"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2Cor. 7:10)

In the fullness of time when God sent forth His Son into this sin cursed world, He came and preached, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15) This was the beginning of His ministry, that men should repent and believe the gospel. John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Christ, preached the same. "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach[ed] the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Mark 1:4) He said to the people "that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." (Acts 19:4) And many came confessing their sins and were baptized. All throughout Jesus' ministry he preached that men should repent. He said, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mt. 9:13) He said that "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:7). When you were born your mother and father rejoiced. When you were born again the angels were rejoicing in heaven. There is joy in heaven over "one sinner that repenteth." And those of His disciples who believed on him, and whom he chose, he sent out two by two. "And they went out, and preached that men should repent." (Mark 6:12)

After Jesus' death and resurrection he told his disciples, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47) This is what Peter did. He preached Jesus of Nazareth, crucified and risen from the dead, and that this same Jesus is both Lord and Christ, who was now ascended into heaven and exalted to the right hand of the Father. "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." (Acts 2:38) A short while later he preached again in the temple saying "the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up . . . And killed . . . whom God hath raised from the dead . . . But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:13-19).

Peter preached repentance. He said that the Lord is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) Paul preached repentance. After his "heavenly vision" he was sent to the Gentiles "to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins" (Acts 26:18) He said "that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (Acts 26:20) To the elders at Ephesus he gave an account of his ministry to them saying that he "kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:20-21) On another of his missionary journeys he found himself in the city of Athens and he beheld that the city was wholly given to idolatry, and "he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection." (Acts 17:18) He told them of the Creator who "made the world and all the things therein" (v 24), and that "they should seek the Lord" (v. 27), and concluded that God "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (v.30-31)

From the above verses we can see that repentance is quite an important doctrine, especially for these last days when the church is in apostasy. John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus preached repentance, his disciples preached it, He commanded his apostles to preach it, Peter and Paul preached repentance, and today we need to preach it. Many today think that they can make some private little confession of faith, and go on living their old lifestyle without repenting of their sins. They are only deceiving themselves. Perhaps the church is deceived in thinking it is not necessary to preach repentance, but to just get their converts to repeat some little prayer of faith and that's their ticket to heaven. Christ says "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

Where does repentance come from?

Upon hearing such a fearful exhortation by Christ, it should cause one to inquire into such a doctrine and ask a few questions such as, From whence does repentance come? We need look no further than the scriptures for the answer. God now commands all men everywhere to repent, to turn from their wicked ways, and has therefore exalted Jesus Christ with his right hand "to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5:31) God has also "to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18)  Repentance is something that is given or granted, and both Jew and Gentile are included in this work of grace.  The apostle Paul says that it is "the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4).  We see that it is purely God's goodness that leads mankind to repentance, but we might ask, how then does God lead mankind to repentance? We know that it is through the conviction and leading of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-15), but we also read from the scriptures that God will use faithful servants for such a task. "The servant of the Lord must . . . In meekness [instruct] those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they many recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Tim. 2:24-26) The servant of the Lord is to instruct, and that instruction is to come from the Word of God which is "profitable . . . for instruction" (2Tim. 3:16). His servants are to have their "loins girt about with truth", and are to use the "sword of the Spirit" to cut them loose from the deadly snare that they are entangled therein. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2Cor 10:4).

What is Repentance?

Another question that we might consider of course is What is repentance? We have found that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance, but what is this repentance that He leads us to? I believe a simple understanding of the word may help us. The word repentance comes from the Greek word metanoia, which is derived from two Greek words, meta meaning change, and noia, which means mind. It is a change of mind. It is a change of mind toward self, toward sin, toward God, and toward Christ. It is a change of mind where you think differently about something. True repentance is where you come to the place that you agree with God. Understanding that you are a hopeless sinner, deserving of God's justice, and in need of a Saviour, one becomes a candidate for believing the gospel, the Good News, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and rose from the dead. It is said of him who repents and puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that "he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2Cor. 5:17)

Isaiah says "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7) Ezekiel says, "Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations." (Ezekiel 14:6) "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die . . . I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." (Ezekiel 18:30-31) It is a turning to God for salvation. "Look [Turn] unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. . . there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." (Isaiah 45:22, 21)

It is an acknowledging and confessing sin to the Lord. The prophet Jeremiah said to the children of Israel, "Turn, O backsliding children . . . and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God" (Jer. 3:12-14) Such was the case with the publican who "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13)

