Cuando Jesús comenzó su ministerio, él predicó la doctrina del arrepentimiento.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Juan el Bautista requería el arrepentimiento de los que acudían a él para ser bautizados.
Luke 3:3, 8
(3) And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
(8) Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
¿Cuál es la definición de arrepentimiento?
Sentir autorreproche, compunción o contrición por una conducta pasada: volverse, apartarse o volverse: sentir arrepentimiento o cambiar de opinión respecto a una acción pasada como consecuencia de la insatisfacción con ella o su resultado.
Isaías también define el arrepentimiento:
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Jesús ordenó a todos los hombres que se arrepintieran.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Los apóstoles ordenaron a los pecadores que se arrepintieran.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
El arrepentimiento es necesario para todos, sin importar lo buenos o justos que sean.
Luke 13:1-5
(1) There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
(2) And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
(3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
(4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
(5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
¿Por qué?
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
El arrepentimiento implica un verdadero dolor piadoso.
Luke 18:10-14
(10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
(11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
(12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
(13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
(14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
A. El verdadero dolor piadoso no es el dolor del mundo.
2 Corinthians 7:8-11
(8) For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
(9) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
(10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(11) For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
B. Cuando el hijo pródigo regresó a casa, él ejemplificó el dolor piadoso (humildad).
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
El Espíritu de Dios debe primero convencer al hombre de sus pecados antes de que el hombre pueda arrepentirse.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
No es necesario confesar los pecados ante los hombres.
Deben ser confesados a Dios, que es el único que tiene poder para perdonar los pecados.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
La confesión de los errores y la búsqueda del perdón deben hacerse a los hombres que han sido perjudicados.
Matthew 5:23-24
(23) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
(24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Esto produce una buena conciencia tanto hacia los hombres como hacia Dios.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
El arrepentimiento requiere que se haga una restitución.
Ezekiel 33:15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
La restitución fue una de las primeras cosas en las que pensó Zaqueo después de que él conociera a Jesucristo.
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
El arrepentimiento incluye perdonar a los demás.
Hay que dejar todo el odio, la malicia, los rencores, los malos sentimientos hacia los demás y perdonar a esas personas.
Matthew 6:14-15
(14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
(15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Jesús es nuestro ejemplo.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
El acto de arrepentimiento es dos partes.
1. El arrepentimiento no sólo significa apartarse del pecado:
Ezekiel 33:11, 14
(11) Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
(14) Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
2. Arrepentirse también significa volverse a Dios para pedirle perdón:
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Cuando el hombre se aparta del pecado y busca a Dios, un gran sentimiento de humildad e indignidad le invade.
2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Los que se han arrepentido de verdad - se han convertido (justificados, salvados, perdonados, redimidos, nacidos de nuevo, etc.) no necesitan arrepentirse.
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.