In my last blog I promised to go over the basics from Hebrews 6 to help you stand in tough times… what I called the “boot camp” of the Christian life. So let’s begin with repentance.

It all starts with a 180.
When we hear about the Way, the Truth and the Life — Jesus — we must make a choice: Will we follow Him?

Once we’ve heard that Jesus died for our sins and God made Him pay for our transgressions, will we continue as we have always lived, or become a genuine disciple of His? If we have tasted the grace of God — His totally undeserved mercy, forgiveness and favor — will we repent?

Jesus immediately starting preaching about repentance after His 40-day fast in the wilderness:

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  – Luke 4:17

Here are a couple of other passages (there are dozens in the New Testament) about repentance:

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  – Acts 2:36-38

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  – Acts 17:30

The verses above indicate how critically important repentance is for our salvation. But there are many other references to ‘repent’ and ‘repentance’ in the New Testament. To read them, do a search at Studylight.org.

We can’t fool Him.
Like the guy in the 1990s “I Love You, Man” Bud Light commercial, we can’t fool God. So if you’ve ever wondered what genuine repentance looks like, and whether you’ve really done it, here are a few definitions:

Webster’s: to repent is “to feel so contrite over one’s sins as to change or decide to change one’s ways.”

Baker’s Dictionary of Christian Ethics: Repentance is “not just feeling sorry, or changing one’s mind, but turning right around, radically altering the course and directions of one’s life, its basic motives, attitudes and world view.”

Eerdman’s New Bible Dictionary: “Repentance consists of turning from sin unto God and His service. The necessity of repentance as a condition of salvation is clearly inscribed on the biblical witness.”

In a nutshell, it’s not just about feeling sorry for your sins.  It’s not about good intentions. It’s about taking responsibility for your sinful actions and deciding to stop and live for God. It’s about completely turning around and going the other way — a whole new way — and not continuing to do what scripture clearly tells you is wrong.

Turn from what?
Sin. It’s not what you think is right or wrong. You must submit to what God says is right and wrong. Search His word in the scriptures. Start with the Ten Commandments. Those are the basics — about worshipping, serving and glorifying God, murder, stealing, slandering, lust and covetousness. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus put it this way:

” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   - Matthew 22:37-39

Paul didn’t mince words when he talked about who was and wasn’t getting in the Door…

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  – I Corinthians 6:9-10

Still not sure?
Although He used many different parables to describe our new life with Him, and what it looks like to follow Him, one of the most popular is the one about the sower and the seeds…

A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  – Matthew 13:3-8

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  – Matthew 13:18-23

What kind of crop are you producing?
When you think honestly about your life, what’s it look like? Has the word been snatched from your heart? Do trials tear you away from your walk with Him? Do the things of this world get your attention more than He does? If so, it’s time to turn around. Your life here on earth won’t get any better until you do. And even worse, you’ll spend eternity separated from Him.