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Unless You Repent - Luke 13
Unless You Repent - Luke 13
Twice in Luke 13 Jesus states: "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (3, 5).
John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mark 1:3), and demanded that the people bring forth fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:3, 8).
Paul proclaimed that God now demands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).
Peter wrote that the Lord is "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2Pet. 3:9).
The Spirit said unto the churches "repent!" (Rev. 2:5,16; 3:3, 19).
Jesus, like John before Him, came "proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). He said that He came to call sinners unto repentance (Luke 5:32). He declared woe unto the cities of His day for they did NOT repent (Luke 10:13). He explained that there is joy in heaven over every sinner that repents. He now in Luke 13 declares that unless such sinners repent they will perish.
Such preaching of repentance by Jesus is sadly lacking in today's discussions of what Jesus would or wouldn't do. Most people just assume that Jesus would look at life the same way they do. If THEY find something acceptable, then they proclaim Jesus would also accept it. Sadly today, very few things are NOT acceptable! There is little preaching the gospel of God which demands repentance from sin.
Sexual immorality of all kinds demands repentance. God has graciously provided the marriage relationship for us to enjoy our sexuality in a righteous relationship. “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4, ESV) “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2–3, ESV)
Such marriage was instituted for each man to have his own wife, and each wife her own husband. Such was the nature of marriage for one man and one woman. Such it has been since creation (Matt. 19:4-5; Gen. 2:24).
All other sexual relationships are sinful. We do not do good unto anyone by ignoring such sin in their lives. What would Jesus do? He would demand repentance. Whether it be heterosexual fornication or homosexual fornication, repentance is to be demanded. Unless you repent, you will likewise perish.
Hugh DeLong
