When Jesus’ followers received word that some Jewish zealots had been put to death by the Roman governor of Judaea for insurrection against Rome, their conversation seemed to imply, “They got what was coming to them.” Jesus asked the disciples if they thought these men were more deserving of harsh punishment than themselves. He quickly answered His own question with, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3) His point was that all men are sinners by nature, and are equally deserving of death. The Apostle Paul said it like this to the Romans: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)” and “The wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23)” Paul obviously agreed with the Words of Jesus, as do all the writers of scripture, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
So, what does it mean to repent? Repentance is a change of heart and mind toward God and sin that will manifest itself by a change in life and actions. It is the result of seeing God as the Supreme Lord and seeing your sin as an offense to His very nature. Repentance grasps the grave consequences of sin: destruction of the “abundant life” that God intended for us here on earth, and eternal separation from God (spiritual death) to be endured in the Lake of Fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels (i.e. demons). If you don’t believe in such things now, you will. Remember, what you and I believe does not change the facts as they are presented in the Word of God.
Repentance describes the condition of a heart that is ready to embrace God’s offer of forgiveness, which He purchased at the great cost of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He suffered the death that you deserve and was raised from the dead, He can offer you His righteousness in exchange for your unrighteousness, having borne its penalty on the cross.
If you decide to wait and see, you will soon understand that Holy God who punished His Son to provide your salvation, will not now overlook your sinfulness after you have trampled underfoot the blood of His beloved Son. “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)”