Repent And Be Forgiven

Good Morning!! An apology cannot undo a wrong, that has been committed. Saying I'm sorry for adultery, or murder, does not undo the unfaithfulness, or restore the loss. So how then does repentance somehow make our red-handed sins clean and white, before God? We might have fully expected for Isaiah to speak of how justified God's judgment would be,...because of Israel's sinful rebellion. He also surprises us with this reasoning from the Lord: "if you turn to God in repentance, then all your past mistakes will be utterly washed away." 

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.—Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

The answer, the rationale from the Lord, is found later in this same prophecy. A suffering Servant would come, who would be "wounded for our transgressions;" our chastisement, our punishment would be put upon him, and with his wounds he would heal us, clean us (53:5). You see, there is nothing we can do for ourselves, that will take away our past sins and guiltiness, before a Holy God,...but God Himself, has promised; when we turn to Him in repentance, that our sin-stains will be washed completely away,...by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The living think they here "repentance" far too often,...the dead wish they could hear it, just once more.

Come now, says the Lord, to hear and consider this promise of forgiveness.

"Being a disciple of Christ means agreeing to take on His priorities, agendas, and missions, as our own."