Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel. I. THE IMPORT OF THE EXHORTATION. 1. By the repentance to which we are exhorted we are not to understand merely an external reformation. To the. Pharisees such an exhortation would have been inappropriate and useless. Their outward conduct was exemplary. Nor can we suppose that the repentance to which we are exhorted is a mere sense of sorrow and regret on account of the afflictive and penal consequences to which our transgressions may expose us, either in the present life or in that which is to come. True repentance is "towards God" — "for the remission of sins" — "unto salvation." Putting all these explanatory terms together, we are led to the conclusion that repentance consists in a sorrowful conviction of our having grieved and provoked God, and in an earnest desire and endeavour to be reconciled to Him, and to secure by the remission of our sins the salvation of our souls. These convictions and desires must be substantially the same in character in all true penitents, but are not in all cases equal in degree. Sometimes the heart is rather melted than broken. 2. But by the faith to which we are exhorted we are not to understand merely a general belief in God as the Almighty Creator, and the gracious Governor of all things. It is not merely a faith in the Divine mission and authority of Christ, and in the truth of that system of doctrine which He taught. The exhortation is "Believe the gospel" — that which is peculiar to the gospel. Those whom our Lord addressed believed in God as the Creator, in the truth of the Old Testament Scriptures; making it a boast that they were "Moses' disciples." It must therefore have been something more particularly pertaining to the gospel which they were now exhorted to believe, namely, the doctrine of salvation by Him as their Redeemer — the testimony that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself," etc. We must do more than yield assent with the understanding to this great doctrine; as it is with a "broken and contrite heart" that man repents, so "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." It is, in other words, to feel what we believe, or to exercise a sure trust and confidence in that which we acknowledge to be true. 3. We have already noticed the close and intimate sequence with which the exhortation to faith in the gospel follows the exhortation to repentance; and we may now further remark upon that head, that the one is thus inculcated in connection with the other — 1. Because for all true penitents there is a gospel, or a message of good news. Had it been otherwise repentance would have been a dreadful thing. Are you guilty? Here is "a fountain opened for sin." In a word, are you entirely lost? Here is a Saviour "able to save even to the uttermost," etc. 2. This faith is inculcated in connection with repentance, because it is in the act of cordially believing what the gospel says, that we receive the blessings which the gospel offers. II. THE ARGUMENTS OR MOTIVES BY WHICH THE EXHORTATION IS SUPPORTED. 1. The exhortation to repentance may be regarded as being urged by the assurance that "the time is fulfilled." To all who bare not repented "the time is fulfilled" — the time, place, and subject we are considering are all favourable. May it not be said of you that "the time" of your own solemn promise and engagement "is fulfilled." "The time" of God's special influence and grace is "now fulfilled." In the case of some of you it may probably be said, "the time is fulfilled," as you are very near the period when lime is to be exchanged for eternity. "Your days are fulfilled, for your end is come." 2. Upon the supposition that you are already penitent, you are encouraged to faith in the gospel by the assurance that "the kingdom of God is at hand." This kingdom is at hand as all things needful for its establishment have been abundantly provided. Indeed, if truly penitent, you are already in a state of preparation for being made by faith the subjects of His "kingdom." If you are truly penitent, "the kingdom of God is at hand," for God is this moment waiting to set up that kingdom in your hearts. Let repentance and faith ever be connected. There are persons who, in a certain sense, "believe the gospel" without having ever truly repented; they have a speculative faith in the gospel. On the other hand are persons resting in repentance, and on the mere ground of their repentance are looking to be admitted into heaven. Let one follow the other in the order in which Christ has placed them. (J. Crowther.)Remark — I. THE INSUFFICIENCY OF REPENTANCE BY ITSELF TO PROCURE THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN. II. THE SUITABLENESS OF FAITH TO THE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH REPENTANCE AS A CONDITION. III. THE THOROUGH HARMONY OF DOTH CONDITIONS WITH THE BLESSED FACT THAT ETERNAL LIFE IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (H. Melvill, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. |
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