John the apostle said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9) Solomon said "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Prov. 28:13)

Fruits of Repentance

True repentance brings forth fruit. John the Baptist came "to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe." (John 1:7) He preached that men should repent and believe on Him who was to come after him, that is, on Jesus Christ. He said "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Mt. 3:8). Paul preached the same, that men "should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (Acts 26:20) John baptized with the baptism of repentance those who came forth confessing their sins. Jesus told the scribes and the Pharisees "John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." (Mt. 21:32) Because they would not repent, they could not believe. One can not truly believe without repentance. True repentance flows from a heart that is sorry for sin, and results in a change of action, that is, works meet for repentance. You will recall the man who told his son, Go work today in my vineyard, and he said, "I will not: but afterward he repented, and went." (Mt. 21:29)The fruit of repentance was his obedience to his fathers command. It results in a new heart, and frankly speaking, I can not see your heart and you can not see mine, that is God's territory. But what your neighbor does see is your works, and he sees mine.

James asks the question "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (James 2:14) You see there is what may be called a "dead faith" that proceeds from an empty profession without true repentance. This type of faith "if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) Now when James says "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (v. 24), he is not contradicting Paul when he says "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28) Or, "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5) Paul is speaking vertically, that is justification before God. Man is justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, in the sight of God. James on the other hand is speaking horizontally, that is, justification before men. James says, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18) James says, "a man may say", "shew me", "I will shew thee". He says to his neighbor, you shew me and I will shew you. Man can not see faith but by his works. That is justification before men, as man sees it. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:16) A dead faith without works is no faith at all, just an empty profession. Even the devils believe and tremble. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26) It is a dead faith, not a living faith.

The Bible says that "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:8-10) Paul wrote to Titus and said that Christ "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14) But at the same time he would tell us to "affirm constantly" that salvation is "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5-7) On this same note, this "faithful saying", they were also to affirm constantly "that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." (Titus 3:8) It is "repentance from dead works . . . to serve the living God". (Heb. 6:1, 9:14)

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

True repentance proceeds from a godly sorrow for sins committed. It is agreeing with God and results in a hatred towards sin. Paul wrote the church at Corinth and said, "For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (2Cor. 7:8-11)

The Corinthian church for the most part consisted of Gentiles who were carried away unto dumb idols (1Cor. 12:2), and God used the apostle Paul to lead many of them to repentance and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote his first epistle to them and graciously reproved them for some of their many errors, including their toleration of an incestuous person within the fellowship. After the writing of his first epistle to them, he heard a report from Titus who had some communication with them, that they were made sorry with such a letter, and that their earnest desire was to turn from their sin and to obey Paul's exhortation.
In this Paul did rejoice. It was a great comfort and encouragement to him, not in the fact that they were made sorry, but that the Corinthians were made sorry after a godly manner, that is, they sorrowed to repentance. And what was the result of their repentance? What effect was wrought in them? What was the evidence that proceeded as a result of such genuine or sincere repentance? Or what fruit did it bring forth? Paul mentions seven things that was a result of their repentance.

1.  It brought forth great "carefulness" in them. Paul said "For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things." (2Cor. 2:9) Paul was desirous to see the fruits of salvation working in them. And they were careful to obey the commandment of Paul to practice church discipline, and were diligent to cast out the incestuous person (1Cor. 5:1-13, 2Cor. 2:6-8) from communion with them, and would not tolerate evil in the fellowship.

2.  They were quick to "clear themselves" in the matter by such action, which expressed their disapproval and abhorrence of such a sin. They would not be partakers of such a heinous sin, nor turn an eye to cause it to fester and infect the whole fellowship.

3.  "What indignation" did they have, not only against the persons sins which disgraced the church, but against their own sin for tolerating such wickedness for a season, and not confronting the guilty party sooner that they might clear themselves before God and purge out the leaven.

4.  What "fear" was wrought in them of God, and of Paul His minister who could come to them with the rod rather than with love and in meekness (1Cor. 4:21). And what fear that the corruption would spread and infect the whole church. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

5.  What "vehement desire" they had to do that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, thereby honoring God, and respond to Paul's pleas to keep themselves from evil. What passion they had to be restored back to fellowship, not only with Paul but to God.

