To the editor:
You don’t often see the word “repent” and most don’t even know what it means to “repent,” but this matter of “repentance” is of vital importance to all today.
Many think “repent” means that all you have to do is say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness, but knowing the true meaning of “repent” can be a matter of life and death. Many people are saying that we need to turn back to the Almighty and to truly “repent” means to “turn back.”
Saying you are sorry and asking forgiveness means nothing unless you repent from your sins (turn back from breaking the Law/Torah). The Hebrew word for “repent” is “teshuvah,” meaning to feel regret or sorrow as well as to return or turn back.
Sin is transgression of the law or more aptly, sin is lawlessness and the Savior will say on that day, depart from Me, you who work Iniquity (lawlessness).
We must love Him because He first loved us, then comes obedience. We need to turn back to His ancient paths and call on His Name Yah, and keep His Sabbaths (Leviticus 11 and 23), in other words, His Torah (teachings, instructions — see Matthew 4:4-10).
How many are going to do this? A few (a minuscule amount — see Matthew 7:12-15). Are you going to be among the minuscule amount or will you continue down the broad way?
This matter of “repentance” is of vital importance to all today.
Ernest Andrews
Hamlet