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Matthew, chapter 11 versus 16 to 24 will be the basis of our thinking this morning. One of the familiar, warm sights of Singapore must be our Pasar Malam.  It's where stall holders, come out in the middle of the night.  They set up stalls and they sell food and merchandise and people gather and have a fun time there. But the idea of marketplace is not unique to Singapore, it happens also during the times of Jesus.

During the times of Jesus, people would gather at the agora; the marketplace and they will set up stalls. They will set up places for them to sell their goods and merchandise and when the adults come, the children also follow.  And what do children do when they gather together?  They don't work, they play. They play games and that's what we are looking at, when Jesus gave us this illustration of children playing in the marketplace.

Matthew 11 verse 16 says, “But to what shall I compare this generation.” What are the people of Israel like during the times of Jesus? He's says, “They are very much like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, calling fellow children to come and play.” Now, what do children play when they gather together?  Well, in those times, they don't have iPads and iPhones.  They don't have computer games.  They don't have monopoly.  So what do they play? Very simple games like role-playing games.

Matthew 11:16
But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates.

When I was younger, I would play with my neighbours.  We will run through our streets and we will play, we will play what? Police and Thief. We pretend to … I pretend to be police, you pretend to be thief.  Or we play pretend to be doctor, you are sick, let me get a stethoscope and listen and see what's wrong with you.  We pretend to be teachers.  We pretend even weddings. Have you played those games before? Pretend wedding.  You get your two friends, one guy, one girl, you say, “Dang, dang, dang, dang.” And you, you, you get all kinds of flowery and, and so on and, and they pretend to be married.  And we tease them, we laugh at them.  They play wedding.

And it is not very different during the times of Jesus.  Children gather in the marketplaces and they will call their friends and say, “Come, let's play wedding.” And Jesus said, “We played the flute for you and you did not dance.”  So Jesus is saying, “Look at this bunch of kids, they call out to another bunch and tell them, “Hey, come join us, we will play wedding.” But this bunch of kids just won't come. They play hard to get, they are very contrary.”

Then this bunch of kids say, “Alright, you don't want to play wedding, let's play funeral.” So we sang a dirge, we sang a funeral tune, but you also don't want to play.  You say, “I don't want to play funeral.” And Jesus says, “These children who are playing hard to get, who are very contrary, who are difficult to come, are just a perfect picture to describe the Jews during the times of Jesus.  Because Jesus comes preaching and they won't come.  John comes preaching and they won't come.  And they come with all kinds of excuses.”

Matthew 11:17
We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.

For example, they'll say about John the Baptist, John came neither eating nor drinking.  “He's a weird guy.  He's a weird chap.  He wears camels hair.  He eats wild locusts and honey. He's so fierce.  He's so uncompromising, we don't want to listen to him. “ And the excuse they gave is - He has a demon. He must be possessed.  He must be of the devil because he doesn't eat like we do.  He doesn't drink like we do.  He's a weirdo.  He's crazy.  He's a demoniac.  Excuse not to listen to John.

Matthew 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.”

Alright, you don't want to listen to John then, the other spectrum as it were, comes Jesus and they also don't want to listen to Jesus.  Because they say, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking.” And they say, “Look at him, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

So Jews, what do you really want? God sends John the Baptist, you say, “He's too austere, too severe.” God sends Jesus and you say, “He's a friend of sinners and publicans.” Really, what do you want? You're just like the children, who play hard to get and won't come. “Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” In other words, how do you know if Jesus and John are really the real deal? Look at their lives.  Look at their preaching.  Look at their miracles.  Look at the lives that have been changed.

It is undeniable that they are sent of God, they are justified by their deeds. All it goes to show, is that you have been rebellious.  You're making excuses.  You are simply rejecting the King.  And that's why we come to this major motif in Matthew chapter 11, all the way to Matthew chapter 14.  It really describes in detail the rejection of the Jews towards Jesus, their King and in particular the Jewish leaders against Jesus the King.

