Read aloud Matthew 4:12-17 and Mark 1:14-15. Here is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the foundation built on solid rock. Here is something to ponder: Do we repent of our sins first and then believe in Christ, or do we first believe in Christ and then repent of our sins, or do repentance and belief go together?
What is the Situation?
The devil has given up, abandoning his strategy of compromising Jesus’ lordship by temptation. John the Baptist has been arrested and thrown into prison. Jesus withdraws quietly into Galilee and lives in Capernaum by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, exactly where Prophet Isaiah said long ago that Jesus’ ministry would begin – it is on these people that the light of life now shines:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:1-2).
To Whom is Jesus Speaking?
Based on the reference to the prophet Isaiah, Jesus is speaking to the Jews in general, yet also to the Gentiles, since he has moved out of Jewish territory – to avoid arrest. He has moved into Galilee of the Gentiles, which will become so fertile for the spread of the gospel.
Here is where Jesus begins to preach, saying, “’Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). Mark adds: “’The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:15).
This is Command No. 3.
What Does the Command’s Verb Tense Suggest?
The Greek verbs for “repent” and “believe” are in the continuous sense, which offers an insight into Jesus’ love for us: “Keep on repenting” and “Keep on believing.” Jesus recognizes from the very first moments of ministry that we will fail again and again as humans living in the kingdom of God and tempted by Satan. This speaks directly to the Cycle of Christian Unity: we come over and over again to the fork in the road leading either toward unity with God or disunity from God. The decision point to choose the good fork in the road – repentance – leads us to the never-ending love of God and his forgiveness, made possible by the sacrifice Jesus made for us. So repentance and belief in Christ go together at the fork in the road of life.
The Greek usage for “repent” is “to change one’s way of life as a result of complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness” (Louw & Nida 41.52). Rather than the negative English connotation of sorrow and contrition, the Greek word focuses on total change, both in thought and behavior – a happy, joyful event.
For “believe,” the Greek usage means “to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance” (Louw & Nida, 31.85). There is a strong sense here of not looking back (see Genesis 19:26, where Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt). I believe this is a strong warning not only to repent, but to “believe” in the sense of never looking back to where we came from, where we created the need to repent.
What Is the Overarching Theme of This Command? How Is It Related to Perfect Unity?
If we are to truly pursue perfect unity with God and with each other, we change our way of life, thought process, and attitude regarding sin and righteousness – that is repent. Once we change directions, we must never look back to old habits and attitudes, or we will be drawn right back to the point we started from.
Keep on repenting and changing our lives! Keep on believing by never looking back to where we were!
Discussion
Sometimes the oldest metaphors are the best. What examples of failing but never giving up can you think of? How about learning to ride a two-wheeler bicycle? Can you wobble forward and look back at the same time?
Do you see the word “repentance” as something negative? It is positive. Sin is the negative.
With Jesus, repentance arches right across sin to grace and forgiveness and life everlasting? And belief in Christ makes it possible!