The Bathsheba affair- a repentance bible study

 

            We are not perfect and all succumb to temptation and the lust of the flesh at times, the thing that we all need to do after any such incidents is to repent of them to God, just as David did when he was confronted by Nathan about the issue. I am presenting the story of it, then three Psalms, numbers 32, 38 and 51 especially which is related to the Bathsheba affair, also I will include some repentance related teachings from the new testament in various books.

Here is the complete telling of the Bathsheba affair by David  as told in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12. This tells the story from when David finds Bathsheba, to all that he did to distract her husband Uriah, and then ends up having him killed in battle. Chapter 12 deals with David being confronted with the sin, his confession that he did sin, and the consequences. God did indeed forgive David by his mercy and grace but this sin, actually set of sins were so grievous that David had to pay some consequences for doing so. Let that be a lesson for us today too, to try as hard as we can to not sin, for it DOES often affect others, as it did in this story

(2 Samuel 11:1)  In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

 

(2 Samuel 11:2)  It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

 

(2 Samuel 11:3)  And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

 

(2 Samuel 11:4)  So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.

 

(2 Samuel 11:5)  And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, "I am pregnant."

 

(2 Samuel 11:6)  So David sent word to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David.

 

(2 Samuel 11:7)  When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going.

 

(2 Samuel 11:8)  Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king.

 

(2 Samuel 11:9)  But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

 

(2 Samuel 11:10)  When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"

 

(2 Samuel 11:11)  Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."

 

(2 Samuel 11:12)  Then David said to Uriah, "Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.

 

(2 Samuel 11:13)  And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

 

(2 Samuel 11:14)  In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

 

(2 Samuel 11:15)  In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die."

 

(2 Samuel 11:16)  And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men.

 

(2 Samuel 11:17)  And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died.

 

(2 Samuel 11:18)  Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting.

 

(2 Samuel 11:19)  And he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king,

 

(2 Samuel 11:20)  then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, 'Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

 

(2 Samuel 11:21)  Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"

 

(2 Samuel 11:22)  So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell.

 

(2 Samuel 11:23)  The messenger said to David, "The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.

 

(2 Samuel 11:24)  Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."

 

(2 Samuel 11:25)  David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.' And encourage him."

 

(2 Samuel 11:26)  When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband.

 

(2 Samuel 11:27)  And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

 

(2 Samuel 12:1)  And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.

 

(2 Samuel 12:2)  The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

 

(2 Samuel 12:3)  but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

 

(2 Samuel 12:4)  Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."

 

(2 Samuel 12:5)  Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,

 

(2 Samuel 12:6)  and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

 

(2 Samuel 12:7)  Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

 

(2 Samuel 12:8)  And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.

 

(2 Samuel 12:9)  Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

 

(2 Samuel 12:10)  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'

 

(2 Samuel 12:11)  Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

 

(2 Samuel 12:12)  For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'"

 

(2 Samuel 12:13)  David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

 

(2 Samuel 12:14)  Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die."

 

(2 Samuel 12:15)  Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick.

 

(2 Samuel 12:16)  David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

 

(2 Samuel 12:17)  And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

 

(2 Samuel 12:18)  On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm."

 

(2 Samuel 12:19)  But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."

 

(2 Samuel 12:20)  Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

 

(2 Samuel 12:21)  Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food."

 

(2 Samuel 12:22)  He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'

 

(2 Samuel 12:23)  But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

 

(2 Samuel 12:24)  Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him

 

(2 Samuel 12:25)  and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

 

(2 Samuel 12:26)  Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.

 

(2 Samuel 12:27)  And Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.

 

(2 Samuel 12:28)  Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name."

 

(2 Samuel 12:29)  So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.

 

(2 Samuel 12:30)  And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

 

(2 Samuel 12:31)  And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

 

Psalm 32 deals with how the Lord is so forgiving

(Psalm 32:1)  A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

 

(Psalm 32:2)  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

 

(Psalm 32:3)  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

 

(Psalm 32:4)  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

 

(Psalm 32:5)  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

 

(Psalm 32:6)  Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

 

(Psalm 32:7)  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

 

(Psalm 32:8)  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

 

(Psalm 32:9)  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

 

(Psalm 32:10)  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

 

(Psalm 32:11)  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

 

Here is another repentance related Psalm, 38

(Psalm 38:1)  A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!