6.  What "zeal" they had for that which is right and according to knowledge, honoring God with just judgment, not only for the benefit of the sinner but of the body as a whole, by not becoming lax or lukewarm and so be spit out of the mouth of God, or have their candlestick removed.

7.  What "revenge" in giving sin its proper place, that is, separated from the fellowship of the saints, that they might maintain a good testimony before the world, and keep their light from becoming darkness.

In this matter they did become approved of the apostle Paul and of God and were clear in this matter, and found true repentance for their slothfulness, which effect we have seen, proving themselves, that they did not consent to such sin by their silence as men pleasers do, but showed no respect for persons, and judged the sin, dealing with it properly, proving themselves to be lovers of God and of his laws and statutes. All of this Paul could rejoice in, which leads to forgiveness of sin, and cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Paul spoke all these things for their edifying, for he loved this church very much, and showed much compassion towards them. He desired to present them to Christ as a chaste virgin, without spot or blemish. Although the Corinthians were zealous to repent of this incident, they were not perfect and had their problems. By the way, you will not find a perfect assembly this side of heaven. But Paul was afraid that when he would come to them, that he would not find them as he would like. He said, "For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed." (2Cor. 12:20-21) So he would encourage them saying "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2Cor. 7:1)

Counting the Cost

Just as Paul told the Corinthians that a "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of", he alsotold them that there was another type of sorrow,  "the sorrow of the world [that] worketh death." (2Cor. 7:10) It is a sorrow, not of sins committed against God, but of circumstance, and self pity, and does not lead to a living faith in Christ Jesus.  We have a most excellent comparison of these two sorrows in the first chapter of the Book of Ruth, and may be contrasted between Orpah and Ruth, the daughters in law of Naomi.

The story begins down yonder in the land of Beth-lehem-judah where famine had stricken the land. And a certain man named Elimelech who took his wife Naomi and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to dwell in the land of Moab and they continued there. In time Elimelech died. Naomi's sons took them to wife daughters of Moab, but Mahlon and Chilion died, and Naomi was left with her two daughters in law, Ruth and Orpah. When Naomi heard that the famine was over in Judea, she decided to leave Moab and return to her homeland. She rose up with her daughters in law to return but told her daughters in law that they would be far better off in returning to their mothers house. "Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept." (Ruth 1:9) The three of them stood there on the road of decision as they wept, but "They said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people." (v. 10) Notice that both Orpah and Ruth expressed to Naomi that they would return with her to her people. And what was Naomi's response? Did she say, Well come along then girls, let's get going? No! She began to count the cost with them. You see, Moabites, were regarded as the enemies of the people of Israel and were not welcome, as they were commanded by God that they should not intermarry nor mingle with them. What future would they have but that of rejection.

Now there was a law that if a man died, his brother was to redeem the wife of the deceased to marry her, that his seed would continue, but Naomi had no more sons. And if she was to find husband and have other sons, would they tarry for them? They would be far to old by then. She told them that life would not be easy for them back in the land of Judea,  and that all they would have to look forward to was rejection, so she encouraged them to return back to their people.

Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27) Jesus said, You want to follow me? If you do, I want to tell you where we are going, we are going to a place outside the camp called Calvary. There is a cross there, and I am going to be nailed to it. Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:28-30) He would say, "every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Mt. 7:26-27) He said "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) He may be likened to the man who received the seed in stony places, "the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." (Mt. 13:20-21) "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33) He would tell His disciples, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." (John 15:18-20) In short, He said "In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Do you really want to identify with the "cursed one" (Gal. 3:13)? Have you counted the cost? I want to tell you that salvation is a free gift, but its going to cost you something. It may mean the loss of friends, or family, perhaps your job, the loss of prestige. It may result in the whole world turning on you and persecuting you?

Naomi got her daughters in law to count the cost, "And they lifted up their voice, and wept again" (v. 14).There was a lot of crying going on that day, there was much weeping, there was much sorrow for the three of these ladies. Then we read "Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her." And Naomi said, "Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods" (v. 15). This is a worldly sorrow that leads to death. Orpah is a type of apostate Christianity today, where there is no repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is like Pharaoh who told Moses "I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." (Exodus 9:27) But there was no repentance. He did not let the people of Israel go. It was just an empty profession and resulted in the death of the firstborn of Egypt.

