Repentance and Remission of Sins
This coming Sunday is Easter. I prefer to call it Resurrection Sunday because it is the day we celebrate Jesus rising from dead. Easter is not about the Easter Bunny or finding eggs. No, it’s about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So why did Jesus rise from the dead? Why did He have to die in the first place? Why was Jesus born in the flesh? Why was He born of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary? Why did the Creator of all things insert Himself into His own creation? Why?
Jesus Came To This Earth
Jesus came to this earth because of His love. It was out of love the He left His throne in Heaven and came to this earth. We have all sinned against God, each and every one of us and our sin separates us from our Holy, righteous God. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). We have all sinned against God and the soul that sins, it shall die. You do not want to die in your sins. All unbelievers are cast into Hell when they die and once you are there, you cannot escape (Revelation 21:8). You will suffer God’s righteous anger over your sins forever.
But Jesus Christ came to this earth and He did what none of us can do; He lived a perfect, sinless life. He never sinned one time. Never. Not once. Jesus never sinned in His thoughts, words or actions. Yet He suffered, bled and died on the cruel cross to take the place of guilty sinners like you and me. He bore God’s wrath over sinful man, as He hung on the cross. You did the crime – your rebellion against God, yet, Jesus paid your fine. He took the punishment that you deserve. God poured out His wrath over sin upon His only begotten Son.
Jesus Suffered, Bled And Died
Jesus willingly laid down His life as a ransom for many. He willingly suffered, bled and died on the cross, for those who repent and surrender their life to Him. He rose from the dead three days later. Jesus Christ defeated sin, death Hell and Satan. He was seen by His disciples and also by over 500 people at one time after His resurrection.
That’s why we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Sunday, He is risen! I serve a risen Savior! Jesus is alive! This is what separates Christianity from all other world religions. Only Christians follow a Savior who suffered, bled and died for His people and Christ is the only one who rose from the dead. Jesus came to save His people from their sins. The religions of the world serve dead founders or worship the created rather than the Creator.
Jesus Rose From The Grave
Listen to what Jesus told His followers after He rose from the grave: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:44-48).
Fulfilled Prophecies
To paraphrase, Jesus said I told you ahead of time that this was all going to take place. That the Scriptures must be fulfilled. The whole Old Testament pointed to Me. The law, the prophets and the writings, all pointed toward Me and I have fulfilled the Scriptures. Genesis 3:15 says: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This verse is about Jesus; He is the seed and He most definitely bruised Satan’s head.
Psalm 22:16 states: For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. David, through the power of the Holy Spirit writes in Psalm 22 and he predicts Jesus’ death, the specific type of death, 1,000 years before it happened!
Likewise, Isaiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit predicts Jesus’ suffering in Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53:3-5 tells us: 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. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
These are just a handful of verses from the Old Testament that prophesy about Jesus and they were fulfilled, just like many more verses have also been fulfilled. The Bible is different from any other book in the world. It is the only book that is fully and wholly inspired by God.
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Jesus reminded the disciples that He had to go through the suffering, dying and rising from the dead. He is the only Savior. Jesus is the only Savior for mankind.
Repent
He also told His disciples that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations. That’s why we are out here sharing the Gospel with you. Jesus said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:5). Acts 20:21 says that we are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 3:19 states: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 17:30-31 says: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Rebellion Against God
Why should you repent? Because you have sinned against God. You have lied, probably stolen, not honored God your whole life, disobeyed your parents, lusted, coveted and blasphemed God. Anything you love in this world more than God is an idol. All of us have sinned against God, including you.
Because of your rebellion against God, He commands you to repent. God demands it. You must repent or perish. Which is it going to be? Are you going to continue rebelling against God and rejecting Jesus Christ? Are you going to continue living your life selfishly for yourself? Are you going to continue serving sin and Satan?
Turn From Your Sins
Don’t do it. Repent. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. Stop living for the pleasures of the flesh. Quit trying to fulfill your life with things that will never satisfy. You never have enough money. One more sexual conquest is never enough. There’s always one more to lust after. One more drink is never enough. A drunkard is never satisfied. If you derive pleasure from stealing, you never reach a point where you are happy. You always want one more “thrill” of taking something. Worldly pleasures never bring lasting joy and contentment.
Some of you seek after these worldly pleasures because you are trying to ease your guilty conscience. Some people drink to numb their conscience. They don’t want to think about their sins, so they try to make the guilt go away. Again, you won’t find anything on this earth that can permanently wipe away your sins.
Remission Of Sins
Jesus also told His disciples that in addition to repentance, that remission of sins would also be preached in His name. Remission means release or discharge. It means forgiveness. Your sins can be released. Your sins can be discharged. Your sins can be forgiven. But only through the shed blood of Christ alone. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Jesus shed His blood, to save guilty sinners like you and me. But you must receive salvation. Only through salvation in Christ alone, can your sins be forgiven.
Oh, when you repent and trust Jesus, when you truly surrender your life to His Lordship, your sins are forgiven. God remembers them no more. In other words, He no longer holds them against you. They are discharged. Jesus took your sins upon Himself when He went to the cross, if you repent and put your faith in Him. He, the one who bore your punishment for you and He forgives you for your sins. He washes you white as snow. Jesus clears your guilty conscience.
Only Jesus Saves
Folks, you can seek relief in a ton of different ways, but only Jesus saves and only Jesus cleanses and purifies. Repent from your sins, trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and receive remission of your sins. Oh, do this today. Today, is the day of salvation. Your wages for your sins is death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:8-13).
Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus today and be saved. Repent and surrender your life to Christ. Turn from your sins, turn to Christ, submit to His Lordship and receive forgiveness or remission for your sins. Receive everlasting life. Come to Jesus and be saved. Repent and believe the Gospel. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Then go serve the risen Savior and tell others about repentance and remission of sins.
(This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on April 14, 2017)