Luke records Jesus explaining to His disciples that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations! Hallelujah!

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. – Luke 24:47 KJV

First, we will see what repentance and remission of sins mean. Second, we will learn that Jesus has already done all the work. Third, we will find that all we have to do is believe and receive what Jesus has already done.

Repentance

Blue Letter Bible gives us the “Outline of Biblical Usage” as follows:

a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done

Blue Letter Bible

People don’t want to sin (Luke 23:34). Sin hurts people!

A false doctrine in religious hypocrisy tells us to dwell on sin so that we can be in a constant state of repentance. That is wrong! That is not what the Bible teaches. Should we repent when we realize we have done something to hurt someone? YES! But we do not need to be constantly nitpicking ourselves or others looking for sin or faults and failures!

Is there a time and place to smack someone with the law? Not very often! But, yes, it is the exception though, and not the rule (1 Timothy 1:8). In 1 Timothy 1:9-10, Paul goes on to tell us that the law is not for a righteous man!

Righteousness of God

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21 Paul tells us that we are made new by God and we have been made God’s righteousness in Christ! Check out 2 Corinthians 5:19!!! God did it all through Christ for us. All we have to do is take “the word of reconciliation” that He has committed to us and sow it into our hearts.

Repentance is changing or renewing your mind. It is changing your beliefs about God, yourself, and others.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Romans 12:2 KJV

You can repent or change your old way of thinking by reading the Bible and learning with and from people living the victorious Christian life that Jesus came for all of us to have (John 10:10). You know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).

Discipleship

Remission of Sins

Blue Letter Bible gives us the “Outline of Biblical Usage” as follows:

1. release from bondage or imprisonment
2. forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

Blue Letter Bible

Good News!

Repentance and remission of sins are part of the good news that Christians get to share with the whole world that God so loved (John 3:16).

And ye are witnesses of these things. – Luke 24:48 KJV

We get to tell the world the good news!!!

Revelation 12:11 tells us that “the word of our testimony” is part of how we overcome the devil (Revelation 12:10).

More Promises and Blessings

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. – Luke 24:49 KJV
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. – Luke 24:50 KJV

God created us and everything we could ever want or need and blessed us in the beginning (Genesis 1:28, 5:2). And God is made manifest in our Lord Jesus revealing God’s true nature and character again (Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

God is Love (1 John 4:8)!

Do you know Love (1 John 4:16)? His name is Jesus (John 1:1-5, 12, 14)!

Do you believe Him?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. – John 6:29 KJV

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. – Matthew 21:22 KJV

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]. – Mark 11:24 KJV

Faith to believe God’s word comes from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17). The goodness of God leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Don’t Sell Your Birthright (James 1:18)!

Esau found no place for repentance though he sought it with tears (Hebrews 12:17)! Why? Because Esau was not seeking God. He was seeking to gratify the lust of his flesh over what he had been given!

Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. – Hebrews 12:16 KJV

His birthright was not a position that his goodness had earned. It was a gift from God.

Your new identity in Christ is not a position you earn or deserve (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). It is a gift from God (John 4:10, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 6:23). He believes His Word! God believes that if you will seek first His kingdom He will give you everything that the world is seeking (Matthew 6:31-34).

Why? To glorify Himself and to open doors for the gospel to be manifest in you and then through you when the world asks about the hope that you have.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. – John 15:8 KJV
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. – John 14:13 KJV