It is like Judas, who when he saw that Jesus was condemned, "repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." (Mt. 27:3-5) We have here a confession, but not to the right persons. He did not confess his sin to God and to Christ for pardon and cleansing, but to the chief priests and elders. Nor did we see him confessing his sins over the scapegoat, which was anti-typical of Christ. It was not a godly sorrow for sin as committed against God that leads to repentance. It was a worldly sorrow which ends in death as it did in him.  Judas never did believe (John 6:64, 70-71). He may have rubbed shoulders with the disciples of Christ, but did not repent of his covetousness (John 12:6), and "ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" (Jude11), and betrayed the Lord with a kiss (Mt. 26:47-50). Oh the sad estate and the end of one who will not repent, and turn to Christ for pardon and cleansing of sin. How awful it is.

Orpah kissed Naomi and departed unto her gods, but Ruth clave unto her. Ruth is a type of the true Church. She said "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:  Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." (Ruth 1:16-17) What a profession of faith. Not like those who told Christ, Let me first go do this or that, then I will follow you. It was not just an empty profession, for in verse 19 we find Ruth back in Bethlehem with Naomi. She turned from her dead religion and idols to serve the Living God. In the end of the story we find that Ruth was redeemed, and married to Boaz who was a type of Christ.

What a contrast to that of Orpah, whom we never hear from again in the pages of Scripture. But in the first chapter of the New Testament we read, "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;  And Jesse begat David the king" (Mt. 1:5-6). What an honor it is to have ones name mentioned in the lineage of the King, namely the King of saints, the Lord Jesus Christ.  "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2Cor. 7:10)

More Examples

We may see many examples in the scriptures of a godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation. Consider the publican who went up to the temple to pray, who apparently was an extortioner, unjust and an adulterer. As he was "standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13) Christ said of him "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified" (v. 14) Ezra would say "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens." (Ezra 9:5-6) Peter after denying the Lord "went out, and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:62)

After the prodigal son had wasted his fathers inheritance and found himself to be in want, "he came to himself" with thoughts of his perishing, and said "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  And am no more worthy to be called thy son" (Luke 15:18-19). And a great way off his father saw him and had compassion, and he fell on his neck, and kissed him, and welcomed him into his house.

It is said of Zaccheus, the chief among the publicans, that "he sought to see Jesus", and when Jesus passed by, he said to Zaccheus, "I must abide at thy house" and he "received him joyfully". "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house" (Luke 19:8-9). Here was godly sorrow that lead to repentance. Zacchaeus was not only sorry for his sin, but brought forth fruit meet for repentance and proved himself by giving half of his goods to the poor and restored to those he had wronged fourfold.

Consider the penitent woman who wept at the feet of Jesus. "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." (Luke 7:37-38) This woman, whose sins were many, sorrowed unto repentance. She knew where to go for pardon and cleansing, and Jesus said, "Thy sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:48) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)

Have you counted the cost of following Jesus. Are you willing repent and believe the gospel? Are you willing to turn from your iniquities? Do you really want to be a disciple of Christ? Are you willing to suffer the loss of all things, even your life? The apostle Paul would say, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 2:7-8). As we stand on the threshold of salvation and count the cost, consider this:

Consider the great price that it cost the Lord Jesus for your salvation. As the Lord Jesus pondered your salvation in eternity, and the Father asked, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" There was a voice that lifted up and said, "Here am I; send me." (Isaiah 6:8) It was the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was in eternity, in the presence of His Father, in all His glory. If we could only understand this. And He chose to come down and identify with sinful man. God came down out of heaven and he came down to the level of man. He came down to my level. And he did this that he might bring man back to God. He was willing to go all the way.  He was "in the form of God, [but] thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:6-7)

He subjected himself to the hands of wicked men and allowed their filthy spit to cover his face. They mocked and scourged him, and they plaited his head with a crown of thorns. They pierced his hands and feet and thrust a spear through his side. This was the worse that man could do, but that was not where our salvation was wrought. It was in those three hours when the world was veiled with darkness that He took upon himself the sin of the whole world, and the wrath of Jehovah was kindled against him. "The floods compassed me about: all thy billows and they waves passed over me. . . I am cast out of thy sight . . . the earth with her bars was about me forever." (Jonah 2) Who knows the waters that went over His soul as he tasted eternal death for every man, but we do know that God did not allow him to see corruption, and He rose from the dead the third day for our justification. The debt for sin was paid in full, that you and I might have eternal life through faith in the atoning blood of Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Have you considered the cost?

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth".  (Jesus Christ)