Except Ye Repent Ye Shall All Likewise Perish

Luke 13:1-5, “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 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? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Death often comes suddenly, without warning, and life is over! This is what Jesus meant in Luke 13:5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” I have heard some ignorant preachers errantly interpret this Bible verse to mean “turn from your sins” to be saved, but that is not what it means at all. Some people had shared negative news with Jesus. They asked if He had heard about Herod sacrificing the Galileans on an altar? Jesus replied by asking if they thought the Galileans were bigger sinners than they were? The Lord asked if they had heard about the Wall of Siloam that fell, killing 18 people. We're they worse sinners than you or me? 

Let's apply this to today's time. Do you think people who get killed by tornadoes are worse sinners than you or me? No, we are all woeful sinners! Jesus was simply saying that we all deserve to suffer and go to Hell as sinners. Of course, the Lord Himself was without sin (Hebrews 4:15-16). The important thing is to make sure that we are all right with God individually. Don't look at the next guy and judge him. Just get on the ark yourself! Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Noah and his family didn't save themselves. They simply got onto the ark! God saved them. Jesus Christ is our ark. If we simply rest in Christ, trusting what He did to pay for our sins on the cross, we have eternal life. DO GOODERS don't go to Heaven, DO TRUSTERS go to Heaven!

We all have an appointment with death. Hebrews 9:27-28, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Only God knows when that time is. I rejoice as a born-again Christian that my name is written in Heaven, recorded in the precious Lamb's Book of Life. I never wonder if I'm saved, I absolutely KNOW 100% that I am saved, because I have God's written promise of it in the King James Bible. 1st Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 

Again and again in the Scriptures we are taught simply to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing about turning from your sins to be saved. In Luke 13:5, Jesus did not mean to forsake one's sins when He warned, “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” The Lord didn't mean that a big wall would fall on you if you don't turn from your sins! That is what Jack Chick taught! That is what Ray Comfort teaches. That is what John MacArthur errantly teaches. They all require turning from sins to be saved, which is another gospel (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4).

Jesus simply meant that we are all sinners and need to prepare to meet God. I think Jesus perceived that the people telling him the bad news were not saved. If an unsaved person were to tell me about someone suddenly dying, I would use that as an opportunity to witness to them. That is exactly what Jesus was doing in Luke 13:1-5. The Lord was warning them that they could be next, and it was just a matter of time until they died too! The big $64,000 question friend is: ARE YOU PREPARED TO MEET YOUR MAKER? You're not unless you've been born-again (John 3:7). 

If you've never been saved oh sinner, simply come to God now as a needy sinner. Simply receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, and you will be immediately, irrevocably and eternally saved. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Remember, you don't go to Heaven because of your goodness, but because of God's goodness. You don't go to Heaven by establishing your OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, but by GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” I love that passage of Scripture.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!!! The only difference between the vilest horrible criminal on this planet, and the sweetest saint of God, is the precious BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST that washes our sins away!!! You either have God's righteousness, or your own righteousness, which God says is as filthy rags to Him. Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Bible “repentance” is a change of mind from WRONG THINKING to trusting (relying) solely upon what Jesus Christ did to pay for your sins on the cross! If you understand this concept (truth), and it is your only hope for Heaven, then you are saved dear friend. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!! The Gospel is not 'Good News' to be lived, it is 'Good News' to be believed!!! Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again! God commands all men to repent (Acts 17:30), that is, change your mind toward God (Acts 20:21), by believing upon His only begotten Son who died for your sins in the cross (John 3:16). Oh how God loves you dear reader. It matters not who you are or how sinful you may be. Jesus died for THE UNGODLY (Romans 4:5; 5:6-8). That means you and me! Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”