[Rick Shabi] January 20, 2025 will be remembered in history as a new U.S. President was inaugurated in Washington, D.C. For the first time in 40 years the inauguration ceremony and parade were held indoors, and President Trump signed a record number of executive orders that very first day.
He seeks to turn this nation away from its past, toward what he says will be a brighter future.
The Inauguration ceremony itself was uniquely American. Patriotism was in the air, and there were many mentions and acknowledgments of God. The Bible was present as oaths of office were taken, Mr. Trump credited God for sparing his life from an assassin’s bullet, hymns were sung, glory was given to God’s name, and there were several benedictions and prayers, asking for God’s protection, guidance, wisdom and blessing.
It is great to hear God being freely acknowledged in this nation. He is the reason for our abundance and blessings. And it was great and right to hear God being an important part of the ceremony where turning this nation around to a better future was being talked about.
One verse in the Bible that could have been used on Inauguration Day, to carry the sentiment of turning the nation in a new direction is found in 2 Chron. 7:14,
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
All that was said on Inauguration Day, except one thing, that describes the one word that was missing if we really are looking to God and wanting to please Him and live the way He wants us to.
Do you know what that word is? Jesus Christ mentioned it early in His ministry and it is spoken of throughout the Bible. It’s a foundational principle for anyone or any nation wanting to turn back to God and have a better, meaningful future.
That word is repentance—“turning from their wicked ways.”
But just what is repentance? Do you know? You might think you know, but I dare say you don’t know what Jesus Christ meant when He said at the very beginning of His ministry “Repent and believe in the gospel.”
For the first ten years of my life, before my parents came to understand the real truth of the Bible, we were Catholic—devout Catholics. I went to Catholic schools, was confirmed and learned how the Catholics thought sin was forgiven. They say they believed in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins, but the way you were forgiven or confessed your sins was to a priest, in a confessional.
After you confessed, He assigned you a number of prayers to pray over a rosary. Often it was something like 10 “Our Fathers.”
I ask, is that repentance and believing the gospel? No, it’s not. There is nothing in the Bible that is anything remotely like that.
Millions believe repentance is just a short little prayer you say, because they hear what this well-known minister says at the end of his weekly televised church services.
Let me tell you: that prayer Is NOT a prayer of repentance. He doesn’t know what real repentance, according to the Bible and Jesus Christ is. Nor do other prominent Protestant ministers who teach the same thing.
But repentance is vitally important to your salvation. If you are claiming Jesus Christ as your Savior, you had better know what repentance is, or you are wasting your time. While mainstream churches and ministers like Joel Osteen and Franklin Graham may be sincere in thinking they are teaching you the right thing . . .
THEY ARE SERIOUSLY WRONG!
Let’s look at a few scriptures on how important repentance is.
Besides some of His first recorded words being “repent and believe in the Gospel”, Christ said this in Luke 13: 5, “. . . unless you REPENT, you will all likewise perish.”
The apostle Peter, after Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension to Heaven, spoke boldly and clearly about who Jesus Christ is to people who were assembled in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Pentecost. When they realized they had crucified the Messiah, they were “cut to the heart” the Bible says and asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “men and brethren what shall we do?”
Peter answered, “REPENT, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
So, a requirement, according to the Bible, for salvation is repentance and baptism. Repentance the way the Bible says.
So, if you seek salvation, you’d better know what true repentance is.
One more. The same apostle Peter, some 30 years after Christ’s resurrection was still preaching the same words of Christ—the same thing His true Church still preaches and teaches today.
In 2 Peter 3:9, He says, “The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to REPENTANCE.”
The first step to eternal life, then, is genuine, heartfelt, biblical repentance. There is no other way to forgiveness, receipt of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life -- but through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) and through REPENTANCE.
Did you know the good news of God’s plan for mankind is that every single man, woman and child who has ever lived will have an opportunity to know Jesus Christ, the real truth of this Bible, and have the chance to repent? Only through repentance and turning to God with all your heart, mind and soul can you know God, His love, and have hope. There’s no other way to a relationship with God.
You must turn to Him with all your heart, mind and soul. That requires repentance.
But what is it really? We are about to tell you what true repentance is, but this subject is vitally important and much bigger than can be discussed in a few minutes. So, if you are serious about your salvation and following Jesus Christ, we have prepared a link for you where you can learn much more about this vital subject.
Go to ucg.org/repent. Read and watch what we have there, and feel free to write and ask us any questions you want.
To begin to really understand what true repentance is look at what Paul says in 2 Cor. 7:10
“Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
The sorrow of the world is just merely saying, I’m sorry or feeling sorry for yourself—and that’s all that’s required. That’s not the sorrow God is looking for, or that is required for salvation.
Godly sorrow—true repentance—includes a complete change of mind and heart. You recognize you have sinned against God. It changes you, because you now recognize your Savior. True repentance produces changes in your thinking and in your life that remain with you. Then there is a deep desire to be like Christ and follow His example.
It leads to a changed life, just as Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:17,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God . . .”
A very good example of a changed life and repentance can be seen in the life of King David. After he committed adultery with Bathsheba when he came to recognize his sin, he had a change of heart and mind and life.
You can read about his life and repentance and what it does to you in His words in Psalm 51. You’ll find that on our landing page at ucg.org/repent.
Note in that chapter that David asks God, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.”
You seek salvation? Do you think you are “saved?” Don’t fool yourself. If you haven’t experienced a change in mind, heart and life, as the result of having found Jesus, then you haven’t repented the way Christ says you must.
In Luke 24:47 Christ commands His disciples, “’that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.”
That is what we are doing today. America, if you are serious about turning this nation around, you must start with yourself and turn to God with true repentance. Anyone listening, if you want to find peace, joy, purpose, meaning and a future for you and your family—repent and believe the gospel, as Christ said.
Learn more and ask any questions you want at ucg.org/repent.
