Put Away the Wickedness
God desires the sinner's repentance, not their death, and offers forgiveness and cleansing through turning to Him with a whole heart.
Clement of Rome preaches about the importance of repentance, emphasizing God's desire for sinners to turn from their iniquity and seek His forgiveness. He highlights God's gracious declaration that even the most sinful can be made clean and white as snow through genuine repentance and turning to Him with a whole heart. Clement urges the people to seek justice, deliver the oppressed, and care for the vulnerable, reminding them of the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience as spoken by the Lord.
Text
The ministers of the grace of God have, by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance; and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, "As I live, says the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance;" adding, moreover, this gracious declaration: "Repent O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people, Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, if you turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy people."
And in another place He says: "Wash, and become clean; put away the wickedness of your souls from before my eyes; cease from your evil ways, and learn to do well; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and see that justice is done to the widow; and come, and let us reason together. He declares, "Though your sins be like crimson, I will make them white as snow; though they be like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool.
And if you are willing and obey Me, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse, and will not listen to Me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things." Desiring, therefore, that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, He has, by His almighty will, established [these declarations].
Sermon Outline
- Repentance as a Gift of God
- God's Call to Repentance
- The Benefits of Repentance
- Wash and become clean
- Cease from evil ways and learn to do good
- Seek justice and deliver the oppressed
Key Quotes
“As I live, says the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance;” — Clement of Rome
“Repent O house of Israel, of your iniquity.” — Clement of Rome
“Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, if you turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy people.” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- Repentance brings forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
- Turning to God with a whole heart is the key to receiving His mercy.
- Refusing to repent can lead to devastating consequences.