TCH MINI-STUDY 65
THEY WOULD HAVE REPENTED LONG AGO
when the idea of repentance is mentioned, most folks, believer
and unbeliever alike, think only of one type of repentance - that is, repentance from sin. In Matthew chapter 11, Jesus teaches a
type of repentance that many in the modern day church are not aware of, or refuse to acknowledge as a doctrine in the new testament
scriptures: repentance from unbelief in Christ.
In the book of Matthew, we read, Then began he [Jesus] to upbraid the cities
wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the
mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented [Greek, metanoeo, to think differently
or afterwards, that is to reconsider, or morally to feel compassion] long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall
be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt
be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until
this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee (Matthew
11:20-24). Whether Christ is seen, or not, the most necessary repentance needed by the sinner is not a repentance of sin, but the
repentance of rejection of Jesus as the Son of God and Christ. That repentance is the only kind of repentance that results in eternal
life.
THESE ARE WRITTEN, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE
The scriptures teach us that Jesus was not only seen by many, but performed
miracles primarily for one reason to give evidence that He was and is the Christ. John plainly taught the connecton between the
miracles of Christ and our faith in Him. The scriptures teach us, therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets
with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had
seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world (John 6:13-14).
We also
see in the scriptures, Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus
said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath
been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee
that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may
believe that thou hast sent me (John 11:38-42).
The apostle John explained the problem: While ye have light [revelation, clarity,
understanding], believe in the light [Christ], that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did
hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him" (John 12:36-37).
Jesus
specifically explained to Philip, Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you
I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father
in me: or else believe me for the very works' [miracles] sake (John 14:10-11). The teaching is very clear when we read these two
verses: And many other signs [miracles] truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: Butthese are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his
name (John 20:30-31). Jesus performed miracles primarily to reveal that He was the Christ and Son of God. Even a so-called unbeliving
Jewish leader named Nicodemus understood the purpose of Christ's wonders and miracles and who the Lord truly was: There was a man
of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou
art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him (John 3:1-2).
Jesus chastened
His own disciples for not knowing Him: So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said
unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master,
have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done
to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent
him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture
may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you [prophesied] before it come, that,
when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he (John 13:12-19).
I TOLD YOU, AND YE BELIEVED NOT
During His ministry,
Jesus Christ spoke life giving words, taught spiritual truths, gave future prophecies, displayed powerful longsuffering, forgiveness,
and love, and performed many miraculous acts such as healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, and raising the dead; yet many who observed
these things He performed still did not believe that He was the Son of God, or Messiah. In the book of John, we read, We also read,Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, [and you also saw the miracles I performed] and ye [still] believed not: the works [miracles] that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me (John 10:24-25).
Even Jesus' own disciples had trouble believing Jesus was
the Christ. Jesus told them, For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they
unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not (John 6:33-36).
Jesus
again scolded those around Him who had seen Him, yet refused to believe that He was the Christ and Son of God: ...I am the bread of
life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have
seen me, and believe not [that I am the Christ and Son of God] (John 6:36).
The apostle John teaches that those who believe on
Christ even though they have not seen Him are blessed. John wrote, ...the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Scriptures teach us that we are blessed when we see not, yet believe on Christ.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We
have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print
of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas
with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:
blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:24-29).
Some of the most outstanding and powerful miracles
that the Lord performed during His ministry on earth were manifested in the cities in which He pronounced great judgment. The inhabitants
of these cities had seen Him, had heard Him preach and teach, had seen His miracles, saw Him cleanse lepers, heal the sick, raise
the dead, had heard His words of life; but, despite seeing all these things, they still refused to believe He was the Son of God and
the Christ. It is our responsibility to believe and have faith even though we have not directly seen Christ. The believer is clearly
taught that even though we do not see, we must have faith, for faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
REPENT YE
After preaching the kingdom of God was at hand, Jesus Christ said, ...repent [metanoeo;
i.e., think differently, reconsider] ye, and believe the gospel [good news of Christ and salvation available only through faith in
Him] (Mark 1:15), As we discussed, repent can mean regret, feeling anxiety and guilt from one's actions leading to reversal of thinking
and behavior, or irrevocable, but these meanings are not primarily what Christ was referring to here. In this context, the Lord was
speaking to those that did not believe in Jesus Christ and the gospel message, that is, to unbelievers, to those that did not believe
that He was the Christ, Messiah, and Son of God. When Christ instructed those around Him to repent, or think differently, He was wanting
them to reconsider their unbelief regarding Him, to think differently about Him, and to believe He was the Son of God. Many believe
that Biblical "repentance" applies only to ceasing from sin in order to have eternal life. Paul told those in Rome, Let not sin [hamartia;
i.e., acts of sin] therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof (Rom 6:12). There is a repentance
that involves sin, and God certainly does want believers to repent of acts of sin, but this type of repentance is not what Christ
was referring to here. In fact, many cases of repentance mentioned in the New Testament are used in reference to rejection of Jesus
Christ, and not sin. Repenting from rejecting Jesus as the Christ and Son of God who has already come to earth is the most important,
in fact essential, type of repentance; but this type of repentance is rarely thought of when the scriptures refer to repentance. God
the Father demands repentance [from the rejection of Christ] from Jews and Gentiles alike. Paul instructed the church in Galatia that
all must repent of their unbelief: there can be no exceptions: But before faith [in Christ] came, we were kept under the law, shut
up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might
be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by
faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:23-28).