And in verses 16 to 24, I just want to introduce to you the big idea here and it is really this, “Rejecting Jesus is damning, you must repent!”  It's a terrible thing to reject Jesus Christ and it will incur terrible punishment if you should reject Jesus Christ.

So in 16 to 24, Jesus is really saying, “Rejecting the Messiah, rejecting the Gospel is damning thing. It's a terrible thing.  It's a horrible thing.  Please don't go there, you need to repent.” So it is with that illustration about children, being contrary in the marketplace, being difficult that describes the Jews that Jesus now gives us the denouncing of the people there. He actually laments and warns about rejecting Christ here in verse 20.

“Then He began to denounce the cities, where most of His mighty works had been done because they did not repent.” They're just like the children, this they won't repent. But now, He specifically highlights some cities, because He did many mighty works, incontrovertible proofs of His Messiahship and they still won't listen.

Matthew 11:20
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

He highlights these three cities, “Woe to you, Chorazin, woe to you, Bethsaida, for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you and you Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”  [Matthew 11:21-23]

So Jesus highlights three cities during His time, famous cities - Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum. These are cities where He did many of His mighty works. For example, five out of 10 miracles recorded in Matthew chapters 8 and 9, are said to be done in Capernaum itself.  And I'm sure there are countless many other miracles He did in these cities. So, He highlights these three privileged cities and then He contrasts them with three other cities, Tyre, Sidon and Sodom. These are cities of time past, you don't have Sodom anymore.  Tyre and Sidon are not Jewish cities.

But these three cities are well-known because of their wickedness. I think many of you would have heard about Sodom, isn't it?  Sodom and the other city is Gomorrah, Sodom and Gomorrah. They are the well-known sin cities of the Bible.  That's where there were rampant homosexuality, interesting that we're talking about 377A in Singapore, but it is where there's rampant homosexuality and that's where God burned up the entire city because it was a city steeped in sin.

So you have these two pairs or two triplets of cities, the modern city of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum and then the former cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom. Sodom is bad, but let me tell you, Tyre is not that far off. Tyre and Sidon are also wicked cities and there's something I want you to find out for yourself. How bad is Tyre? Really, how bad is Tyre?  Well, you read about the king of Tyre and you know what kind of a king he is?  Who is the king of Tyre? Not Michelin, the tire man, but the, the … what's the king of Tyre? The king of Tyre is recorded for us.  A description of him is given to us in Ezekiel 28.

So I like you to read Ezekiel 28 verses 12 to 18. I'm not putting this up on the screen. I like you to read the Bible for yourself, alright. I really think it's a helpful thing when you come to service on Sunday, when you're listening to the preaching of God's Word, don't just read off here.  This is for easy reference. But I think you should have solid references in your own Bible.  You read your own Bible and you check your own Bible. So I like you to have some little discovery for yourself. Ezekiel 28 verses 12 to 18 there is a wonderful, not wonderful, it's, it's a, I think quite stunning discovery when you read it for yourself.

Clearly, Ezekiel 28 verse 12 to 18 is talking about the king of Tyre.  But at the very same time, it's not just about the king of Tyre, it has some reference to someone else.  And that someone else is … wah, you all don't have Bible? And that someone else is?  Lucifer or Satan. I think the description there, is way beyond a description of the king of Tyre alone. Yes, it is about him, but I think the king of Tyre is a kind of a type, a kind of a picture of Satan himself. He was the cherub in the garden of Eden. In other words, I think Scripture is portraying the king of Tyre as someone so wicked, he is a picture of Satan himself.

So Tyre, I think, you could say is a wicked city. So the whole point Jesus is making here is, you have three modern cities you are familiar with, where I have performed many miracles, I've been preaching the Gospel of the kingdom.  And then you have three wicked terrible cities of time past.  Based on just the wickedness alone, which set do you think deserves a greater judgment?  The modern cities of CBC, let's keep it that way or the, or the wicked cities of TSS.

