- We repent because we fear God. “Surely his [God’s] salvation is at hand for those who fear Him†(Ps 85:9). One of the criminals who was crucified near Jesus came under the fear of judgment and repented before the Lord. The result? The criminal received Jesus’ saving grace (Lk 23:39–43). Unfortunately, those who do not fear God will be hard pressed to receive God’s grace.
- We repent because we are humbled before God. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble†(1 Pet 5:5). A tax collector, often viewed as extortionists in Jesus’ time, humbled himself before God and said, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!†Because of the tax collector’s humility in recognizing his own sin, he was fully justified by the Lord (Lk 18:13–14). “For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they [the Israelites] did not submit to God’s righteousness†(Rom 10:3). Because of the pride and status many Israelites held in the law, they were unable to see Jesus was the end of the law for righteousness (Rom 10:4). From the Israelites’ mistake we see how pride is the greatest obstacle among those who could have received God’s salvation had they been humble enough to accept it.
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