Before Christ was crucified for our sins blood sacrifices were required to get back in the good graces of God in heaven. Why a sacrifice was needed for repentance? It was because before Jesus Christ (Emmanuel which is God with us) came, people still had to bring an offering of repentance to the priest to get forgiven by God for their sins. After Jesus died for our sins and rose again, He was our ultimate blood sacrifice and no more blood sacrifices were needed for repentance and God's forgiveness. We simply need to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, confess our sins, repent, and ask the Lord for His forgiveness.

​Guilt, repentance, confession, and forgiveness go hand in hand. Guilt can build up and grow inside you over time causing stress and health problems. Holding onto guilt can open doors for satan. Letting go of guilt will reduce your stress levels and cleanse you.

• Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Guilty are those who do not keep the whole law

• James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Repentance is important for the remission of sins. What we do in this world are often referred to fruits in the bible just as a good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces rotten fruit. People who are not following the Lord’s laws and teaching what Christ instructed us to teach are not producing good fruit but rather they are producing bad fruit and need to repent.

• ​Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

​Everyone can repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which will guide you and teach you all things.

• 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 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
• Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
• Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
• Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Baptism and repentance

• Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
• Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
• Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
• Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
• Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Righteous people do not need repentance but sinners do. Christ came, suffered, died and rose again so all of us could have repentance that leads to eternal life.

• Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• Luke 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
• Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
• 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.

Godly sorrow leads to salvation.

• 2 Corinthians 7:9 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.
• 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

There is joy in heaven each time one person repents.

• Luke 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
• Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
• Luke 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
• Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
• 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.

The Parable of The Lost Sheep is a story Jesus told to demonstrate how important a lost soul is to the Lord. Shepherds keep watch over their flock and one has gone astray the good Shepherd looks for the lost sheep until he finds it. The Parable of the Lost Silver and The Prodigal Son emphasize this point.
Parable of The Lost Sheep
Everyone came close to hear Jesus teach, both publicans and sinners alike.

• Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. Luke 15:1

The Pharisees and scribes who were always seeking to find fault with Jesus Christ's teachings came to listen too, murmuring among themselves, secretly judging Christ because He received and ate with sinners.

• And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:2

Jesus Tells the Parable of The Lost Sheep
​As the Pharisees and scribes sat murmuring to one another secretly judging Christ because he received and ate with sinners. Christ knew they were listening and taught the parable of the lost sheep where a shepherd who had a hundred sheep lost one of them in the wilderness. The man left the 99 remaining sheep to go search for the one missing sheep. When he found the sheep he gathered his friends and neighbors asking them to rejoice because he found his missing sheep. ​Jesus compares this to the joy felt in heaven every time one sinner repents and states that this joy is greater for the lost one than for those who were not in need of repentance.

• And he spake this parable unto them, saying, Luke 15:3
• What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? Luke 15:4
• And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:5
• And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6
• 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. Luke 15:7

John the Baptist taught repentance and told people about Jesus who would come after him. Imagine John’s surprise when Jesus himself came to John to be baptized. During this baptism all who witnessed it would never forget as the sky opened and the spirit of God came and went to Jesus and a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased” which was God the Father confirming Christ as the one John had preached about.

• Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
• Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
• Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
• Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
• Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
• Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
• Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
• Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
• Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
• Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When we are saved we are born again.

• 1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Confess with your mouth that God raised Jesus from the dead and you will be saved.

• Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Jesus is the resurrection and life. Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life.

• Luke 24:1-53 - Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them. 

 

• John 11:25 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and will return and judge the world

• Acts 17:31 - Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.

God’s spirit raised Jesus from the dead and lives inside you, will guide you and teach you.

• Romans 8:11 - But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Once saved we are born again and can walk with newness of life.

• Romans 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

God does not want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to repent and have everlasting life.

• 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

People who repent and then return to their sinful ways are crucifying Christ again!

• Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
• Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
• Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
• Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
• Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Once we have repented and are saved we are saved from the devil's snare.

• 2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
• 2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
• 2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We should obey God rather than men. Jesus was killed and hanged on a tree and rose again in three days. God exalted Jesus as Prince and our Savior so we can come to repentance and be forgiven of our sins.

• Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
• Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
• Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
• Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Everyone will be judged and those who repent will have honor, peace and eternal life with God but those who do not repent will suffer endlessly with tribulation and anguish.

• Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
• Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
• Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
• Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
• Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
• Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
• Romans 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
• Romans 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
• Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

​Christ suffered and died to save us from our sins, and then He was resurrected, rose from the dead on the third day so that everyone could repent of their sins, be saved, and tell everyone about Jesus Christ and all that He taught us. Repentance should be preached in Jesus Christ’s name in all nations beginning with Jerusalem.

• Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
• Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
• Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.