 

(Psalm 38:2)  For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.

 

(Psalm 38:3)  There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.

 

(Psalm 38:4)  For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

 

(Psalm 38:5)  My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,

 

(Psalm 38:6)  I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.

 

(Psalm 38:7)  For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

 

(Psalm 38:8)  I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

 

(Psalm 38:9)  O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

 

(Psalm 38:10)  My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes--it also has gone from me.

 

(Psalm 38:11)  My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

 

(Psalm 38:12)  Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

 

(Psalm 38:13)  But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

 

(Psalm 38:14)  I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

 

(Psalm 38:15)  But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

 

(Psalm 38:16)  For I said, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!"

 

(Psalm 38:17)  For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.

 

(Psalm 38:18)  I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.

 

(Psalm 38:19)  But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.

 

(Psalm 38:20)  Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.

 

(Psalm 38:21)  Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!

 

(Psalm 38:22)  Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

 

It is a wise thing to do, confess ones sin to God, so He can then have mercy and forgive you for it.

Here is the Psalm 51 that was inspired by the above Bathsheba affair

(Psalm 51:1)  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

 

(Psalm 51:2)  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

 

(Psalm 51:3)  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

 

(Psa 51:4)  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

 

(Psalm 51:5)  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 

(Psalm 51:6)  Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

 

(Psalm 51:7)  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

(Psalm 51:8)  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

 

(Psalm 51:9)  Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

 

(Psalm 51:10)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

 

(Psalm 51:11)  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

 

(Psalm 51:12)  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

 

(Psalm 51:13)  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

 

(Psalm 51:14)  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

 

(Psalm 51:15)  O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

 

(Psalm 51:16)  For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

 

(Psalm 51:17)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

 

(Psalm 51:18)  Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;

 

(Psalm 51:19)  then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

 

Here is a powerful warning message in the book of Ezekiel encouraging one to stay righteous and also to turn away from all wrongdoing that it may be forgiven, for the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the unrighteous, but rather that he would repent of his wrongdoing

(Ezekiel 18:20)  The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

 

(Ezekiel 18:21)  "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

 

(Ezekiel 18:22)  None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.

 

(Ezekiel 18:23)  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

 

(Ezekiel 18:24)  But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

 

(Ezekiel 18:25)  "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

 

(Ezekiel 18:26)  When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.

 

(Ezekiel 18:27)  Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.

 

(Ezekiel 18:28)  Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

 

(Ezekiel 18:29)  Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

 

(Ezekiel 18:30)  "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.

 

(Ezekiel 18:31)  Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?

 

(Ezekiel 18:32)  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live."

 

In Luke 13 the Lord makes it very clear that we all must repent , or perish using examples

(Luke 13:1)  There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

 

(Luke 13:2)  And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?

 

(Luke 13:3)  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

 

(Luke 13:4)  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?

 

(Luke 13:5)  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

 

(Luke 13:6)  And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

 

(Luke 13:7)  And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'

 

(Luke 13:8)  And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.

 

(Luke 13:9)  Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

 

What are we to repent of?  There are two things that are examples in the book of Revelation but almost any sin, but these are close to the heart of the Lord. The first thing is we must always love the Lord and do the first works, and repent and come back as is written to the church at Ephesus

(Revelation 2:1)  "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

 

(Revelation 2:2)  "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

 

(Revelation 2:3)  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

 

(Revelation 2:4)  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

 

(Revelation 2:5)  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

 

(Revelation 2:6)  Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

 

(Revelation 2:7)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

 

Also we are to not be luke warm like the church at Laodicea

(Revelation 3:14)  "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

 

(Revelation 3:15)  "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

 

(Revelation 3:16)  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

 

(Revelation 3:17)  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

 

(Revelation 3:18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

 

(Revelation 3:19)  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

 

(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

 

(Revelation 3:21)  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

 

(Revelation 3:22)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

 

As it says in 1 John we are to confess our sins for he will forgive it

(1 John 1:8)  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

(1 John 1:9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

(1 John 1:10)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

Here is some teachings for dealing with sin for each other first a few verses in Luke 17

(Luke 17:1)  And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

 

(Luke 17:2)  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

 

(Luke 17:3)  Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

 

(Luke 17:4)  and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."

 

And now Matthew 18, much more detailed on the subject even encouraging prayer for one another and a parable which drives home powerfully the need for forgiving one another for our own mistakes even also the need for humility to enter the kingdom of God, as like being like a child

(Matthew 18:1)  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

 

(Matthew 18:2)  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

 

(Matthew 18:3)  and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:4)  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:5)  "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

 

(Matthew 18:6)  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

(Matthew 18:7)  "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

 

(Matthew 18:8)  And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

 

(Matthew 18:9)  And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

 

(Matthew 18:10)  "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:11)  [For the Son of Man came to save the lost.]

 

(Matthew 18:12)  What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

 

(Matthew 18:13)  And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

 

(Matthew 18:14)  So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

 

(Matthew 18:15)  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

 

(Matthew 18:16)  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

 

(Matthew 18:17)  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

 

(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

 

(Matthew 18:21)  Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

 

(Matthew 18:22)  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

 

(Matthew 18:23)  "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

 

(Matthew 18:24)  When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

 

(Matthew 18:25)  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

 

(Matthew 18:26)  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

 

(Matthew 18:27)  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

 

(Matthew 18:28)  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'

 

(Matthew 18:29)  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'

 

(Matthew 18:30)  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

 

(Matthew 18:31)  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.

 

(Matthew 18:32)  Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

 

(Matthew 18:33)  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

 

(Matthew 18:34)  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

 

(Matthew 18:35)  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

 

How does God welcome repentance? Our God is so forgiving of our human failures. The parables in Luke chapter 15 though are very powerful and they drive home the point in a very powerful way. God does come to seek the lost. It was his calling to do so.

(Luke 15:1)  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

 

(Luke 15:2)  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

 

(Luke 15:3)  So he told them this parable:

 

(Luke 15:4)  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

 

(Luke 15:5)  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

 

(Luke 15:6)  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'

 

(Luke 15:7)  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

 

(Luke 15:8)  "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

 

(Luke 15:9)  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'

 

(Luke 15:10)  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

 

(Luke 15:11)  And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.

 

(Luke 15:12)  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.

 

(Luke 15:13)  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

 

(Luke 15:14)  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

 

(Luke 15:15)  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

 

(Luke 15:16)  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

 

(Luke 15:17)  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

 

(Luke 15:18)  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

 

(Luke 15:19)  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'

 

(Luke 15:20)  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

 

(Luke 15:21)  And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

 

(Luke 15:22)  But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

 

(Luke 15:23)  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

 

(Luke 15:24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.

 

(Luke 15:25)  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

 

(Luke 15:26)  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

 

(Luke 15:27)  And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'

 

(Luke 15:28)  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

 

(Luke 15:29)  but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

 

(Luke 15:30)  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'

 

(Luke 15:31)  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

 

(Luke 15:32)  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

 

To conclude this I am sharing a prayer of repentance found on Wikipedia and modifying it a little- it is a nice prayer to help you repent of all your shortcoming and sin

Lord Jesus, We repent, O God most merciful; for all our sins;

for  each and every thought that was false or unjust or unclean;

for each and every word spoken that ought not to have been spoken;

for each and every deed done that ought not to have been done.

We repent for each and every deed and word and thought inspired by selfishness,

and for each and every deed and word and thought inspired by hatred.

We repent most specially for each and every lustful thought and every lustful action;

for every lie we tell; for all hypocrisy;

for every promise given but not fulfilled,

and for all slander and back-biting.

Most specially also, we repent for each and every action that has brought ruin to others;

For each every word and deed that has given others pain;

and for each and every wish that pain should befall others.

In your unbounded mercy, we ask you to forgive us, Lord Jesus,

for all of these sins committed by us,

and to forgive us for our constant failures

to think and speak and act according to your will, but we ask You to

help us to do all according to Your will. In the mighty Name of Jesus

we pray, Amen.

 

Jesus loves You so much, that He went to die on the cross to take away all the sins of all mankind. He seeks after repentance, so a good love relationship can then again be restored between Him and His children. There is nothing like a love relationship with God, either. Nothing can remotely compare with it, in fact. I am now including a prayer which can be prayed to have this love relationship, or to return to it. Please pray this following prayer with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours