Except You Repent
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000
Except You Repent
"And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were
sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell
you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 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? I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:2-5)
Now this is a very solemn warning. One to which we should ALL pay close
attention, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"(Romans
3:23). Jesus here dispels the myth that some people might be able to avoid
perishing by living a good, moral life without coming to God for salvation.
Some of the people to whom He was speaking were very "good" and "moral",
at least outwardly, but they were sinners. According to Revelation 21:8,
which gives quite a catalog of sinful people who will be cast into "the lake
which burneth with fire and brimestone", just being an UNBELIEVER qualifies
a person for "everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:41). Jesus said that the
Holy Spirit would reprove, or convict, the world for "sin, because they
believe not on" Jesus (John 16:9).
A person may say, "But I thought that Jesus didn't come to condemn us?"
That is true, but the same passage of Scripture giving us that wonderful
truth also gives this startling one: "but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son
of God." (John 3:18)
Let's follow that passage a little further: "And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth
evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved." (John 3:19, 20). We see here that the difficulty is on the part
of the sinner and that he is responsible for his own condemnation.
The Lord offers love, compassion, and merciful forgiveness, but the
sinner must be willing to have his deeds "reproved". This reproving
includes the ideas of being corrected, being shown what is wrong, and being
shown one's responsibility. The "reproving" is God's part - we usually call
it conviction; but, the sinner's part in this process of coming to the
light, or to God, is called REPENTANCE.
A short explanation for repentance was given in the last Bible Note,
"What Must I Do to Be Saved?" and it may be dealt with in more detail later.
But for now, I would like us to notice (in the opening verses above) that
Jesus here shows repentance to be absolutely necessary in order to avoid
perishing. Many of His audience must have died of natural causes, rather
than by some great tragedy; but Jesus was warning them that there is coming
a tragedy (spending eternity in Hell) that NO sinner will be able to escape
EXCEPT he REPENT.
Have you repented of your sins? Have you truly believed on the Lord
Jesus Christ? If not, do it while you still have opportunity. Only He can
save you. Only He can rescue you from the Lake of Fire. Only He can
forgive you and take all your guilt away. Only He can wash away your sins
in His own blood, and cast them from you "as far as the east is from the
west" (Psalm 103:12).
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15).
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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