356 Repentance - what is it? | nazareneisrael2house

Repentance (Teshuvah) - what is it?

If you ask the average church goer what is meant by repentance, most will tell you that it means to be remorseful of wrongdoing and includes asking G-d for forgiveness for such wrongdoing. The transliterated Hebrew word meaning repentance is ‘Teshuvah’. But teshuvah means much more than repentance; it means that we stop transgressing the Torah teachings of G-d and start obeying Him as He describes in His word. Teshuva his aptly described in Hosea 14: 1 & 2, in this manner: ‘Return, O Israel, to HaShem your G-d, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (2) Take words with you (meaning take the Torah or the word of G-d and study the same) and return to HaShem. Say to Him, “Take away all uiniquity, and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.”’ So, we see that teshuva his based on the conviction that HaShem will intervene in our lives and grant us forgiveness of our sins, and ultimately eternal life in His coming Kingdom. Faith, which includes understanding and action, is required for salvation.

The point is that G-d will not grant eternal life to someone who does not believe in Him and obeys Him. Faith is as defined in Hebrews 11: 1 & 6, in this way: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (6) And without faith it is impossible to please Him (meaning G-d), for he who comes to G-d must believe that He is (that He exists), and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’ We need to study the word of G-d, in order to understand that He is Almighty and that we are totally depended upon Him as our Creator and sustainer. However, this type of humility is rare in our modern, arrogant and egotistic society. Simply saying ‘please forgive me’without making the required changes in our lives is not enough. Acknowledging the existence of G-d does not supernaturally produce a right relationship with Him; and repentance or more correctly Teshuvah does not just happen. It requires both commitment and effort. We need to be fully aware of what it is that we did wrong; we need to understand that sin is lawlessness or the breaking of G-d’s commandments, given throughout the Scriptures, as witnessed in 1 John 3: 4, as follows: ‘Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.’

Repentance for returnees begins when we cry out to G-d for forgiveness of our sins, knowing that we have transgressed His (Torah) teachings, and accepting Messiah ben Joseph’s death for the redemption of our sins. True repentance is not based on emotion alone, though knowing that we have transgressed against G-d does involve a certain amount of emotion and sorrow, the decision to return to HaShem in obedience through faith in Messiah ben Joseph’s righteousness is what counts, as Rav Shaul explains in Romans 8: 3 & 4, saying: ‘For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, G-d did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, (4) in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.’ Yes, we follow a narrow lonely road, where the Spirit leads us to obey HaShem and His teachings. Repentance is therefore not simply compliance to a set of rules, but having confidence in G-d and His ways which will lead us to act according to His will doing works of righteousness, such as keeping the Sabbaths of G-d; observing the clean food laws given in Leviticus 11 & Deuteronomy 14, and as recorded in James 2: 17 – 26, in this way: ‘Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (18) But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (19) You believe that G-d is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (20) But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (22) You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; (23) and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED G-D, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of G-d. (24) You see that a man is justified by works, and not faith alone. (25) And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messenger and sent them out by another way? (26) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’True repentance is not something that we can work up for ourselves, since it is a gift of G-d, as witnessed in 2 Timothy 2: 24 - 25, as follows: ‘And the Master’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, (25) with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps G-d may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.’

Many believers have a problem living up to moral and ethical teachings found in Torah. They are meticulous in their outward observance of Torah but fail to keep the inner teachings of Torah. Spirituality is not defined by good deeds that you do, but rather by your behavior and character. Not everyone who says he is Spiritual is so because he dresses the part on the Sabbath. It is for this reason that Messiah ben Joseph warned the religious leaders of His day (and by implication also us who are teaching people and learning to become teachers today), saying in Matthew 23: 23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Being Torah observant must start from the inside and work its way to the outside. Until we embrace the true message of Torah in our hearts (the seat of emotion and faith) and live moral lives, conforming to the image of G-d, by doing what is right (tell no lies, help those in need, etc.), we cannot call ourselves spiritual. This is essentially what HaShem said by the hand of Solomon in Proverbs 7: 1 – 3, saying: ‘My son, keep my words, and treasure my commandments within you. (2) Keep my commandments and live, and My teaching as the apple of your eye. (3) Bind them on your fingers (in what you are doing); write them on the tablet of your heart (and in what you believe).’ There is a direct relationship between the outward expression of your faith (Torah observance) and the works of Torah on the heart.