I mean, it's just a mouthful, pardon me.  Which set, CBC or TSS deserves greater punishment? CBC, kiam chye char loti.  Why, why do you say CBC?  I thought I was trying to labour the point that …  no, it's TSS.  But you're absolutely right, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum deserves greater punishment. Why? Why?  I mean they are not known to be terrible cities, the, the, the three others are.

But why? Well, Jesus says, “Woe to you, Chorazin, woe to you, Bethsaida, Capernaum.”  Do you think you will be exalted to heaven simply because you have Jesus performing miracles there?  No, you will be brought down to Hades. Now the word, ‘Hades’ there, is not hell.  It's not Gehenna, which is the word for hell. It's Hades, and Hades refers to the Jewish concept of Sheol, which is the place of the departed dead. So that's where dead people go to.

Now, for further details, you can read a little bit on Luke 16.  You have Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man is suffering, torment in, in this place and then you have Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. By the way, whether it's Abraham's bosom or the suffering place, they are both the two parts of this place called, Sheol or Hades. No one is in hell yet, hell is when the devil and his minions and unrepentant sinners go to, after the great white throne judgment later on. But right now, all dead people, who do not believe in Jesus they are tormented in the terrible place, in Hades.

“So, Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, woe to you, because you're going to suffer. In fact, it is more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon, it's less severe for them. It is severe, it is very severe, but in comparison to Capernaum and Chorazin and Bethsaida, Tyre and Sidon and Sodom is going to suffer less. In fact, Sodom might have remained until this day.

Matthew 11:21-23
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

You say, “Why?” “I thought they were wicked cities.” They were wicked, but Jesus said this, dropped this bombshell, as it were.  “For if the mighty works done in you, If I had performed the same miracles in Tyre and Sidon and Sodom, the same miracles that I did before you, at least the people there would have repented long ago. You guys are so hardened in unbelief, in evil, wicked unbelief that you deserve the hotter parts of Hades for your rejection of the King.”

We often think that people who deserve greater punishment, are people who murder and rape and steal, out there. And we think that churchgoers who wear nice suits, comb nice hair, drives, drive fancy cars and attends service, week after week, we will be fine. We think that because we are moral, we will be fine. Let me tell you, based on this passage, people who grow up in church, who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, week after week after week after week will suffer more in Hades and subsequently in hell, than those who do not get to hear the Gospel, if they should reject Jesus ultimately.  Because with greater light comes greater responsibility.  With greater knowledge and awareness of who Jesus is, comes greater culpability if you should reject Jesus Christ.

You see this is the point, rejecting Jesus is really damning.  You would have thought, Sodom should be the ultimate, should face the ultimate punishment.  But no, you may look moral, you may have seen Jesus, you may have heard Jesus.  But if in your heart, you have never repented and believed in Jesus, your punishment is unimaginable. Rejecting Jesus is damning.  You must repent.

So I want to say, “Please take care of how you listen to the Gospel today.” Do you know that the fact that you're here and you're listening, raises the stakes for your life? I hope you realize that the same sun that melts wax, can be the same sun that hardens the clay. The same light of the Gospel today, can be a real blessing to your heart when you should repent and believe in Jesus Christ.  Or it can damn you to greater judgment if you should harden your heart. Take care how you listen, because rejecting Jesus is damning.  You must repent.

Now then, I feel, that if I were to stop the sermon here, it will be criminal too. Because I need to explain at least what does Jesus mean.  What does the Bible mean when we say, repent? What is repentance?

I like to give you one minute, right now to, for you to jot down, what is your understanding of the word repentance? I think it's helpful, I, I, I am not ask you to jot know to show anyone.  This is to jot down for your own consumption. You write in down why.  Because it forces you to really exercise your mind on, what do I really know and understand about repentance.

And when you're able to write it down and I hope later on, as we seek to explain this word from the Scripture, you will remember this much better.  Because when your mind is exercised on it and engaged on it, you retain it much better.  And I think this is so important, I really hope, you will take time right now to think about it.  One minute, that's all.

It's really important, I, I, to me this is a sermon, this, this is a message that is really important. That's why I got my kids, I made sure they attended service earlier this morning to, to understand what repentance is all about.  Because I can share the Gospel with them, I can tell them about Jesus and so on, but if they don't understand repentance, they don't really understand what it means to believe the Gospel.

