EXCEPT YOU REPENT YOU SHALL PERISH.

### The Power and Necessity of True Repentance

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." — Luke 13:3 (KJV)

Repentance is the complete turning away from sin—a casting off of all unrighteousness in order to walk in true holiness before God. It is not simply regret or sorrow, but a decisive, unwavering rejection of sin and a turning unto God in sincerity and truth. Repentance is the gateway to salvation, for without it, there is no remission of sin, no cleansing, and no renewal in Christ.

In today's modern church, the strong preaching of repentance has become increasingly rare. Many no longer demand or require genuine repentance before baptism or church membership. Yet, Jesus and His apostles were clear: without repentance, salvation is unattainable. Repentance is not merely suggested—it is required.

### Repentance: A Divine Gift

True repentance is a gift from God. It is the Spirit stirring within a person, bringing about deep remorse, shame, and an utter hatred for the sin that binds them. It is the desperate cry for deliverance from oppression and possession, the profound hunger to be freed from unrighteousness. This kind of repentance does not come casually—it arises through fervent, heartfelt prayer and through strong, uncompromising preaching against sin.

When one truly repents, they do not simply reduce sinful behavior; they completely abandon it. To repent of cigarettes means to forsake all nicotine and the habit of smoking entirely. To repent of lust and pornography is to be wholly delivered from the spirits of perversion, casting out the desire and breaking all ties to such things. To repent of pride and arrogance is to humble oneself before God, seeking true integrity and honesty.

Repentance is a transformation so deep that it affects even the thoughts and imaginations. One does not simply stop committing acts of sin outwardly but begins cleansing the inward man as well. To repent from lust, for example, means rejecting even the inner desires that lead to temptation, submitting every thought to the obedience of Christ.

### The Cost of True Repentance

True repentance is costly. It demands total surrender. To repent of adultery means to leave that sinful relationship entirely. To repent of fornication means to forsake all sexual immorality, embracing holiness in body, mind, and spirit. Repentance from gluttony, drug abuse, and drunkenness means a complete change—not just in consumption, but in the heart that drives such excess.

Jesus and His apostles frequently preached the necessity of sobriety, calling true Christians to live as soldiers of the cross—clear-minded, pure-hearted, and vigilant against sin. The pursuit of holiness requires discipline and dedication; repentance is the first great step in that journey.

### A Call to True Repentance

Repentance is not merely an emotional experience. It is an action, a resolve, a deep and lasting transformation. It is forsaking the world and embracing Christ wholeheartedly. The true evidence of repentance is a life lived in holiness and righteousness—a life no longer entangled in sin.

The church today must return to the strong preaching of repentance, declaring boldly the necessity of turning away from wickedness. Without repentance, salvation remains out of reach. But for those who truly repent, who cry out to God and forsake all unrighteousness, there is grace, mercy, and the power to walk in newness of life.

Repent, therefore, and walk in the purity and strength of Christ—for without repentance, ye shall all likewise perish.

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### Biblical Support for Repentance

#### Scriptures on Repentance:

- Matthew 4:17 (KJV) – "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

- Luke 13:3 (KJV) – "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

- Acts 3:19 (KJV) – "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 2:38 (KJV) – "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

- 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) – "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

#### Scriptures on Preaching Repentance:

- Mark 1:15 (KJV) – "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

- Luke 24:47 (KJV) – "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

- Acts 17:30 (KJV) – "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."

- Acts 26:20 (KJV) – "But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance."