Repent At

Repentance is directional toward a person's  teaching. As with the people of Ninevah repenting "at" the preaching of Jonah. "At" means more than time, but also means direction. As a batter hitting a ball "at" the short stop. It has a time and direction.

One mistake made by Baptist theologians is when the Greek word Eis is translated At, they viewed it as "because of" when in reality it was time and directional. In all the baptismal debates they incorrectly brought up repentance at the preaching of Jonah.

They changed it to repentance "because of" the preaching of Jonah so they could use it that way in Acts 2:38.

In the New Testament it is Christ and the Apostles that repentance is directed toward. The time is now and the direction is Christ. It isn't the Jewish Rabbis anymore. While Jesus was alive he said to do what they say but not what they do, while Jesus was alive he was under the law and its correct application, but did not see the people being under false examples of the leaders. Matt 23:1-3

Also in the story of the 10 Lepers Jesus said faith made the Samaritan whole vs needing to comply with the Judaic cleansing through the Jewish priesthood. He could be added to Christ's community based upon his faith in Christ demonstrated when he fell to worship Jesus. The other 9 went to the priesthood for offerings. The Jews were sent to present themselves according to the law, but the Samaritan returned to Jesus and was able to worship God through Jesus.

We could use the same application today, we have no requirement to follow incorrect examples. Teachers are commanded to be examples.

We are no longer required to follow the bad examples of the Rabbiis or false teachings of Christian schisms.. Even with good examples of the law, Jesus' death fulfilled all aspects of the sacrificial system, any current practice of the rabbinical system is moot. Even while the system was in place Jesus did not require practice of the Jewish system for this Samaritan.

Luk 17:19  AndG2532 he saidG2036 unto him,G846 Arise,G450 go thy way:G4198 thyG4675 faithG4102 hath made thee whole.G4982 G4571 

This separated him from Jewish offerings but not from the New Testament offerings of self and baptism.

Justification by faith before Christ's death did not nullify Christ's later commands. Christ's later commands would be part of the New Covenant. This Samaritan would be subject to Christ as he fell to worship Jesus and would be continually taught God's will.

No human Judaistic priesthood was required to present himself and worship Christ, and to be taught by him. Jewish Priests would not be intermediary teachers in the New Testament.

If you are Jewish or Muslim or any other faith, you must realize that repentance toward Christ and his Apostles is the only God given direction of repentance today. 'Repent at' the preaching of Jesus or be lost.

Remember that Jesus used the example of Nineveh repenting "At the preaching of Jonah", but cities in the region were not wholly repenting at his preaching. They would be destroyed as Sodom had been.