I, I think repentance is the first word of the Gospel. John and Jesus went around preaching this, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And we must not walk away thinking, the Christian life or the receiving of the Gospel is just these words called, “Believe Jesus, accept Jesus, receive.” Sure, it involves that but there's something that comes before and that is repent. We need to repent and believe the Gospel.

So, crucial to understand, repent or repentance.  This is such an important word. For the past few months and for the next few months, the shepherds of our church, shepherds in our church are people who are actively pastoring congregations. So we have pastor Chee keen for the Chinese congregation, Pastor Sinon, Filipino congregation, Simon in our youth, er in our children's ministry, Yu Fei, in our youth ministry. We also have brother Jacob, Pastor Jacob in our, in the Telegu ministry. We gather on a weekly basis and for the past few months and the next few months, we have been working on a simple paper that explains our doctrinal position.

And this is because there have been people writing in to us and asked us, “What's your doctrinal position?” And we say, “Well, you can refer to our Constitution.” But it's really quite short, just 11 statements or so.  Or we can divert them or direct them to our sermons on YouTube, but that's too long.

So we thought we should have a simple article or simple paper that really explains our doctrinal position, not trying to be controversial, trying to be helpful.  And we call this our catechism. The word, ‘catechism’ sounds scary, like catacombs or something like that.  But catechism is really a simple way of instruction, where you have a question and then you have an answer.  That's all.

So for example, what is the Bible? Then, we have a paragraph.  Who is God? We have a paragraph. What is sin?  We have a paragraph.  Just some simple way of teaching that you could even use for your own kids. I would want to use that for my kids in time to come, when it's ready.  And so in catechism paper preparation, we have to answer one of the questions which is this -  what is repentance? Have you got the answer?  I've bought you a lot of time.

Well, this is what I think repentance is.  Repentance is recognizing and grieving over one's sin, forsaking it and turning to God. Wah, sounds like a mouthful, very long.  But let me break it down for you. Let me say this again.  Okay, would you say this with me?  Alright, 123, repentance is recognizing and grieving over one's sin, forsaking it and turning to God.

So, part one, repentance is recognizing our sins. Psalm 32:5 tells us, “I acknowledged my sin to you and I did not cover my iniquity, I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”

Repentance begins with recognizing, acknowledging, not denying, not making excuses for our sins. You might have excused yourself in the past.  You might have said, “Oh, that's no big deal!  Everybody does it anyway.” Or you might have said, “It is not wrong, as long as nobody is hurt by it.” “Oh, but my friends do it anyway.” So that mindset of excusing yourself is changed and now you admit, you acknowledge, you recognize your sins.  That is what we say is the meaning of repentance.

The word there is ’metanoea’, which is a change of your mind.  Instead of excusing yourself, instead of brushing it off, you admit to it.  You acknowledge it, you recognize that is wrong.  That is sinful.  That is odious.  That is hideous before a Holy and Good God.

Now, it's very sad, I would say, that there is a church here in Singapore, the, I think it's the biggest church in Singapore now, in terms of numbers. To them, they teach repentance in this way, they say, “Yah, repentance is metanoia.  Repentance is a change of mind, but it's a change of mind from thinking negatively to thinking positively.”

But that is not repentance! That's just psychology! Nothing to do with being depressed or anxious.  No!  Repentance is seeing sin, the way God sees it now. “I used to excuse my sin, but now I have a change of mind.  I'm seeing sins, my sins, the way God sees it.  And it's not because I've been just caught by the police.  It's not just because of the consequences of sin, but I really see sin for its sinfulness.”

What is repentance?  stage I, step one -  you recognize it.  You admit it.  You confess it.  You do not excuse yourself from it.

Step two, it is to grief. If recognizing is intellectual, grieving is emotional. There will be an emotional response to your sin if you really see it the way God sees it. You will grieve over your sin and that's what we see in 2Corinthians 7:10-11. There will be a godly grief.  You're broken in your heart because you have grieved your Father in Heaven . You are saddened not because you are caught, you are sadden because you have done wrong before a God who loves you so much and gave His Son for you.

