Preaching Repentance The Forgotten Command of Jesus

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Luke 24:47 declares, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. This is not a suggestion or a peripheral matter. It is the heart of the gospel message that Christ gave His disciples. To ignore or dilute this command is to neglect the very foundation of the Great Commission. • True love for sinners does not involve pandering to their desires or offering them a man-centered gospel that says, “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” Such an approach deceives rather than delivers. It flatters rather than convicts, offering false hope without confronting the soul’s greatest need. Preaching repentance tells sinners the truth: they are under the just wrath of God and will perish unless they repent and turn to Christ. Jesus Himself said in Luke 13:3, Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. • Repentance is not only necessary but loving. It exposes the dire reality of sin and points to the only hope for salvation—Jesus Christ. Scripture declares in Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin is not a small matter; it is rebellion against the Creator. Romans 6:23 reveals the consequences: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Preaching repentance confronts sinners with this truth and offers them a way of escape through the Savior. • Why is preaching repentance more loving than the wonderful plan gospel? Because repentance leads sinners to the cross, the only place where forgiveness and reconciliation with God can be found. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Repentance and faith in Christ lead to life; ignoring sin and offering false assurances lead to destruction. • The modern wonderful plan message avoids the harsh reality of judgment and the necessity of repentance. It withholds the truth that Revelation 20:15 warns: And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. To omit this truth is not love; it is hatred disguised as kindness. True love compels us to warn sinners, even if it costs us our reputation or comfort. Proverbs 27:6 declares, Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Preaching repentance may wound the pride of a sinner, but it is a faithful wound that leads to eternal healing. • The Bible consistently calls for repentance. Jesus began His ministry with the command, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17). If repentance was central to Christ’s message, how can we dare to preach anything less? Acts 2:38 is clear: Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repentance is not optional; it is the gateway to salvation. • The wonderful plan gospel fails to confront sinners with their desperate need for a Savior. It avoids the stark reality of condemnation that John 3:18 declares: He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. To preach anything less than repentance is to leave sinners in their condemnation. • The most loving thing we can do is to proclaim the gospel as Christ commanded—repentance and remission of sins in His name. Love does not mean avoiding hard truths. It means boldly proclaiming them so that sinners might turn from their sin and find life in Christ. Romans 1:16 reminds us, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. • Brothers and sisters, let us preach repentance with boldness and without compromise. This is the message that saves souls, brings glory to God, and fulfills the commission of our risen Lord. Anything less is a betrayal of Christ and a failure to love as He loved. Preach it, live it, and trust the Holy Spirit to convict and save. Amen.

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