Prepare the Way of the Lord: Meaning and How to Repent
The Bible command to “prepare the way of the Lord” centers on repentance, a turning from sin that prepares hearts to receive Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
In Short: Preparing the way of the Lord means repenting of sin and turning to God in faith. John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul all preached repentance as an essential response to God’s kingdom. True repentance involves a change of heart, mind, and direction, turning away from sin and toward God. It is both the beginning of salvation and a continuing part of Christian life. Through repentance, hearts are made ready for Christ, and lives are aligned with God’s will.
Key Takeaways:
- Repentance is the central meaning of “prepare the way of the Lord”
- John the Baptist’s primary message was: “Repent!”
- Jesus began His ministry with the same call to repentance
- Repentance involves a change of mind, heart, and behavior
- Believers must continue repenting — not just at conversion
- Turning from sin brings forgiveness, renewal, and blessing
- Revival begins with God’s people repenting and seeking Him
- Repentance prepares hearts to receive salvation through Jesus Christ
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:3; Luke 1:17; Matthew 3:1–2; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:37–38; Acts 20:21; Acts 17:30; Hebrews 6:1–2; Acts 3:19; 2 Chronicles 7:14
Welcome to Original Pentecostal
Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Brief Bio: Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D., is a Pentecostal Bible teacher with more than 50 years of Spirit-filled ministry experience. His sermons and Bible studies are personally written and drawn from decades of service as a church planter, senior pastor, Bible college teacher and Dean, and as a trainer of ministers internationally in the Pentecostal tradition.
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In the Bible, preparing the way of the Lord means removing spiritual obstacles — especially sin — through repentance so that people are ready to receive Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist Was Commanded: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”
John the Baptist was chosen by God to prepare the way for the coming of the kingdom of God in the person of God’s promised, Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus said of John that no greater prophet had ever lived (Luke 7:28). John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah," the revered ancient prophet (Luke 1:17) to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming.
Mark’s Gospel (1:2-4, KJV) identifies John the Baptist specifically as that prophet: “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
All four Gospels strongly confirm that John’s mission was to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah. Now let’s see how John fulfilled his ministry of being the forerunner and announcer of the Messiah Jesus coming to bring the kingdom of God to this earth.
John the Baptist’s Main Message Was to “Repent” in View of God’s Coming Kingdom
In his brief time preparing the way of the Lord, announcing the soon-coming public ministry on earth of the Messiah Jesus, John preached many things about him and baptized many. But one all-important word stood out in all of John’s prophetic preparing of the way for Jesus’ public appearing: “REPENT!”
What is the first word of the first recorded sermon of John the Baptist? “Repent!” Why? Because in the person of Jesus God was bringing His kingdom down to mankind. And repentance for sin was necessary to enter God’s great kingdom.
Jesus’ First Recorded Public Message Was, “Repent”
Jesus’ public ministry, like John’s, began with the very same message to all: “Repent!” Why? Because Jesus, the divine Son of God, had come to earth to bring eternal salvation and the kingdom of heaven to all who would receive Him in repentance for sin and in sincere faith (Acts 20:21). God’s reign over all creation was to be made real in the sending of His Son from heaven to earth to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and to usher them into the family and kingdom of God Almighty.
A Definition of Repentance from Some Evangelical Scholars
Repentance is “that divinely wrought conviction of sin in the heart that the soul is guilty before God, and a resolute turning away from sin in which the sinner identifies himself with the gracious act of God in redeeming him. Repentance involves both a change of mind about sin and a change of heart-attitude toward sin. It is at the time a renunciation of sin and an acceptance of the Holy Spirit’s enablement to holy living” (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, Merrill C. Tenney, General Editor, p. 711)
Another helpful definition of the meaning of repentance (quotes from a fuller explanation) is this:
“Repentance is essentially a change of mind, taking the word in a broad sense. It has, however, three aspects: an intellectual, an emotional, and a volitional aspect… (1) The intellectual element: This implies a change of view. It is a change of view with regard to sin, God, and self… (2) The emotional element: This implies a change of feeling. Sorrow for sin and a desire for pardon are aspects of repentance… (3) The volitional element: This implies a change of will, disposition, and purpose. This is the inward turning from sin” (Lectures in Systematic Theology, Henry C. Thiessen, p. 269).