2 Cor 7:10-11
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation … what earnestness this godly grief has produced.”

I have two boys and often times in discipline, we aim towards repentance.  And my older son, well, I must first admit that I tend to nag when I scold them. Keep saying the same thing and you cannot do this do this anymore, you should not do this anymore, that is wrong, that is sinful...... And my older son has, has come up with a strategy.  And he doesn't want to argue with me, he doesn't want explain anything.  And so when I say he's wrong, he says, “Okay.” And he looks a bit sad.  “Okay.”

“Shawn, you cannot do this anymore.” “Okay.”  But the next moment, Matthias calls him to do something, Shawn will “hee, hee, hee,hee.” When I see that, I know absolutely he is unrepentant. Why? I thought he said, “Okay.” Oh, that was only here [referring to head] but not here[referring to heart]. Is that real repentance?   Not a chance. He just wanted to get away from daddy from scolding him. Real repentance involves an emotional aspect of grief.

But stage 3, not only is this intellectual, not only is this emotional. I think there's a practical dimension to it and that is seen in the forsaking of sin.  In other words, there's a practical change in your life. Agree? If someone is really repentant, will he keep doing what he's doing? No, he will change.  He will drop what he was doing previously.  There will be a forsaking of sin. Now, this is so clear to John the Baptist. John is the one who preached what? Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And this is what he adds on, he doesn't only say, “Oh, just acknowledge your faults, oh, just be sorry for it.”

He says, Luke 3, verse 8, “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” The practical dimension of real repentance. If your heart is so caught up with the glory of God, the odiousness of sin, you sure would say, “It's wrong.”  You sure will be grieved over it.  And you sure will now start to avoid it. So prove it with your life.  Prove it with your actions.  Prove it in practice.  Verse 9, “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire.” Why?  Because it never repents.  If there is no fruit, you have not repented.  You deserve judgment.  Get that?

So you say, “Oh, then what are the evidences?”  Well, John tells us wherever has two tunics, two pieces of clothing, is to share with him who has none.”  [Luke 3:11] Because in those days, clothings are not just for beauty, it's really to protect you from the cold.  It's a necessary thing. You have been grabbing from people in the past, you have been fleecing people in the past.

But if you truly repent, you know that is wrong, show it by your generosity.  Instead of grabbing, be giving. That's how you show it. That's how He says to the tax collectors, “If you really repent and collect no more than you're authorized to do.” [Luke 3:13]  Show your repentance by the change of your life, change of direction. He says to the Roman soldiers, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation and be content with your wages.” [Luke 3:14]

So it's very clear, biblically speaking, repentance is not just NATO, you know what's NATO? No Action, Talk Only. Real repentance is practical.  There will be a clearing of yourselves.  There will be a cleansing of your ways.  There'll be a change of your life.

Now you might be wondering, “Pastor, are you saying that if a man really repent, he will never fall into that sin anymore.” “You say there will be a change in his life, does it mean that he must live in that realm of perfection otherwise he's not really repentant?” I say, “No, I don't think so.” The, the Bible doesn't teach us about sinless perfection but in this church we always say, “It is about sincere progression.”

Let me try to illustrate this, suppose this is me and you. We have been living a life of sin, maybe that sin there is pride, pornography, bitterness, covetousness, worldliness, whatever we may call it. We have been excusing ourselves in time past, we think it's okay to do so.  So we walk this way, we walk towards sin, we, we grow towards sin, we become more and more sinful.

Until one day, we hear the Word of God and the Spirit of God works in us in such a way that we recognize our sin. We now are granted repentance in our hearts, God gave us the grace to repent.  And now number one, I recognize sin. I'm in the wrong, I'm walking in the wrong direction.

Number two, I'm saddened in my heart that this is wrong before God. Number three, what would you do, I'll keep walking there. No..., real repentance is a forsaking of your ways, you turn around. That's right! And now my back faces that sin and instead of walking towards sin, I want to work towards, walk towards God.

