What is Repentance? Luke 3

                He (John the Baptist) went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

                                                                                           Luke 3:3-8

             What is repentance? First of all what it's not is cleaning up your act and coming to Jesus. The change in behavior is called "the fruit of repentance". It's what results from repentance. To call unbelievers to stop sinning and start living Godly lives is like telling a cat to stop licking itself - it can't be done. It is their nature. This is why John's baptism was insufficient and needed to be supercharged with the baptism being brought by the Messiah, the One he was introducing. The message he was echoing from Isaiah gives us a clue to what repentance is. In days of old when a king was coming to an area he would be preceded by 2 things. First a herald would come announcing the good news that the king was coming. Of course if the people didn't want the king to come this would be bad news and if he wasn't welcomed it would bring judgment on that area. Secondly, a road crew would be sent out to make the road smooth for the king's travel.

            Isaiah's prophecy stated that the messiah, who is indeed God (Lord = Yahweh), was coming and the herald, John the Baptist was preceding Him and the roads needed to be leveled because He is the King. Repentance can be defined as a change of mind that results in a change of direction and behavior. What in the mind has to change? Who is my king needs to change. Are you going to allow God, your maker, your owner, to be king of your life or are you going to remain on the throne. Repentance is saying to God, "I'm sorry for being the king of my life and I surrender control to you."  Mike winger gives this illustration that I like.

When we yield control, the supercharged part of salvation, the baptism spoken of by John the Baptist that the Messiah would bring, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, immerses us and we now have a new nature that enables us to flee sin and live a life that pleases God.

         Have you surrendered control of your life to the King or are you still calling the shots. You need to answer that question because it's a matter of life and death.