Repentance Necessary to be a Christian

Written By: Evangelist Lester Roloff  |  Posted: Friday, October 7th, 2011

            Every man must repent of his sin. What is repentance? John the Baptist told the people to bring forth fruit meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8). I want to say this to my preacher brethren. I really mean this. We ought not to be too hasty in getting them to join the church, if they haven't repented. It doesn't hurt for them to prove their faith for awhile. It doesn't hurt for them to prove that they have been saved by the grace of God and their lives are changed. John said, "Bring forth some fruit meet for repentance." What are the fruits?

            Number one would be a new heart and a new start. You'll become new. The Bible says that "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). One fruit of that experience ought to be restitution. I believe we ought to make right what we can make right. What if I was staying with a group of preachers and one of them stole my wallet while I was sleeping? The next day he comes up to me and tells me he is terribly sorry and asks me to forgive him. I would be glad to hear that he is sorry for stealing my wallet, but I would certainly want and expect more than that from a repentant thief. I would want my wallet back! I don't believe he has really repented unless he brings my billfold back. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE REPENTED UNTIL YOU GET RIGHT AND SAY, "LORD, I'M GOING TO LIVE DIFFERENT FROM NOW ON," AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU WILL LIVE DIFFERENT.

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