A Call to Repentance and Reflection in the Modern Church

Could anyone claim to be a disciple of Jesus Christ—the meek and humble Master—and yet find it unnecessary or ridiculous to repent of their sins, even when the Master commands it? Do the sins of Christians count before God?


(Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:1-10)


Jesus Ordered New Testament Churches to Repent of Their Sins

These were blood-bought believers, "saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ unto good works" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

What Were They to Repent Of?

  1. The Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)
  2. Sin: Abandoning their first love for Jesus; becoming complacent in their call.
  3. Warning:
  4. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
  5. (Revelation 2:5, ESV)
  6. The Church in Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17)
  7. Sins:
  8. Eating food sacrificed to idols.
  9. Committing sexual immorality.
  10. Holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans (liberalism, licentiousness).
  11. Warning:
  12. "Therefore, repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth."
  13. (Revelation 2:16, ESV)
  14. The Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)
  15. Sins:
  16. Tolerating "that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess."
  17. Sexual immorality.
  18. Eating food sacrificed to idols. (See Acts 15:28-29)
  19. Warning:
  20. "I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works. And I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works."
  21. (Revelation 2:21-23, ESV)
  22. The Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
  23. Sin: Presumption and self-conceit; having a reputation of being alive but being dead.
  24. (Does this reflect the state of present-day churches?)
  25. Warning:
  26. "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you."
  27. (Revelation 3:3, ESV)
  28. The Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
  29. Sins:
  30. Lukewarmness.
  31. Pride and self-sufficiency.
  32. Materialism and delusion; ignorance of their true state before the Lord.
  33. State Before God: Wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
  34. "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white garments, so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen; and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see."
  35. (Revelation 3:18, ESV)
  36. Warning:
  37. "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent."
  38. (Revelation 3:19, ESV)


Food for Thought

Is the Lord Jesus, who spoke all these words, still the same yesterday, today, and forever? (Hebrews 13:8) Has He changed His mind about the gravity of sin? If a Christian is committing or actively involved in any of these sins, should they repent or not?


Oh, how easily a Christian could become wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked in the eyes of the Lord! Lord, have mercy on us and help us.


What Must I Do?

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail to meet the test!"

(2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)


Remember This "Silencer Verse"

"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent."

(Revelation 3:19, ESV)


A Call to Action

Repent! Repent! And Repent! Join the Repentance Revolution!