The Gospel of Repentance

One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, an ancestor of Christ, was King David. He was a murderous adulterer who repented and was blessed by God. There are countless examples of sinful men and women in the Scriptures who repented and were later blessed.

One of the greatest Saints is Saint Paul, a murderous persecutor of the Church, who repented and was blessed to preach the Gospel of Christ to the world. These are but two examples that God lifts up for us to be inspired. We are sinners who need to repent.

IN THOSE DAYS, Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”

Acts 13.13-24

I say this today not to judge you, but to remind you that many holy men and women used to be wretched sinners. All of them repented and were blessed by God. If God could bless them, He can and will bless you. If God can use them to spread His Gospel, He can use you.

Don’t give up on God. He never gives up on you. There is a reason the 50^th Psalm, David’s Psalm of Repentance, is part of our daily prayer life as Orthodox Christians. It wasn’t for glory or riches any of the holy men and women repented. It was because they realized God’s love.

In the Light of God’s love, we can’t help but open our hearts to His grace and forgiveness. Today’s reading is just another example of how God’s love has always been with us. In our sin and disobedience, God has never left us. Is that enough reason to repent? It was for David.

The Gospel of Repentance begins today with your open heart to God. The next step is for you to go to Church and stand before God. Ask Him for grace and forgiveness. Make an appointment for Holy Confession with your spiritual father.

Great blessings come from repentance. History has already proven it. You never know what blessings God has in store for you in your repentance. You never know if He is preparing you to go and preach His Gospel to other. You never know until you repent.

It doesn’t matter ‘how bad’ your sin was. God accepts our repentance as He accepted it from David and Paul, He will accept it from you.