Anything Short of Repentance

Matthew 11:20

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

Most of His mighty works were done in the Northern regions of Galilee near Capernaum. Someone might have called it favoritism. Jesus focused most of His miracles in and around His own adopted hometown. But it was not favoritism. Here we find Jesus upbraiding them because, though these mighty works were done there, they had not repented.

·       They had received Him into their city

·       They had welcomed His influence for good

·       They had acknowledged Him as a leader and teacher

But they had not repented of their sin and been born again.

The Lord is not interested in

·       Our reformation or even

·       Our adoration; He seeks

·       Our salvation

Anything short of repentance is short of sins forgiven, short of real reconciliation and short of an eternal home in heaven.

We had better then be sure of our standing with God. The proof of salvation is not the mighty blessings of God. It is not the good deeds that we do. The proof of real salvation is a new man.

Repentance brings us to the Holy Spirit who then creates in us a new heart.