But does that mean that I'm always going to walk this way. So senang [easy in Malay language].  No, no, no, no, no, no, let's rewind.  The real walk towards God is more likely [Pastor demonstrates walking 3 steps forward, 2 steps backward, 3 steps forward, 2 steps backward] I'm not tangoing.  I've no idea how to do that.  But I am illustrating something.  What am I illustrating? Tango?  No.

I'm illustrating, three steps forward, two steps back.  Three steps forward, two steps back.  Three steps forward, two steps back.  But you know what? Something has really changed, right? What has really changed?  My direction has totally changed. I may still step back in sin because of the weakness of the flesh, because I'm not absolutely yielded to God at those moments of my life.  But it is certainly different from this [Pastor demonstrating he’s facing sin].

And the renewed man, the Christian man, the born-again man, who has repented, well, you can see that he's going to struggle, but he's going to struggle towards God. He's always falling towards God.  He's going to have his setbacks but he's towards God. This is I think what it means, it is not about sinless perfection but sincere progression - forsaking of your sins.

In a school, in a Sunday class, Sunday school class, the teacher asked, “What is repentance?”   And one little boy says, “It is being sorry for your sins, Teacher.” “Very good answer.” But another girl says, “Teacher, repentance is being sorry enough to stop.”  And I think that's a better answer. Repentance is about recognizing, grieving and forsaking.  It's about U-turn - in your mind, in your heart, in your life.  Get that?

And then finally, the last component is a turning to God. Real repentance is only possible when you realize, you can turn to God. There's this Chinese saying, “回头是岸” [huí tóu shì àn].  You know what it means? Filipino brethren, 回头是岸, what does it mean? In other words, when you turn back, you will go back to the shore.  You will be safe in the shore.

Let me tell you something about God. He's a shore that is still willing to welcome you.  That's why you can turn. The Bible tells us of a God who is gracious and merciful and forgiving.  Because if the Bible doesn't tell us that God is gracious and merciful and forgiving, no one would ever turn.  Because you don't know when you will ever arrive.  You will not arrive!

But because the Bible describes God as a God of mercy, of forgiveness, of grace.  We, who have blown it in our lives, can turn back and come to a good God.   And that's why Acts 26:30 in essence is saying, “They should repent and turn to God.” Why? Because God will receive sinners.

This is the amazing news of the Bible - God will receive sinners. God is not here to save good people. There is no good people in the first place. And if you're truly good, you do not need to be saved.  But God saves one and all, who are willing to repent and believe. God saves sinners. So that's why the Bible calls you and I, “Repent.  Repent.”

Turn back because God is love. God is gracious. God has given the Gospel, which is the Good News of Jesus Christ dying and rising to save you from your sins. Turn from your sin back to God, believe the Gospel.  And that's why I say to you, “You cannot really have the Gospel if you don't understand the message of repentance.”

People go to church today, thinking that the Gospel, the message of the Bible is about freedom from anxiety and depression and having a good life.  No!  It's about turning from sin to God through Jesus Christ who gave His life for you.

Oh, this turning to God, I say to you, is necessary for you to, to be saved.  But this sorrow for sin does not earn you salvation.  Let's be very clear. It's not my, my sadness that earns salvation. I think Augustus Toplady describes it very well in the song, “Rock of Ages”. “Could my tears forever flow, these for sin could not atone.”

All the tears of sorrow I have, cannot wash away my sin. No, there is no merit in my tears.  But the merit is all in Jesus Christ. “You must save and You alone.” Oh, repentance doesn't save you, Jesus does. But you need to repent and believe in Jesus, to be saved.

