Mark 1:1-4
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Contrary to the teachings of far too many ministries – the doctrine of repentance was in fact, preached in the Old Testament before the birth of Christ; and it was preached during the life and ministry of Christ; and it was preached on the day of Pentecost; and in the Book of Acts after Pentecost! It is taught in the Epistles and in the Book of Revelation.
REPENTANCE IS A DOCTRINE TO BE PREACHED AND TAUGHT FROM EVERY PULPIT IN THE WORLD – IN EVERY AGE. REPENTANCE QUITE LITERALLY MEANS – A CHANGE OF MIND, HEART AND WILL. THE JEWS BEING BAPTIZED BY JOHN WERE CHANGING THEIR MINDS, HEARTS AND WILLS BY TURNING AWAY FROM THE LAW AND RECEIVING THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE.
1. John the Baptist preached Repentance.
(a) He preached the baptism of Repentance.
Luke 3:3 – And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(b) He preached “Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mat.3:2 – And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
Mat. 3:3 – For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John’s preaching of repentance exalted Christ, denounced sin, warned of judgment, and – it cost him his head.
Mat. 14:6-11 –
6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
2. Jesus Christ preached repentance.
(a) He preached, ”Repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Mark 1:14-15 – 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
(b) Christ’s teaching on repentance was actually an ultimatum! REPENT OR PERISH!!!!!
Luke 13:1-5 – 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.
SALVATION BY GRACE IS FOR THE REPENTANT SOUL, AND JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY IS FOR THOSE WHO RESIST
3. Peter preached repentance.
(a) At Pentecost he preached repentance.
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(b) In his second epistle he preached repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
EVERY SOUL THAT GOES TO HELL GOES AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD. . .
4. Paul preached repentance.
Acts 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: This message was given on Mars Hill to the “intelligentsia” of Athens. The results were three-fold: some mocked, some procrastinated, and some believed.
The Vine Vigil 