How Can We Repent?

The very first message of Jesus’ ministry was the urgent demand for repentance. He asked people to repent to enter heaven.

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Then why did he ask for the repentance? It is because without repentance nobody can enter heaven. In other words, repentance is the essential pre-requisite for the person who want to enter heaven. Jesus himself teaches that he came to lead people into repentance.

Luke 5:32 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus himself came to this earth with the purpose of leading the sinners into repentance so that they can enter heaven. Therefore, the most important thing that we have to do to enter heaven is to repent. Then how can we repent and enter heaven?

Mark 1:15 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus taught that believing in the good news or the gospel is the true repentance. Therefore, those who repent must believe in the gospel. As we have seen in many other places, the gospel is the new covenant; the core teaching of the new covenant is the Passover.

Consequently, those who want to repent and go to heaven must keep the Passover the new covenant. We are sinners from heaven and without the forgiveness for the sins we cannot enter heaven. To enter heaven, we have to repent and receive the forgiveness of the sins we committed in heaven.

And Jesus established the new covenant through the Passover. He also promised forgiveness in the Passover.

Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

God wants us to repent and to receive salvation.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God wants us to repent and also he teaches us the way of the repentance. Through the Passover the new covenant God opened the way of repentance and forgiveness so that we can enter heaven. Now let us listen to the message of God and keep the Passover. According to the words of the promise, God will be gracious and grant us the forgiveness of our sins.