What Does Repentance Mean in the Bible?
In the Bible, repentance means turning away from sin and turning to God with a sincere heart. It involves a change of mind, heart, and direction. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for sin, but making a real decision to turn from it and follow God. It is closely connected with faith in Jesus Christ and is essential for salvation and ongoing spiritual growth.
To Those Seeking to Know Jesus (“What Shall We Do?”) Peter Said, “Repent…”
This chapter is the record of that first feast of Pentecost in the early Church — that Church that Christ had founded through His death on the cross for sin, burial, resurrection from the dead, and ascension back to heaven.
The apostle Peter preached a Holy-Spirit inspired sermon, and thousands were convicted in their hearts of their need for Jesus the Savior. They cried out to Peter, “What shall we do?” Peter’s eternity-changing answer to them was: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”
The Apostle Paul’s Brief Gospel Appeal Began with “Repentance”
In this brief sentence the great soul-winning and church-planting apostle Paul described his ministry. Everywhere he went, he preached some form of this message: “Turn to God in repentance and have
That is the simple key to entry into the family and kingdom of God and eternal life: have faith in the Savior Jesus, and in godly sorrow repent for your sins.”
By now we have seen how very important repentance for our sins is in God’s eyes.
- • It was John the Baptist’s first recorded preaching to prepare the way for Jesus’ arrival: “Repent!”
- • It was the first recorded message of Jesus, too: “Repent!”
- • It was the heart of the apostle Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost: “Repent.”
- • Paul the apostle said that repentance for sin was central to his preaching.
God Himself Commands That We Repent of Sin
The saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is defined simply as this: ‘Christ died for our sins … was buried … and rose again the third day.” He did all that for us lost sinners! And God does not want any of us to miss out on that salvation. His Word declares that He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, KJV).
If we want to be born again (John 3:3-7) and be delivered from the devil’s darkness into the family and kingdom of the God in heaven, repentance is not an option. The Scripture above tells us God’s position on repentance: “He commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Jesus Himself said that unless we repent, we will all perish (Luke 13:3, 5). There are no God-approved alternatives.
There’s an Erroneous Modern Teaching That Believers No Longer Need to Repent
Despite the Bible’s clear teaching, some hold to an erroneous teaching that once you’re saved you never have to repent again. This of course is dead wrong! Here are two examples why:
- 1) In the verse above we see that there had been great revival in Samaria under Philip’s preaching. Even a local sorcerer named Simon believed in Jesus and was baptized. But then he offered money to “buy” the ability to impart the Holy Spirit to others. Peter told this baptized believer to repent and seek God’s forgiveness for trying to commercialize the holy Gospel.
- 2) In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, in an appearance of the ascended, glorified Jesus to the elderly apostle John, Jesus sends messages to the leaders of seven different churches of that day. To five of those seven churches Jesus commanded repentance for sin going on in the church. These were Christian believers, and some of them were told by Jesus that they still had sin in their lives for which He commanded them to repent.
I along with you readers must take this to heart. We must examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5, written to church members), must prayerfully look within, to root out and repent for any known sin. In the famous “Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus taught us a prayer for the ages, including: “forgive us our sins/debts/trespasses…”
Repentance Is a Foundational Truth of the “Doctrine of Christ”
Repentance from sin is — and will continue to be until Jesus’ Second Coming — a foundational element of the “doctrine of Christ.” We cannot go on to Christian maturity without it. First we repent at the time we come to Jesus for salvation. From then on, we continue to include repentance from sin into our daily pursuit of holiness as the Lord commands.
Repentance Involves Turning Away from Sin
God’s Word tells us that repentance is not just mental or emotional, although it likely includes both. It is also practical and involves our turning away from our sins. Remember when Jesus forgave the adulterous woman in John 8? He told her in verse 11 (RSV): “Neither do I condemn you.” Too many Christians stop at that point and miss the very next part of what Jesus said: “Go, and do not sin again.”
