The preaching of the Gospel is incomplete unless the necessity of repentance for salvation is clearly proclaimed. Yet there are few preachers who are preaching repentance today, which means that an incomplete Gospel is being proclaimed. That is a serious issue.
When we study the earthly ministry of Christ, we note that the first word out of His mouth was “REPENT” (Matthew 4:17): From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
That word in the Greek text is μετανοεῖτε (metanoeite), from metanoeo, and while it literally means a change of mind, Thayer’s Lexicon explains it properly and correctly according to Scripture: “to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sin”.
It should also be noted that when John the Baptizer – the forerunner of the Messiah – began his ministry, he too emphasized the necessity of repentance. In fact, his baptism was a baptism for repentance, and he said exactly the same thing that Jesus said (Matthew 3:1,2): In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Given the fact that this was a key component of the Gospel for the Son of God, how is it that preachers today simply ignore this aspect of the Gospel? The only explanation is that too many men are fearful of preaching the truth, and are controlled by the fear of man. And as Scripture says “The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). And ultimately Satan is the instigator of all fears.
The apostle Paul (originally Saul of Tarsus) is one of the clearest examples of repentance in Scripture. He was an extremely zealous Pharisee whose chief aim in life was to destroy Christians and shut down the preaching of the Gospel (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1,2):
And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison... And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
However, he met the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory on the road to Damascus, and had no choice except to repent. This change of mind was initially indicated by Saul calling Jesus “Lord”, but the proof of his repentance and conversion is that within days of being confronted by the glorified Savior, he began preaching the Gospel! His sins had been forgiven and he had become a new creature in Christ.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. (Acts 9:19-22).
