[Read] Unless you repent (Luke 13: 2-3)

 

 

The door to heaven is not opened by Jesus or an angel, but by repentance.

In today's scriptures, Jesus emphasizes the importance of repentance. "You too, if you do not repent, all will perish" (Luke 13: 3). This means that if you repent, you can enter the kingdom of heaven without perishing. So John the Baptist and Jesus began their first ministry with the cry "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." That is to say, repentance and heaven are directly connected. When I repent, the door of heaven opens right in front of me.

The word “repent” in the Old Testament means to “grieve,” “mourn,” and ''turn around.” In the New Testament, it was used to mean "refresh/renew the mind," "change the way of thinking," and "change purpose or intent." It's all about turning around. It is repentance to turn away from the past and start a new life while mourning for past sins. There must be earnest and deep introspection in order to truly experience thorough repentance.

Repentance also requires being genuine, unfolding one’s sins one by one without falsehood. Such repentance opens the door to the kingdom of heaven. It is no use tearing only visible clothes. We must tear our hearts (Joel 2:13). Those who have this thorough experience of repentance become children of God.

What is the result of repentance? Those who repent are renewed in their hearts and receive new strength. He gives us a steadfast spirit (Psalms 51:10). Before repentance, you were like a lost sheep, and now have returned to the Shepherd of your soul, and become a restful sheep in His arms (1 Peter 2:25). Those who have thoroughly repented will have such a blessing.

Excerpt from the sermon of Rev. Abraham Park​