Character is not one of the subjects taught in school or university. We cannot define honor, respect, ethics and morality, since the Torah has already done it for us. Unless we learn to apply what we have studied in our lives, we will never be truly spiritual. Learning Torah is not about how to observe the Sabbath, the Kosher Laws and other good deeds, it is about how we actually apply what we have learnt in our daily lives - It is not so much the learning that counts, it is the actual doing that counts. Only those who overcome the sins which so besets us, will inherit the kingdom of G-d, as Messiah ben Joseph told Yochanan in Revelation 2: 26 & 27, saying: ‘And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; (27) AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father.’ As Messiah’s modern-day disciples, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard of righteousness demanded by Torah. We need to change ourselves, before we can teach others to change the shortcomings in their lives. This is also why Yahshua said in Matthew 5: 20, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Repentance is a major part of the conversion process, as Rav Kepha told those who listened to his first sermon in Acts 2: 37, saying in verse 38: “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah ben Joseph for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit.” Repentance is but one of the many good things that avinu HaShem gives us, as Rav Yaa’cov wrote in James 1: 17, saying: ‘Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.’ The point is that we are to repent from transgressing the Torah, as we’ve seen previously in first John 3: 4. So we see that repentance precedes immersion. After we have repented and are immersed into Messiah ben Joseph’s saving name, G-d’s Set-apart Spirit is given to us by the laying on of hands, as witnessed by Rav Shaul in 2 Timothy 1: 6, as follows: ‘And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of G-d (the Set-apart Spirit) which is in you through the laying on of my hands.’ Once we have the Set-apart Spirit within us, it will lead us to live according to G-d’s will and way, as Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 8: 14, saying: ‘For all who are being led by the Spirit of G-d, these are sons of G-d.’ It is also by having a portion of G-d’s Set-apart Spirit in us that we will one day be resurrected at Messiah ben David’s coming, as we read from Romans 8: 11, in this way: ‘But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah ben Joseph from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.’ But, more importantly, it is also the Set-apart Spirit of G-d, who indwells us that gives us understanding of the Spiritual things in the Scriptures, as recorded in first Corinthians 2: 10 – 12, as follows: ‘For to us G-d revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of G-d. (11) For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of G-d no one knows except the Spirit of G-d. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from G-d, that we might know the things freely given us by G-d.’

Once we have been given the Set-apart Spirit of G-d, it motivates us to keep G-d’s laws of love, as Rav Yochanan wrote in first John 5: 3, saying: ‘For this is the love of G-d, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.’ True believers in Messiah ben Joseph have the Set-apart Spirit of G-d, as Rav Shaul also wrote in Romans 8: 9 & 10, saying: ‘However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of G-d dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah (ben Joseph), he does not belong to Him. (10) And if Messiah is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.’ If we indeed have the Set-apart Spirit of G-d indwelling us, we will strive to live according to the way Messiah ben Joseph showed us whilst He was on earth, as Rav Yochanan also wrote in first John 1: 6 & 7, saying: ‘If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; (7) but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua His Son cleanses us from all sin.’