So James Montgomery Boice, he says, “Repentance presupposes that our lives are off course and we need to turn them around, but it also points us in the direction of the Saviour, who alone is able to make atonement for our sins.” It's Jesus who saves, but you need to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

So brothers and sisters, friends, what is repentance? Repentance is recognizing and grieving over one's sin, forsaking it and turning to God. Can you remember this? It's an intellectual, emotional, practical and directional reality.  That's what real repentance is. It's what repentance looks like, that's what it should look like, when even a Christian sins against God. And we say, “We want to repent.”  Same, same, I'm not going to excuse myself.  I'm going to admit my wrong.  I'm going to be broken over my sin. I want to stop those sinful behaviours.  Not that I'm going to stop them completely but my direction is different, and there will be progression.

That's how I know my heart was sincere about it and I'm fleeing to Jesus for forgiveness.  Knowing that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9]

“Woe to you Chorazin, woe to you Bethsaida.” [Matt 11:21] The word, ‘woe’ is a word of lament, of sorrow, of pity. It's so sad!  That's what Jesus is saying.  I'm, I'm picturing Him, Him shaking His head. It's so sad! So tragic! That you should have seen all My works, you have heard my preaching and you won't repent.  So sad!

Folks, if you should be in Gospel Light till the day you die and you won't repent, it will be more tolerable for the murderers and the rapists and the thieves out there.  Because if they had heard the Gospel, they might have and would have repented long ago. Why would you want to be like the little children in the marketplace - stubborn, rebellious and contrary? What else do you want?  The Gospel, God calls you to repent.

I hope today, you will not just hear about the message of repentance.  You will not just say, “Wow, that's great! I understand repentance now.”  But that you will actually repent. JC Ryle, he says, “Let us settle in our minds that it will never do to be content with merely hearing and liking the Gospel.” There are many people today who like the Gospel, they say “Yah,  the Gospel is a good, good saying.  It sounds cool.  It's nice.”  No, we must go further than that. We must actually repent and be converted. This is what Jesus is saying, “Rejecting Jesus is damning.  You must repent!”

Let's bow for a word of prayer together. The hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings great responsibility to the hearer.  Because one day, God is going to judge men and women with regards to how they have responded to His Good News.  How men and women have responded to His offer of forgiveness and reconciliation.

One day, multitudes, millions will stand before the Almighty God.  And God will say to them, “Didn't I give you My message of reconciliation and you spurned it.  You spat on My face and you will not turn. Therefore, it will be more tolerable for those who have not heard the Gospel than for you. We are not going to get away with anything before the Omniscient God.  And He will judge all sins, including the sin of rejecting His Son.

But friends, I hope this will be none of you at all.  There's no greater desire for me than that every single one of you right here, that you, you who are listening to this, you will not just like the Gospel, but you will actually repent and believe. You would ask God to show you the gravity and the hideousness of your sin.  And that you will repent and stop making excuses for yourself.  And then you will realize and you will receive and you will rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for you.

O, come back to God.  Today, come back to God, won't you? Repent, U-turn.  Come back to your Saviour.  Come back to your Creator.  Come back to God through Jesus Christ. The Bible is all about Jesus Christ because He's the One who died and paid for all your sins.

Dear friends, please repent and believe the Gospel today.  Jesus paid it all. All, all, all, He paid it all.  God is gracious to receive you.  He will receive you, if you will only turn.

I want to speak today to my brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow Christians.  Please, if you're living in sin, struggle on, but be sure your direction has changed. Three steps forward, sometimes, two steps back, five steps forward, one step back.  That's the Christian life!  But progress, look to God.  Trust in His Spirit.  Be empowered by His grace.  Be joyful in Him, but march on away from sin unto holiness. And I pray this morning, God will call you away from your sinful life and bring you along the path of joy and communion and intimacy with Him as you repent and rest in the Gospel day by day.

Father, we thank You today for Your Word, so much has been spoken.  But I pray this will not just be an intellectual exercise, but there will be real repentance and salvation today. There will be a real repentance and alignment with God today. Thank You for Jesus, O God, without whom none of these things are to be spoken.  But because He is real and He has accomplished all that is necessary on the cross, we speak with joy and confidence as what the Chinese would say, 回头是岸. Repentance is truly the way back to safety and joy in Him. Thank You, we pray all this now in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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