That turning away from sin, as in Acts 3:26, is not punishment. No! By contrast, God promises to bless us as we turn from our iniquities. He’ll bless us in so many ways — forgiveness, a closer walk with Him, shaking off the weight of sin’s entanglements, a growing sense of God’s holiness renewing us inside, and much more.
Repentant Turning Away from Sin Can Lead to National Revival
My nation is the USA. Like many other nations around the world, America seems to be declining in holiness and righteousness. Prayer has been removed from the schools. The Bible has been removed from the schools and from many other public expressions. I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, when there was at least an outward civility, godliness, and decency in society. That has almost disappeared. Jesus and others prophesied this for the times of the end.
Millions are praying for revival in our land. But it must begin with us believers. “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6). National revival must begin with a revival in God’s people.
What can we (God’s believing people) do? What will be the result if we obey God’s commands?
- • Humble ourselves
- • Pray
- • Seek God’s face
- • Turn from our wicked ways (that is, repent!)
- • Result? God will forgive us and will heal our land
How will revival come? How will those still lost in sin find the Lord Jesus? It will begin with us — a repentant, believing people of God who humbly pray, seek God diligently, repent of known sin, and go forth in love to others with the sacred promise of salvation and eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
How Do We Prepare the Way of the Lord Today?
- Repent of known sin sincerely before God
- Humble yourself and seek God in prayer
- Turn away from sinful habits and patterns
- Believe in Jesus Christ and live your life for Him
- Continue in a lifestyle of repentance and obedience
Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing the Way of the Lord
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about what the Bible teaches regarding preparing the way of the Lord and repentance.
What does “prepare the way of the Lord” mean in the Bible?
Preparing the way of the Lord means getting hearts ready for Jesus Christ by turning from sin and turning to God. John the Baptist fulfilled this by calling people to repentance before Jesus began His ministry. It involves removing spiritual obstacles that prevent people from receiving Christ. The focus is not on outward preparation, but on inward change. Repentance is a key way the Bible says we prepare for the Lord.
Why was repentance central to John the Baptist’s message?
Repentance was central because the kingdom of God was about to be revealed through Jesus Christ. People needed to turn from sin to be ready to receive Him. John’s message prepared hearts spiritually for the Messiah. Without repentance, people would not recognize their need for Christ's salvation. It was God’s appointed way of preparing the people. Faith in Jesus also is needed, as John commanded, "Repent AND believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15).
Did Jesus also preach repentance?
Yes, Jesus began His public ministry with the same message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This shows that repentance is not just John’s message, but a core part of the Gospel. Jesus called people to turn from sin and believe in Him. Repentance and faith go together in receiving salvation. His message confirmed and continued John’s work.
Do Christians still need to repent after being saved?
Yes, the Bible shows that believers are still called to repent when they sin. Jesus instructed churches in Revelation to repent, and Peter told a baptized believer to repent of wrongdoing. Repentance is not only the beginning of salvation but part of ongoing Christian life. It keeps believers in close fellowship with God. It is a continuing response to God’s holiness.
What are the results of true repentance?
True repentance brings forgiveness of sins, a renewed relationship with God, and a transformed life. It leads to turning away from sin and walking in obedience. The Bible also connects repentance with spiritual refreshing and blessing. It prepares a person to receive God’s grace fully. At the outset it leads us from Satanic darkness to the light and salvation in Jesus Christ. It continues to help the born-again believer to increasingly conform to the image of Christ.
An Invitation to Come in Repentance and Faith to God or Back to God Through Jesus
Is God touching your heart? Have you never come to Him for His gracious salvation and entering into the family of God? Or are you already a believer who has not sufficiently dealt with the remaining sinfulness in your life, but want to do so?
I encourage you to pray the prayer below from your heart. I assure you that you will sense the forgiveness of God and His great love for you. Pray and be blessed:
- • Dear God, I know that I am a sinner, and I need Your forgiveness. I turn away from my sins and turn to You with a sincere heart. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died on the cross for my sins, and that you raised Him from the dead. Today I place my trust in Jesus as my Savior, and I confess Him as my Lord. Come into my life, forgive my sins, and make me a new person through your grace. From this day forward, I want to live for You. Guide my life and help me to do Your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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