The rejection
of Christ by all was foreseen and foreknown by God the Father. The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, clearly prophesied that Christ would
be rejected, tortured, suffer, and be put to death. He said, For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out
of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised
and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not (Isa 53:2-3). The New Testament apostle Matthew specifically mentioned the Jewish rejection of Christ saying, Jesus
saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone [Christ] which the builders [the Jews] rejected, the same is become
the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (Mat 21:42). Speaking to the Jewish scribes and
Pharisees, Christ said, Full well ye reject the commandment [to love God and man] of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For
Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall
say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the [Gospel] word of God of none effect [does not bring
salvation] through [because of] your [Jewish] tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye (Mark 7:9-13). Jesus
also told His disciples the ...Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the [Jewish] elders, and of the chief [Jewish] priests,
and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31). Jesus clearly explained, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth
not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day (John 12:48). The apostle
Paul also spoke of Christ's rejection when he said, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel [the Jews] is, that they
might be saved [from God's wrath and destruction]. For I bear them record that they [the Jews] have a zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness [in Christ], and going about to establish their own righteousness [by
keeping the Jewish law], have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to every one that believeth (Rom 10:1-4).
The Jews were trying to become righteous by keeping the law, rather than believing
in Jesus Christ, which is still the case for most Jews today. Speaking to some Jewish individuals who had become believers in Christ,
and who were tending to return to old covenant works oriented righteousness, the author of Hebrews exhorted, Therefore leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead [resulting
in death] works [toil, effort], and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection
of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,
and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word [of truth, the gospel
message] of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away [turn away from Christ; i.e., apostatize], to renew
them again unto repentance [anxiety and distress leading to reversal of thinking]; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh, and put him to an open shame (Heb 6:1-6). These scriptures teach that the believer who departs from the principles of the
doctrine of Christ and therefore becomes an unbeliever and returns again to dependence upon the works of the law for righteousness,
cannot return to faith in Christ a second time because this action means they crucify to themselves the Son of God again and put His
to open shame. According to Paul, ...of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
When the Jewish scribes and Pharisees asked the Lord, Why do ye eat and
drink with publicans and sinners? Jesus responded, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance [metanoia; i.e., anxiety and distress leading to reversal of thinking] (Luke 5:30-32).
Christ explained that he ate with sinners because they needed to believe in Him, the great physician, for their salvation. Here, the
Lord clearly defined "sinners coming to Christ" as repentance. It is dangerous and destructsive to refuse to repent from rejecting
Christ, and the apostle John told us God's view regarding those who continue to reject His Son. John wrote Hereby know ye the Spirit
of God: Every [human] spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is [was born and has already] come in the flesh is of God: And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye
have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world (1 John 4:2-3). Here, the Lord explains that those who do
not believe the gospel, and who do not repent of their rejection of Christ, have the spirit of antichrist. Unbelievers are clearly
instructed to "repent ye" of this rejection of Christ referred to as the spirit of antichrist.
We read in the scriptures the
dangers and fruit of unrepentance of our unbelief in Christ: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans,
whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners
above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent [metanoeo; i.e., think differently,
reconsider Jesus as the Son of God and Christ], ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell,
and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you [again], Nay: but, except ye repent [Greek,metanoeo, to think differntly about, to reconsider, morally to feel compunction, to observe, or understand], ye shall all likewise
perish [Greek, apollumi, to destroy fully, to be lost, perish, die, or mar] (Luke 13:1-5). The Lord clearly teaches here that no matter
how severe our sin may be, the only true remedy for our sin is repentance from our unbelief and a coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
Continued unbelief bears the fruit of being fully destroyed, perishing, and dying.
Speaking to men and brethren around him, Peter
was also referring to the repentance of unbelief when he said, Repent [Greek, metanoeo; i.e., think differently, reconsider your rejection
of Christ], and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [Greek, aphesis, freedom from, to be pardoned,
deliverance, or forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). Forgiveness of our sin is dependent
solely upon our repentance from unbelief to belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Christ. This forgiveness and salvation is not based
upon repentance from sin [which the Lord also calls us to do], but thinking differently about Jesus, realizing who He truly is, and
believing that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ.
Lastly, speaking and preaching to some Jews at the temple, Peter gave
clear instructions about the need for repentance from unbelief. Peter taught, The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the
God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined
to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life,
whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom
ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren,
I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all
his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted [Greek, epistrepho, to revert
back, come or go again, or return to], that your sins may be blotted out [Greek, exaleipho, to smear out, obliterate, to erase, or
to pardon sin], when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:13-19). At the time of Christ, most
Jews not only denied the Holy One and the Just, Jesus Christ, but they even went so far as to kill the Prince of life. Peter instructs
them of their need to repent of their rejection of Christ and be converted from their unbelief and rejection of Christ to faith in
and acceptance of Jesus Christ. As for most of us, we should have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. AMEN.
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread
to the eater: So shall my word [Hebrew, dabar; the speaking, movement, and operation of the Holy Spirit, not the bible] be that goeth
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto
I sent it
(Isaiah 55:8-11).
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned; and
avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words
and fair speeches deceive
the hearts
of the simple
(Romans 16:17-18).
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not,
stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,
which he will shew to you to day:
for the
Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall
see them again no more for ever. The LORD
shall fight for you, and ye shall hold
your
peace.
(Exodus 14:13-14)
(Exodus 14:13-14)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;
yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that
were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and
confounded:
they shall be as nothing; and they that
strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them,
and shalt not find them, even them that
contended
with thee: they that war against thee shall be as
nothing, and as a thing of nought. For
I the LORD thy God will hold thy right
hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee
(Isaiah 41:10-13).
"How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your
conscience
from
dead works to serve
the living God?
(Hebrews 9:14)