Repentance.

Repentance for One and All Isaac Watts warns, “There is no repentance in the grave.” Let’s see what the Bible says about repentance for one and all. First, there is the practice of repentance for one and all. The word repentance means a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in direction. Luke 13:1-5 reads, “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’” Repentance is not just words of remorse. It is interesting to note there are some who said, “I have sinned” like Pharaoh in the Old Testament and Judas Iscariot in the New Testament, but obviously these instances did not demonstrate genuine repentance. Repentance is not just feelings of regret. Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Paul explains in Romans 2:4, “the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” Second, there is the premise of repentance for one and all. Repentance is commanded. Paul preached to the Greeks at the Areopagus in Acts 17:30-31, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Repentance is commended. Paul reminds the believers in 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10, “how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Third, there is the promise of repentance for one and all. Peter declared in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. Paul testified to the Ephesian elders in part, by declaring, “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20-21). Thomas Fuller cautions, “You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late.” Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey,Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Logos and Amazon ©May 25, 2025, All Rights Reserved.