Repentance

I'd like to talk about the unsaved being led to an understanding of their sin and consequent separation from God. I'd also like to talk about the role that repentance plays in bringing the unsaved into a saving relationship with Christ. In my opinion repentance, by definition, implies an understanding of personal sin and separation - so that's where I'd like to start.

Just a few scriptures on repentance:

• Mark 1:4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
• Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
• Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
• 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
  

It's my opinion that the unsaved need to be very gently brought to an understanding of their sinful state and consequent separation from God before they are ready to understand what Christ has done for them. Until this understanding occurs, there is no such thing as "good news"- there is simply "news". Until this understanding occurs there is no repentance. Until this understanding occurs their can be no salvation. (1 Corinthians 1:18) "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God". This message ceases to be foolishness when those who are perishing understand their current sate and future destiny.

Some would consider telling the unsaved the truth to be beating up on them. I say we are doing them an extreme injustice by telling them anything but the truth. There are so many gentle ways to impart the message of their current state of separation. There are so many ways to reveal this truth in parables and examples. This message of sin and separation doesn't need to be delivered in an "in your face - Hell and brimstone - repent or die!!" kind of way.
Simply explaining the Ten Commandments is an excellent way to impart this truth of sin and imperfection to the unsaved. As you know, Jesus during His sermon on the mount went on to further explain our shortcomings in regard to God's law with all of His "you have heard that it was said........." statements. Jesus Himself used the law to show His listeners how far from perfection they were - how much they needed to be saved - how much they needed a saviour. It was also Him showing Christians how to use the law in bringing others to this same understanding. Again, if a person is not aware of their separation from God and their current destination how could they ever appreciate what Christ has done? Again, telling the unsaved the "good news" without first telling them the bad news reduces the good news to just news. It sucks ALL of the regenerative power out of the gospel message. People may respond emotionally to allot of things but it's only when they respond emotionally AND intellectually to the TRUTH that salvation occurs. When a person responds to the truth - there is no need for follow up. When a person responds to the truth - it matters less that nobody said "hi" to them during the service. When a person responds to the truth - they don't reject Christianity because they lost their job - or their house - or their wife - or their child---- it simply drives them closer to Christ for comfort. When a person responds to the truth - they are contrite, repentant and humbled --not because they should be that way but because that's the logical emotional and intellectual response to the truth.

(Galatians 3:24) says that "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (KJV)

The "good news" is not that Christ will help you have a better life or help you run the race of life or that your life will be more comfortable if you accept Christ as your saviour. The good news is that you were headed toward death and eternal destruction because of your sin and separation from God - but because of your understanding of your sin and your consequent repentance and acceptance of Christ as your saviour, you will now be with Him for eternity.
From talking to the unsaved quite a bit I've discovered that their understanding of concepts such as joy, peace, and love are extremely different from the biblical definitions. Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds? Christ never promised us the world's definitions of joy peace or even love. So when we tell the unsaved that if they give their life to Christ and they will have joy, peace and love we're not lying to them, but they certainly don't and even can't understand what we're telling them. How can they? Their basis for understanding these concepts is strictly secular. Their minds still operate from a purely non-spiritual base. They utterly lack the ability to comprehend these spiritual truths. They can comprehend the law though - as a matter of fact - they are the reason for the law. They are under the law. They can comprehend their need to either go back in time and be perfectly and completely obedient to the law - or be delivered from the law and their sin. This is something they can easily understand. The spiritual truths of love, joy and peace will follow but they are not the foundation upon which to build a life. The reason for the death of Jesus upon the cross and the acceptance of His sacrifice for ours sins is the only foundation upon which to build a Christian life.