably best to go through the full series, in the correct order! Click on the link:
May Father God grant us the grace to truly repent, that we might know the fullness of life that is available in the Lord Jesus, and live our lives truly in the power of God the Holy Spirit.