提要
耶穌在曠野勝過撒但的試探後，便開始祂的事工。祂的信息很直接：「天國近了，你們應當悔改。」
我們有必要對悔改這件事有清楚的認識。認罪並不等於是悔罪。認罪必須誠實──在許多情況裡，甚至是近乎痛苦的誠實。有徹底的誠實才有希望。但一個人可以一次又一次只誠實的認自己的罪。這正是我們許多人的問題。
我們常常不斷的認罪卻沒有悔改。悔改的意思是，調個頭，朝相反的方向走。認罪需要誠實，悔改則需要委身──決心加上貫徹。悔改是件難事，在某些情況裡，我們這些有弱點的人會發現自己每天都在悔改。不過，如果我們在犯罪以前肯主動的遠離罪，我們就會發現自己愈來愈少需要認罪了。這並不是說我們完全了，乃是表示我們開始成長。悔改令人鼓舞之處是，當我們轉過身來，改變自己的方向，天國就會來與我們相遇。
上帝肯定會忠於真心悔改的人。所以，不論有多困難，我們都應作這個選擇；藉著意志的行動，選擇從我們的罪上回轉。很明顯的，耶穌認為悔改十分重要，今昔都如此。悔改與天國的降臨之間很有關係。在馬太福音後面一點，耶穌將教導祂的門徒禱告，祂會說：「願您的國降臨」。但現在許多人寧可禱告：「願您的國走開」。當天國降臨，特別是當天國靠近我們時，會帶來一種聖潔的意識，使罪無地可容。所以，耶穌說：「要悔改」。如果你想接近天國，那麼，從你的罪上回轉。過來，朝相反的方向行，當你這麼做時，可以肯定的是，天國不止會更接近，事實上，天國會與你相遇。
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Overview
After successfully dealing with Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, Jesus began his ministry. His message was very straight-forward, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
I think we need to be clear about this subject of repentance. Confession of sin is not repentance from sin. Confession demands honesty – in many cases, brutal honesty. And hope lies in that honesty. But the fact is that one can be honest about one’s sinfulness again and again and again and again. This is a problem that many of us face.
We’re constantly confessing our sin but not repenting. Repentance mean turning around and going in the opposite direction. Whereas confession demands honesty, repentance is very difficult and in some cases with those of us who have some kind of weakness, we may find ourselves repenting every day. The truth is, if we actively turn around from a sin before we commit it, then we find ourselves less and less in need of confession. That’s not to suggest we become perfect, but nevertheless it is to suggest that we’ll start growing. Something that’s encouraging about repentance is that as we turn around and go in the opposite direction, the kingdom of heaven comes to meet us.
God is committed to the active reenter, and so we should be encouraged to make that choice, however difficult. By an act of our will, we choose to turn around form our sin. Obviously, from Jesus’ point of view, repentance was and is absolutely vital. There is a relationship between repentance and the coming of the kingdom. A little later on, Jesus will be teaching His disciples to pray and He’ll say, “Thy kingdom come.” Now, a lot of us would rather pray, “thy kingdom go.” When the kingdom comes especially near to us, there is a sense of the holy that will not tolerate sin. So “repent,” Jesus says. If you want the kingdom of heaven to be near, turn around and go in the opposite direction of your sin, and as you do so, be assured the kingdom of heaven will not only be near, it will, in fact, come to meet you.
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