A Publication of Peter Tan Evangelism
© 2005 by Peter Tan Volume 2.4
Repentance: The Key To Everything
When we speak of the subject of repentance, the first thing that most people conjure up in their minds is repentance on personal sin. Even this subject has been twisted by many self righteous people whose understanding of repentance is more a self need to assign punishment than to seek restoration with God. Firstly, repentance is before God and not before men: for all man have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The sins of self righteousness need repentance as much as the sins of breaking the Ten Commandments. It is interesting to note that it is the publican who is forgiven by God and not the self righteous Pharisee (Luke 18:14).
Many also confused between forgiveness and repentance. Repentance is strictly between God and man and never between man and man. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is between both God and man and between man and man. God’s forgiveness is given when it is sought but man’s forgiveness is sometimes never given because of unforgiveness and self righteousness. Those who can’t forgive others might as well not pray because the Lord’s Prayer says that if we do not forgive others for their trespasses, our own sins will not be forgiven (Matt 6:12).
Repentance on the other hand reaches beyond personal repentance. There is a need in these last days to repent for the sins of others. True revival cannot come until we take our places as priests in Christ Jesus and stand in intercession for the sins of others.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, a door was given to the Israelites whenever trouble is in their land. They were to humble themselves and pray and seek God’s face. This is an act of repentance for the sins of their land. Whether or not they were personally responsible was not the issue, the most important fact is that they repent for all the sins in the land. Daniel’s prayer for his people indicates how much he understood the principle of taking personal responsibility for the sins of others (Daniel 9). He confessed that “we have sinned and committed iniquity” even though he has not personally done it (Dan. 9:5).
The highest Christ-likeness we can reach is not just in showing forth the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22, 23). The highest Christ-likeness we can show is in being willing to take the punishment for the sins of others upon ourselves. God must have smiled when Moses offered his own life for eternal damnation on behalf of the rebellious Israelites (Exodus 32:32). It is after that that Scripture make reference to the depth of friendship between God and Moses (Exodus 33:11). Moses was now no longer just a prophet or a leader anointed by God, he was a friend of God. He understood the key of repentance for others.
Those who reach great heights in their relationship with God understand this principle. Paul was willing to offer himself up for eternal damnation if it could save his nation Israel (Rom 9:3). However, in the New Testament, there is no longer any other need of any other sacrifice for Jesus has paid it all on the cross. This then is the great key. For us to personally avail ourselves of the sacrifice of Jesus, we all needed to repent and accept Him into our lives. Although everyone needs to make their own personal decision of personal repentance to accept Christ, we can smooth the way for God to work in the lives of our nations and cities by repenting on behalf of them.
This is the equivalent of “standing in the gap” for others; pleading the blood of Jesus over the lives of our loved ones, cities and nations; becoming a “city of refuge” for others; extending the grace of God on our lives to others, etc. etc. All these principles flow from the same theological understanding of repentance for the sins of others.
In the times that we live in, where prophets are pronouncing judgments on sin and teachers are uncovering the error of our ways, it is so easy to accept and join the many finger pointers in condemning and judging cities, nations and others for their sin. Why are there no men or women of God rising up to pray and repent for the sins in our society, cities and nations? Even Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah.
Instead of just calling for repentance, those in the specific nations experiencing the turmoils and shakings should be repenting for their respective societies and nations. Let the righteous arise and repent for the sinners in their midst.
The next area that most people would ask is “How do I repent for the sins of others?” The following are not formulas but general guidelines:
Accept responsibility for the sins of those around us. The sins of commission by people are due to the sins of omission of those whom God has given the authority to pray for others. The church is the city or nation of their locality and call are responsible for their lack in being the salt of the earth in their domain.
1. Samuel recognised that it was a sin not to have prayed and interceded for his people (1 Sam 12:23).
2. Take your place as a priest and king in Christ Jesus (Rev 1:6). Pray, repent and ask on behalf of your community like Daniel did.
3. Sanctify your selves through the blood of Jesus. Jesus said that he sanctified himself that those who belong to Him might be sanctified (John 17:18). There is a measure of sacrifice and suffering that may be demanded of you (Col 1:24).
4. Pray the Lord’s Prayer for your family, city and nation (Matt 6:9-13). Of course, you need to daily repent for your own sins before you can repent for the sins of others.
All of the evil and imperfections of this life has resulted from sins – sins of our forefathers and the sins of our society. We were born into a world plague by sin and we added to that with our own personal sin. If all the causes and root of sin were removed, all the fullness of God would flow. Jesus has paid the price for all of sin. We need to appropriate it for our personal lives and for the society we live in – through repentance before God.
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