有句話說，“百川歸海；”沒錯。但是很多人也認為“百人歸天。”其實，《聖經》不贊成這句話。耶穌說，“若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裡去”（約翰福音14:6）。耶穌又說，“你們若不悔改，都要如此滅亡”（路加福音13:3）。使徒彼得說，“你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦”（使徒行傳2:38）。
悔改是什麼呢？《聖經》里的悔改包括三方面，就是：想法、內心、行為。
第一，想法：如果我要做徹底的悔改，必須改變我的想法（思想）。在神的面前承認我做錯了，我沒有達到標準。我知道應該做的，和我實際上做到的——有差別。我決定下次會做好一些。說悔改的第一點是“更改想法，”對您不新鮮；我們早知道“悔改”包括改變思想。
第三…（沒有。我沒有漏掉第二；先講第三；等一下講第二。）悔改的定義的第三部分是行為：如果不改變行為，我們就不懂悔改是什麼。沒有改變行為的悔改是個謊言。這個說法對您也不新鮮。
第二呢？《聖經》對悔改的定義的第二部分就是改變內心。也許，這句對您有一點新鮮。《聖經》里的悔改牽涉到內心。神的話要改變我們內心的深處。如果內心深處不改，我們也不懂《聖經》里的悔改是什麼意思。
一般的犯人，從監獄出來以後，就不想回去。他決定改過自新。他不願意回到牢獄。但是，我們還不知道他的內心是否經過更改。說不定，心裡還是那樣剛硬，但，因為害怕坐牢，所以回家後，安安靜靜地過日子，聽話，守規矩，不犯法。如果他的心裡還是很剛硬的話，按照《聖經》的教訓，他還沒有悔改。（內心徹底的更改是改變行為的基本基礎！）
您我的想法與神的教誨不同。神的話，神的愛，神的恩典，令我們悔改。神的愛改變我們的想法，使得我們歸向神。耶穌奇妙的愛，在十字架上為我們捨命，抓住了我們的心，使得我們懊悔我們的過犯。我們的內心經過180度的轉變，神的愛軟化了我們剛硬的心靈。結果，我們的行為也改了。我們不再是以前的那個人，我們變成一位“新造的人。”
耶穌基督的故事，百聽不厭。請您快一點接受神的恩典，快一點“悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦。”
【洗禮】十六：當先悔改
“Baptism” 16: Repentance Precedes Baptism
作者：謝德華
Baptism: Repentance Precedes Baptism
Acts 2:38
There is an old saying that “all streams flow to the sea,” and so they do. Some people also say that “all people go to heaven.” The Bible, however, does not agree with this second assertion. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (Romans 14:6). Jesus also said, “…unless you repent, you will all perish…” (Luke 13:3). The apostle Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven…” (Acts 2:38).
What is repentance? Bible repentance includes three categories: mind, heart and life. First, mind: If one wants to thoroughly repent, he must change his mind, and express to God that he’s done wrong and hasn’t lived up to God’s standard. “What I know to do and what I do are two different things,” he would say. “I determine to do better next time.” For me to tell you that repentance includes changing one’s way of thinking is nothing new to you, I’m sure; you already know that repentance means change of thought.
Third… (No, I’ve not left anything out. Let me deal with the third item, and then we’ll proceed to the second one.) The third category of repentance is lifestyle: if one does not change his life when he repents, he doesn’t understand what repentance is. Repentance without changes in life is a lie. You also already understand this truth.
What about the second part of repentance? According to the way repentance is defined in the Bible, the second area of change is in the heart. Perhaps this is something you’ve not thought about before. Bible repentance involves the heart. God’s word can change the innermost sections of one’s heart. If the innermost part of one’s heart doesn’t change, then he doesn’t understand the meaning of repentance.
Once a criminal is released from prison, he certainly doesn’t want to return. He determines to change his way of life because he doesn’t want to go back to jail. We don’t know, however, whether his heart has changed or not. Perhaps his heart is still hard as a rock, for all we know. But he fears prison, so after he returns home he lives a quiet life, obeys all the laws and regulations, and commits no more crimes. According to Bible usage of the word, however, he has not repented.
You and I are not like that. The word of God and the love of God lead us to repent. God’s love changes our thoughts and causes us to turn toward God. The wonderful love of Jesus, including his dying on the cross for us, grabs our heart, and makes us sorry for all the wrong we’ve committed. Our heart takes a 180 degree turn, as God’s love melts our stubborn heart. The result is that our lifestyle changes. No longer are we our former self, rather we become a “new person.”
The story of Christ never grows old. Please accept the grace of God, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven…”