A FREQUENT AND NEEDED MESSAGE

“And they went out, and preached that men should repent” (Mark 6:12).

A frequent and needed message of the Bible is repentance. Repentance describes a changing of the mind for the better resulting in amending our ways or behavior away from sin and toward service to God (cf. Luke 3:10-14; Acts 26:20).

We find the prophets of old preached repentance (Jer. 26:13; Ezek. 14:6; Ezek. 18:30; Hos. 14:1-2). John preached repentance (Matt. 3:1-2, 8). Jesus preached repentance and commanded His apostles to do so (Matt. 4:17; Matt. 9:13; Luke 13:1-5; Luke 24:46-47; cf. Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19). God requires repentance from all accountable people (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Pet. 3:9). Members of the church who sin are required to repent (Acts 8:12-13, 18-24; Rev. 2:5, 16, 20-23; Rev. 3:3, 19).

Sin is deceitful and hardens the heart over time (Heb. 3:13). Like a tea bag to pure water, the longer a person stays steeped in sin the darker they become. Let us be those that daily examine our hearts and make any needed changes so we can be right with God (2 Cor. 13:5; James 1:21-25). Let us call others to repentance through the Word of God. We can do this!

Trent Thrasher