The Importance of Godly Repentance

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish."    

                                  

                                                                                                                                    - Luke 13:1-6

Jesus was making the point that just because some die tragically and others do not, does not mean the deceased are worse than those who remain alive. The point Jesus is driving home is repentance. I brought this matter up because of the Coronavirus pandemic we are dealing with worldwide. As of this writing, 2,320,316 infected cases have been reported worldwide, 589,573 recoveries, and 158,781 deaths. 733,367 infected cases are in the US which make up 31.6% of all global cases provided the statistics are true.

Whether one is faithful church attendee, a volunteer at a homeless shelter or look after the sick and elderly in a nursing home, does not mean you go to heaven when you die. Many people believe their "righteous deeds" will earn them a trip to glory, no (Ephesians 2:8-9). While those things are humanly admirable and kind, unless one genuinely repents of their sins, they will perish (in hell). One CANNOT use their works as means to get right with God. It is an affront to God for one to assume that God must receive them into His heaven because they think they are good enough.

In Proverbs 15:8 we read,"the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the righteous is His delight." Proverbs 21:27 says, "the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, how much more when he brings it with evil intent?"

God is disgusted with the deeds of evil men because it does not proceed from a humble heart that is interested in giving God glory. Works righteousness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Jesus was loving His audience (and by extension us in the present age) by warning them of the extreme importance of not having mis-perception about the death of others. In other words, no one is better than anyone else essentially. Why? Because we are all sinners and objects of God's holy wrath until we repent. We MUST feel the same way about our sin as God does - we must hate it! We should be guilty about it and sorrowful. We shouldn't just say, "Oh my bad!" As if our sin is no big deal since everyone sins. We need to understand that when we sin we offend the Lord Almighty which is the greatest offense of all (Psalm 51:4). That is why John said we are to confess our sins so that God can forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). 

In 2 Corinthians 2 Paul urged the members at the church of Corinth to repent. Paul had visited them and it did not go well. He in turn wrote them a letter which he had delivered to them by the hand of Titus (known historically as the severe letter) expressing his heart which caused the church sorrow. In the letter Paul was urging the Corinthians to repent which Titus reported that they did which was a joy to Titus and Paul (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). Although Paul was discouraged by the Corinthians, he had confidence that they would do the right thing - exhibit the the right attitude and receive Titus. Titus gave Paul the report that they had received him with love, and that they also expressed their love for Paul which no doubt invigorated Paul's heart (2 Corinthians 7:7). The aim of Paul was to produce godly sorrow in them for the purpose of repenting - not ungodly sorrow that leads only to ongoing impenitence and a hopeless death. Godly sorrow that leads to repentance and life is far better than the joy of the wicked which leads to death.

Genuine sorrow for sin will always result in a penitent, contrite heart that longs for God to forgive their wickedness and save them from His just wrath. That is the point that Jesus was addressing in Luke 13:1-6. All must repent or you will ultimately perish, forever separated from God.