Teshuvah - Repentance

“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30).

When was the last time you heard a sermon on Sin and Repentance? Blaming others for our problems is a propensity that has become popular in some Christian circles. “Sin” and “Repentance” seemingly have been erased from our vocabulary and thinking process. What ever happened to accountability? I’m speaking of accountability to ourselves and especially to God?

“Teshuvah” is the Hebrew term for “Repentance”. Jewish tradition teaches that repentance is motivated by two factors, namely, fear and love. Fear of the punishment from God and love for God. The Scripture is infused with the teaching of repentance and yet very little is said about this important doctrine. Jesus said, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5).

In Luke’s Gospel we find an account of a woman, a “sinner,” who heard that Jesus was near by. We read, “And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash, His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil” (Luke 7:37,38).Please notice that she did not look into the face of our Lord. The awareness of her sin and His holiness was real which motivated her sense of humility. Trembling and weeping, wiping her tears with the hairs of her head she now begins to kiss his feet again and again anointing them with perfume. True repentance brings about genuine affection for God.

Jesus responded to her passion and sincerity as she turned from her sin by stating, “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (verses 48,50).Repentance is turning from sin, changing one’s mind, understanding the necessity of knowing God Just as this dear woman had an acute awareness of her sin and a need for the Savior, we too, must experience repentance that brings about the “New Birth” (John 3:3,7).

The Lord through the prophet Ezekiel (18:30-32) reminds us that we must “Repent, and turn” and “Cast away” our transgressions. Notice the phrases “your transgressions;” “your ruin;” “turn and live.” This is why Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Let us not lose sight of the reality of “Sin” and the need for “Repentance” in this age of “psychobabble.” With the woman in Luke 7 in mind, let us take to heart the truth of our Lord’s words: “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).