“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.” (2 Peter 3:9)

It is the first step of faith that leads us to salvation and new life in Jesus Christ. That step is a turn from our sin and to Jesus Christ. It is to change our lives from a direction of judgment and to a direction of forgiveness. It is called repentance. On his way back to Jerusalem, Paul met with the elders from Ephesus. He reminded them of their message of Good News brought to them by Jesus Christ. “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:20-21) He speaks of the first step of faith, the turn from sin to Jesus, repentance.

Repentance brings us to Jesus Christ. It produces the desire to see God bring to us all that He has promised through Jesus Christ; it also teaches us of the character of God. God is patient. “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.” (2 Peter 3:9) God’s desire is for everyone to come to repentance. We know that not everyone will, but we have a God who is still waiting for more to come. We are grateful for His patience, because His waiting gave us time to come to Him. “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32)

The promise of God through our repentance, bring us a refreshing because we have now been forgiven. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” (Acts 3:19) Forgiveness refreshes our lives as we have been made new. Repentance also opens the door for the Holy Spirit to come into our lives. Peter’s message at the beginning of the church, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Just as Jesus had promised. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

When we come to God through repentance, it changes us and now our desire is to see others come to God through repentance. We must love them as God has loved us. We are to be patient with them as God has been with us. Our hope for them is that they will be refreshed and receive God into their lives through the presence of the Holy Spirit who will dwell with them forever. All of this can come to them through repentance which brings salvation and new life in Jesus Christ.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block