"Repent and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:15
A minister spoke to a couple about believing the gospel of Christ. The woman replied, "I've heard the gospel all of my life, but I just can't believe." The minister asked, "Do you know why you cannot believe?" She indicated that she really didn't know. Then, the minister said, "No one can believe the gospel until they repent. That means we change our mind about sin and the gospel of Christ. We admit that we are sinners, and we become willing to accept the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins and He is risen from the dead." The woman said again, "I just can't believe."
The word repent simply means to change your mind. "The goodness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4). The Spirit of God seeks to convince us of our sin that we may turn to God. As we are willing to turn from the sin of unbelief, the Holy Spirit enables us to believe in Christ (John 16:7-11). God is gracious to grant us repentance. He grants "repentance, so that we may know the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25). Jesus said, "I am the truth" (John 14:6). God's goodness enables us to turn from our sin to believe the gospel of Christ.
Do you believe the gospel of Christ? The gospel of Christ is clearly defined in the Bible: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you believe the gospel, thank God for His goodness that led you to repentance. If you believe the gospel, share it with others, then pray that God's goodness will lead them to repentance.
God, grant us repentance to believe the gospel of Christ.
