IN GOOD FAITH: The Message of Repentance

By PASTOR MARK MOLINA
Living Waters Church

Pastor Mark Molina

There are so many different messages being preached and taught today about what the Lord Jesus has to say to the church and to the world. Some preach the “message of prosperity.” They proclaim, “God wants you to be rich!” Others teach what is known as the Word of Faith movement. “Your words are seeds that create your life and future,” they insist. Some preach a social gospel where Jesus came to get along with everyone and only do good deeds and community service projects!

How can we know for sure what it is that Jesus came to tell the world? Let’s look at what the Bible has to say regarding the message of His life.

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15 NKJV)

“From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17 NKJV)

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV)

“There He found in the temple [enclosure] those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there [also at their stands]. And having made a lash (a whip) of cords, He drove them all out of the temple [enclosure]–both the sheep and the oxen–spilling and scattering the brokers’ money and upsetting and tossing around their trays (their stands). Then to those who sold the doves He said, take these things away (out of here)! Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise (a marketplace, a sales shop)! [Ps. 93:5.] And His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Holy Scriptures], Zeal (the fervor of love) for Your house will eat Me up. [I will be consumed with jealousy for the honor of Your house.] [Ps. 69:9.] (John 2:14-17 AMP)

Repentance was the very message Jesus came to preach. Remember his name “Christ” means “Anointed One.” The Spirit of God anointed Him to preach repentance. In the book of Luke quoted above, he communicates the many dimensions of healing and hope He brings to people’s lives. Jesus is concerned about the entire person – body, soul, and mind – being free.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38 NKJV)

We see that Jesus came to do good and to heal. We see that, for many, the oppression was spiritual in nature and came from the devil himself. We see that God was with The Lord Jesus in all He did in service to the people.

However, the question we need to be asking ourselves is: why has the gospel’s message of repentance practically disappeared? Has Jesus changed his mind about this spiritual truth regarding the church and sinners?

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:5 NKJV)

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” (Revelation 2:5, 16 NKJV)

“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.” (Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-22 NKJV)

These scriptures are from the final book in the Bible. This call to repentance is directed at the church itself. The church will be corrupt in those final days. The message of Christ to the church is, “Repent!” He and His message have not changed.