"Why Do You FEAR Repentance?"

HAT, me fear repentance?", you might laugh or scoff.   Yet it's more likely than not that this is exactly your reaction when it comes to real, actual repentance.

    Why?   Because it's human nature to fear change.   And change is the very heart and core of repentance.

    You see, to repent means "to turn back" and stop doing what is wrong, as defined by the law known as the Ten Commandments specifically, and the "Old Testament" generally (though there are also commandments or law in the "New Testament" as well; such as the two greatest commandments; see: Matthew 22:35-40; Mark 12:28-34; cf. Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18).

    And repentance, or change, is not the only thing that most people misunderstand or misconstrue.   Take "remission of sins," the flip side of the repentance "coin," for instance.

    "Remission" is just an old-fashioned King James era Old English word meaning "forgiveness."   Look it up in any good dictionary and you'll find this to be so.   Now that you know that, can you see how our Creator's merciful forgiveness of your sins is conditional?

    And what is that condition?   Repentance, of course!   For the Baptist's message -- and the message of any true prophet, or minister following in his footsteps today -- was: "repentance for the forgiveness of sin" (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3).

    In other words, no repentance equals no forgiveness, regardless what false religious leaders may say to the contrary.   Which explains why the New Testament ends with dire prophecies concerning this end age, in the book of Revelation, foretelling the time when heavenly wrath and mass extinction will descend from heaven to earth, in the form of grievous plagues and righteous judgments upon the wicked and unrepentant, utterly rebellious, warmongering inhabitants of earth.

    Come that dire time in our immediate future, you don't want to be on the wrong side of this titanic spiritual struggle, not even to escape temporarily from the wrathful hand of human oppressors that will demand your obedience and obeisance to their idols, at the cost of your livelihood (the right to buy and sell) or your life (public beheading will once again become the popular form of execution and tool of terror by the true and main terrorists at work in our world today (those in control of the world's governments).

    Instead you should fear Creator Yahveh, and no one else, for only He has the power of life and death (the ability to resurrect from the dead, and reward the righteous faithful or punish the foolishly unrepentant wicked; Isaiah 8:12-15; Matthew 10:28; Luke 1:50, 12:4-5).

    Who, traveling on a modern road, wouldn't slow down and change lanes if they saw possible trouble or an accident lurking in their lane of travel immediately ahead?

    What train engineer, knowing there is a wreck, obstruction or damage to the track ahead wouldn't stop or switch tracks entirely, if he has the choice?

    Likewise, you have a choice before you.   It is a life or death choice.

    It is the choice between repentance and forgiveness, through the blood sacrifice of Messiah Yahvsave (Matthew 20:28, 26:28; Luke 1:76-77; Acts 2:38, 10:43; Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 9:22, 10:17-18) and rejection and destruction.

    Remember, forgiveness through belief (faith) in the Savior's blood sacrifice requires repentance (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3), without which -- for whoever deliberately keeps on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the pure truth, there is no further sacrifice for sins left, and only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and the raging fire that will consume Yahveh's enemies (Hebrews 10:26-27).

    You should train yourself in the ways of righteousness (the Law of Salvation), and regardless of provocation or threat never depart from them, if you truly fear this possible outcome and wish to avoid being subject to our Creator's righteous and cleansing wrath!

    Change is coming, whether or not you welcome or desire it, just as the seasons will change and the sun will eventually dispel the darkness of every night.

    So why should you fear change?   Repentance is changing for the better, and there's nothing to fear about that.   Failing to change or repent will only bring to pass your worst fears.

    So which choice are you making right now?