Repentance leads to an eternal and joyful relationship with our loving Father; our G-d and Creator. Repentance is necessary for putting off our old self and become part of the household of G-d, as Rav Shaul wrote in Ephesians 4: 20 – 24, saying: ‘But you did not learn Messiah in this way, (21) if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Messiah ben Joseph, (22) that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, (23) and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and put on the new self, which in the likeness of G-d has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.’ After Messiah ben Joseph’s immersion and after Yochanan was taken into custody, He entered Galilee and preached the gospel of G-din verse 15 of Mark 1, saying: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of G-d is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Those of us called out of the world by HaShem at this time will be part of the Kingdom of G-d if we eventually qualify by remaining faithful to Him in this life. To be part of the Kingdom of G-d, means that we will rule as kings and priests under Messiah ben David, if we qualify, as we read from Revelation 20: 6, in this way: ‘Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of G-d and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.’ The expectation to being part of the Kingdom of G-d is certainly a major reason to rejoice.

As indicated before, soon after repentance, one should be immersed to receive a portion of G-d’s Set-apart Spirit, thereby blotting out all our past sins, in that Messiah ben Joseph becomes our Passover Lamb, we read from Romans 3: 24 & 25, as follows: ‘Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Messiah ben Joseph; (25) whom G-d displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of G-d He passed over the sins previously committed.’ After this we need to live a life led by G-d’s Set-apart Spirit, growing in grace and knowledge, to bear fruit to G-d and to be perfected in righteousness, as Rav Shaul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7: 1, saying: ‘Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of G-d.’ But our repentance should be on-going, as it is not a one-time action in the life of a true believer. Repentance is an ongoing action, and a converted believer must continue to fight against his sin for the rest of his life on earth as Rav Yochanan explained in first John 1: 8 – 10 & 2: 1, saying: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (2: 1) My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Messiah ben Joseph the righteous.’ In support of this we read from Psalm 103: 1 – 4 and 11 – 13, King David saying: ‘Bless HaShem, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy name. (2) Bless HaShem, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; (3) Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; (4) Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion. (11) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. (12) As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.’

We see when King David committed two dreadful sins, how He confessed to G-d is Psalm 51: 1 – 4, saying: ‘Be gracious to me, O G-d, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, and blameless when Thou dost judge.’ Every believer is stuck with his/her human nature for the rest of his/her life which wars on a continues basis against his mind, leading to sin, as Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 7: 17, 20 – 21, saying: ‘So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. (20) But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (21) I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.’ Even though we desire to please and obey G-d and acknowledges that we want to follow Him, we also realize the weaknesses of our flesh, as Rav Shaul also continues to write in verses 22 – 25 of Romans 7, saying: ‘For I joyfully concur with the law of G-d in the inner man, (23) but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (24) Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (25) Thanks be to G-d through Messiah ben Joseph our Master! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of G-d, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.’

Even so, G-d does not condemn the believer if he remains in a repentant attitude as Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 8: 1 & 2, saying: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah ben Joseph. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah ben Joseph has set you free from the law of sin and of death.’ As converted believers in Messiah ben Joseph we should continue to strive to overcome those sins which so beset us, because if we do we are promised our place in the kingdom of G-d, as witnessed in Revelation 2: 7, 11, 17; 3: 5, 12 & 21, in this way: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of G-d. (11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (17) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”(3: 5) He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. (12) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My G-d, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My G-d, and the name of the city of My G-d, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My G-d, and My new name. (21) He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’

The true believer continues through a lifelong process of repentance and faith to rely on the sacrifice of Messiah ben Joseph to cover his sins. It is as Rav Yaa’cov wrote in James 1: 22 – 25, saying: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; (24) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (25) But one who looks intently at the perfect law (the Torah), the law of liberty and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.” What Rav Yaa’cov is telling us here is that we should measure our every thought and deed against what Torah requires of us and temper our human instinct with Torah; that is when we will truly build the character traits that HaShem requires of us. It is also for this reason that we continue to study the Torah and Haftarah portions with our Jewish Brothers, as well as the relevant Nazarene Writings from year to year, until the end, so that we remain acquainted with HaShem’s requirements of us. This is essentially also what Rav Yochanan told us in 1 John 2: 3 – 6, saying: ‘And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (4) The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; (5) but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of G-d has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: (6) the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”’ Think about it!