Bible Reading: Joshua 14 & 15; Psalms 146 & 147; Jeremiah 7; Matthew 21
Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Repentance is a change of mind. Jesus was confronting the Pharisees with the fact that they were not righteous while many publicans and harlots would be because of their response to the Word of God. John the Baptist preached and the Pharisees believed him not. However, when the publicans and harlots heard him, they believed what he said. Even though many of them had made sinful decisions in their way of life, they changed their minds when they heard the preaching of John the Baptist. The Pharisees would not change. Jesus illustrated this with a parable:
Matthew 21:28-31 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
The first son represents the publicans and harlots. They would not go work in God's vineyard but chose a sinful life instead. However, after a while they repented or changed their minds and believed the words of God's prophet. The second son represents the Pharisees who said they would work in God's vineyard but never actually did. They came up with their own religious ideas and never actually did the will of God.
Biblical repentance is not sorrow for sin. It may lead to that, but by definition it is a change of mind. So it works like this. You are living your life one way. You hear the Word of God and realize that what you believe is not right and you change your mind. Then you are free to believe what God says and act accordingly. When it comes to salvation, many people believe if you live a 51% righteous life, you will be OK with God. When you hear the Word of God that says:
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Then you change your mind about what you believe you have repented. You must do away with your old belief and believe what God's Word says. Repentance is the change of mind. Faith is believing what God says. You cannot have one without the other.
What part does repentance play in your life right now? What old ways of thinking and acting do you need to abandon so you can believe the Word of God? The Father is looking for workers in his vineyard. Will you go?
In Christ,
Rody
