April 12, 2022 – Tuesday
John 1: 12-13 NIV
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Comment.
In the fourth gospel, the book of John, you will not find the words repent or repentance. Why is that? After all, when Jesus began to preach in Matthew and Mark, He said, Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:17) and The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15). Then in Luke before He ascended into heaven He said, This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47).
So, why no repent or repentance in the book of John? I don’t have a hardcore answer to the question, but I do have an answer. John was the last of the four gospels written, some say 10 years after Luke or even 20-30 years later. The latter answer seems questionable as that would place John’s gospel after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. However, one source (CARM) says, Of important note is the lack of mention of the destruction of the Jewish temple in A.D. 70. But this is understandable since John was not focusing on historical events. Instead, he focused on the theological aspect of the person of Christ and listed His miracles and words that affirmed Christ’s deity.
It is true John’s gospel focuses on the person of Christ and Christ’s deity. Thus, we arrive at a possible answer, a likely answer why the book of John does not reference either repent or repentance, it was to him understood as a given. Consider our two verses for today, Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Ask yourself how anyone could receive Jesus and believe in His name unless they first repented of their sins? I do not believe it is possible.
As a result, it will be my goal to show a number of occasions in the book of John where repentance was assumed as a given. I won’t try to show them all, instead only those that jump out at me as I read through the book of John. If you see me missing one you think is important, please email me and I will give it a serious look.
Bottom Line: Acknowledging a need to repent (admitting we are sinners) results in believing He died for our sins so that we might believe and be forgiven as we call upon Him as our Lord and Savior.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins so that we might admit we are sinners and repent, believe He died for our sins and rose on the third day, and in doing so then calling upon Him as our Lord and Savior.– In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek