The Necessity of Repentence

Text

Luke 13:1–5 KJV 1900

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Introduction

We are living in time where a disease known as the Corona Virus or Covid-19, has dominated the news headlines and social behavior worldwide. Leaders and pundits alike are predicting many more people will die from this dreaded virus. Some are even saying that life as we knew it prior to Covid-19 will never be the same. Whether these kinds of bold statements are true or not, remains to be seen. Be that as it may, one thing I know has not and will not change is God’s word, man’s spiritual condition. Concerning man’s natural spiritual condition, God’s word declares that he is dead. Dead in trespasses and sins: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” Ephesians 2:1. God’s position as it relates to sin is that it is ungodly and unrighteous. As such, God has revealed from heaven His wrath against it. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” Romans 1:18

In our text today, we see Jesus talking to a group of people asking Him about a couple of tragedies that occurred. One involving Pontius Pilate and the other what may have been a construction project—both involving death. It was believed in most Jewish circles that when calamity such as these events occurred it only happened to evil people or to those with whom God is not well-pleased. We see this in the case of Job, when his friend Eliphaz said, “Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?” (Job 4:7), and with the blind man that Jesus healed in John 9:2, when His disciples asked, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” However, we learned from Job’s experience that it had nothing to do with Job, but that God was using Job to show that Satan was a liar. Jesus informed His disciples that the blind man’s condition was not due to sin, but for the glory of God.

So, in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic, we should know and understand that God is sovereign and in full control. We need to understand that God is working out His purpose, even during a pandemic.

In our text today, Jesus addressed the core issue that His audience and we need to be concerned with—addressing the sin in our lives. Jesus said, the real issue is repentance. The point is that life is short and fragile, and death could come knocking on our door at any given moment. Given this reality people need to prepare to meet their Maker. As Hebrews 10:31, says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” So, for the next few moments, let’s listen to Jesus address the Necessity of Repentance.

Tragedy by Human Hands - Luke 13:1-3

Vv.1-3 - There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? (3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Tragedy by Accident

Jesus did not dismiss the fact that calamities in nature and human evil are a result of the curse of humanity’s fallenness. Nevertheless, He points out here that the tragedy is not the way a person dies. The tragedy lies in whether a person has repented of their sins.

The Universality of Sin

All men are infected with sin, and God’s Judgement and Wrath will fall upon a person who dies in their sin.

All have sinned (Romans 3:23)

The wages of sin (Romans 6:23)

The necessity of repenting and believing in Christ (John 6:37; 8:23-24)

Tragedy by Accident

Vv.4-5 – “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

What Does Repent Mean?

Repent means:

“To change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’

Though in English a focal component of repent is the sorrow or contrition that a person experiences because of sin, the emphasis …seems to be more specifically the total change, both in thought and behavior, with respect to how one should both think and act.[1]”

[1] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 509). New York: United Bible Societies.

Repentance and the Gospel

The gospel when first preached in the NT by John the Baptist was a call to repentance (Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:15). After John was cast into prison, Jesus began His ministry with the same message of repentance (Matthew 4:17) On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the Church, Peter, to whom the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom, stood and preached the same message of repentance (Acts 2:38).

Conclusion

Beloved, as we experience these perilous times and have opportunities to talk with family and friends, who are really concerned about contracting and dying from Covid-19, let them know in a loving way that although their concerns are legitimate, there is a much more sinister and tragic outcome, which dying in their sins. For the Bible says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27. Even though the scientist may develop a Covid-19 vaccine, only repentance from sin through faith in Christ can deliver a person from the Judgement and Wrath of God.

Our Hope as Believers

As believers, we know that the Lord is able to deliver His children either from this virus or through this virus. Be reminded of the lesson of the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3:12-30, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who because they refused to participate in idol worship, were bound and thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. God could have kept them from being thrown into the fiery furnace, but He didn’t. Yet, in the midst of their trial, they had this testimony:

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Our Hope as Believers continued...

In other words, they were convinced that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace or through it. Either way, they said, He will deliver us out of your hands. What were the results of this encounter? Well, somewhere between being thrown in and landing in the fiery furnace, God took the heat out of the fire and loosed their bonds. Oh, I feel like shouting!

Our Hope as Believers continued...

I am reminded of the hymn “God Will Take Care of You”,

Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you; Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you.

And another hymn, “It Is Well”,

When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, It is well with my soul.

Our Hope as Believers continued...

It may not be well with your health and finances, but I pray you can say, it is well with my soul. It is well because, we have repented of our sins and have called upon the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness. And, through His death on the cross, He has paid our sin debt and redeemed us from the judgement of sin and second death. He died for our sins and rose three days later from the grave for our justification.

Our Hope as Believers continued...

Therefore, beloved, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB) AMEN.