Radical Repentance
Repentance is central to the gospel call. Jesus attested that His purpose was to “call sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). If we want to avoid perishing, we must repent of our sins (Luke 13:3,5). Yet, repentance is frequently misunderstood. It is sometimes mistakenly thought of as simply feeling sorrow or regret. Godly sorrow is good but is only the first step. Only when it leads to earnest, eager effort to change and live differently can it lead to salvation (2 Cor. 7:10-11). When people find out what they have to give up to be pleasing to God, they often balk and claim that it is too hard and that God wouldn’t ask them to do something so dramatic. This is true of those who are interested in being baptized and even sometimes of Christians who have sin that needs to be resolved. Would God ever really ask us to give up something important to us? Would He require me to get rid of something that makes me happy? This is inconceivable to many, yet Scripture is clear. The stakes are high. Le...