Repent
Paul defines repentance as a turning " to God from idols to serve the living and true God." We repent when we embrace the REAL God instead of our old ideas of who God is. This command could also be regarded as the beginning of salvation since the choice to repent, made at the onset of faith, leads to the choice of salvation. I wouldn't quibble over any placement and will expand on the reasoning for mine after we examine the next few verses.
Mt 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard, He said to them, The ones who are whole do not need a physician, but the ones who are sick. "But go and learn what this is, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent, and believe the gospel."
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard, He said to them, "They who are strong have no need of a physician, but the ones who have illness. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 5:32 I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.
Luke 13:2-3 And answering, Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
The reason I place repentance here: it is an on-going process. We backslide: we realize our error: we repent and return to the relationship we've weakened finding it actually grown stronger in the weak place. We usually find, like Jonah, that we are pursued by God in one way or another, that He will not let us rest until we get back to Him. Our "first love" process involves walking with Christ, turning from our sins every day, defining discipleship, redefining ourselves, then repeating the process every day, "dying" a little as we go. Repentance means as much for the saved as the lost since we never seem to complete the process of "found" in our lives.
So repentance becomes the ideal transition command to lead us into the next section.
Rev 2:5 "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent."
Rev 2:15 "So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent! But if not I will come to you quickly, and will fight with them by the sword of My mouth."
Rev 2:20-22 "But I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel to teach, she saying herself to be a prophetess, and to cause My servants to go astray, and to commit fornication, and to eat idol-sacrifices. And I gave her time that she might repent of her fornication, and she did not repent. Behold, I am throwing her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their deeds."
Rev 3:1-3 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things. 'I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.
"'Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works being fulfilled before God.
"'Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.'"
Come to Him if you aren't saved.
Come back if you've lost your way.
The door is open. Heaven waits.
