Why Chick Tracts Preach Repentance 1. Jesus Preached It From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. – Matthew 4:17 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. – Mark 1:14-15 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. - Luke 13:3, 5 2. The Twelve Apostles Preached It And they went out, and preached that men should repent. – Mark 6:12 3. Peter Preached It Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent…. – Acts 2:37-38 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 3:19 4. Paul Preached It And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent – Acts 17:30 Jesus preached it, What Repentance Is Not 1. Repentance Is Not the Fruits. Repent AND Bear Fruit Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. – Luke 3:8 2. Repentance Is Not the Conversion. Repent AND Be Converted 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 3:19 3. Repentance Is Not Prayer to God. Repent AND Pray Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. – Acts 8:22 4. Repentance Is Not Faith toward Jesus. Repent AND Believe Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. – Acts 20:21 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God – Hebrews 6:1 5. Repentance Is Not Doing Good Works. Repent AND Do Good Works Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. – Revelation 2:5 Repentance: What God Says about It 1. What God the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) Said Repent That Ye Might Believe For 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. - Matthew 21:32 Sinners Need to Repent I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. – Luke 15:7 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. – Matthew 9:13 We Must Preach Repentance among All Nations And said unto them, 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 2. What God Said through Peter Israel Must Repent Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. – Acts 5:31 3. What God Showed the Apostles and Brethren in Jerusalem Gentiles Must Repent When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. – Acts 11:18 4. What God Said through Paul Everyone Everywhere Must Repent And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent - Acts 17:30 Jews & Gentiles Must Repent AND Believe. This Is “All the Counsel of God” And how I 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. … For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.– Acts 20:20-21, 27 God’s Goodness Leads People to Repent Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? – Romans 2:4 Godly Sorrow Leads People to Repent For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. – 2 Corinthians 7:10 Repentance AND Faith Are the Foundation Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God – Hebrews 6:1 What Are Good Works? Good Works are what follow salvation 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. So God ordained that those saved by grace through faith should walk in good works. Good works do not save us; but God did ordain us to walk in good works. What Is Faith? What Faith Is Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6 How can we give “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:20-21, 27) and refuse to tell people to repent? If we don’t tell people to repent, we would be disobeying Christ, because He said that “all men everywhere” must repent (Acts 17:30). And Jesus said before He ascended into heaven that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (Luke 24:46-47). This is not a work for salvation. No one can “boast” that his heart was changed by God. Repentance, an act on the heart, accompanies faith and is no more a work than faith itself is. So we at Chick Publications preach “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). |