QUESTION:
IS JESUS CALLING ME TO REPENT?
ANSWER:
Yes, Jesus is absolutely calling you to repent!
From the very beginning of His ministry, His message was clear and urgent:
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” — Matthew 4:17
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” — Mark 1:15
This is the first preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. His very first message to the world was not about success, happiness, or religion — it was about the arrival of God’s Kingdom and the requirement to enter it:
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Repent, and
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Believe in the Gospel.
But why is Jesus calling us to repent? Because the day of judgment is already set.
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” — Acts 17:30–31
God is not suggesting repentance — He is commanding it. A day is coming when every person will stand before Jesus Christ, the righteous Judge. The purpose of Jesus’ call to repentance is simple yet eternal in consequence: to save you and me.
Saved From What?
Before we talk about how to get saved, we must first understand what we are being saved from.
The Bible is clear: we are not just facing physical death, but something far more dreadful — the second death, which is eternal punishment and eternal separation from God.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” — Revelation 21:8
This is not a temporary punishment. It is forever. Jesus Himself spoke of this final judgment:
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” — Matthew 25:46
Even the Old Testament foresaw the terrifying reality of eternal judgment:
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” — Daniel 12:2
The second death is not annihilation or unconsciousness — it is conscious, eternal separation from the presence of God, full of torment and regret. This is the horrible future that awaits every sinner who dies without being forgiven.
But here is the good news: there is a way for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to be saved from this horrible future. God Himself made a way — and it is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God’s Provision: The Gospel
God did not leave us without hope. He made a way for us to be saved by sending His Son, Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law. He died on the cross to take the penalty of our sins, and He rose again to offer us new life.
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day…” — 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
This is the Gospel — the Good News — that Jesus paid the price so we can be forgiven of our sins so we don’t have to suffer the second death.
This was God’s part in the salvation process.
Our Part: Repent and Believe
While salvation is a free gift and the forgiveness of sins has been made available through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is only accessible to those who respond — not with pride, indifference, or delay, but with a humble heart that is willing to be reconciled with God.
Jesus made this clear: “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” These are not two separate options. They are two sides of a coin and one divine requirement — inseparable and essential.
First Side of the Coin: Repentance
Repentance is the first action Jesus commands. But what does it really mean?
Repentance is not about achieving perfection or cleaning yourself up. It is not just sorrow or regret over sin. It is, most importantly, a decision to return to God — to stop ignoring and rejecting Him in your life and humbly acknowledge your need for Him.
Let us take a moment to reflect: Where is God in my life? Am I acknowledging Him in all that I do? Is God truly my God—and is Jesus truly my Lord? How close am I to Him… or how far have I drifted? Do I need to return to God? Do I need to surrender and make Jesus the Lord of my life? Are my sins forgiven? Am I saved?
As explained in greater detail at “What is True Repentance”, repentance is turning away from a life lived apart from God and making the firm choice to come back to Him.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him…” — Isaiah 55:6–7
This is the first side of the coin — a personal, inward return to the God who created you and longs to forgive you.
Second Side of the Coin: Believe in the Gospel
Now here’s the question:
What assurance do we have that when we return to God, He will accept and forgive us?
The answer is found in the second part of Jesus’ command: believe in the gospel. This is where faith in Jesus Christ comes in. (See also: “What Does it Mean to Believe in Jesus?”)
To believe in the gospel means to entrust your life to Jesus — to rely completely on what He has done for your salvation. This is not about believing facts, but about staking your life on the truth that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again for your justification.
The moment you put your faith in Him, you are declared righteous before God. Your sins are forgiven. You are saved.
Here are some powerful truths from the book of Romans:
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“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed… even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” — Romans 3:21–22
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“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” — Romans 3:28
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“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1
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“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” — Romans 8:1
This is the second side of the coin — believing in the gospel means receiving full forgiveness of your sins and being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Two Sides, One Response
The call to repent and believe in the gospel cannot be separated. It is one divine requirement with two sides:
turning from your rejection of God and turning to Jesus in faith.
When these two actions happen in the heart of a sinner, salvation takes place. The guilt is lifted. The soul is forgiven. Eternal death is cancelled. A new life begins.
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9
Final Thought:
Dear reader, this is not just an article — this is a divine invitation.
Jesus is calling you to repent and believe the gospel — to return to God and be saved from the second death. This is not a casual suggestion; it is the most urgent call of your life.
It took God the Father to write the entire Old Testament so that we would not miss the signs — so that when Jesus came, we would know that He is the promised Savior.
And it took Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to leave His heavenly glory, to take on the form of a servant, and to give His life for your salvation.
“Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” — Philippians 2:6–8
Jesus is calling you — not just to believe in Him, but to return to God by surrendering your life to Him.
Will you respond to His call today?
If your heart is ready — if you are willing to repent and believe — we invite you to take your next step. Learn how to come back to God and entrust your life to Jesus. Click here: How Can I Return to God?
