REPENT

REPENT

(Matthew 4:17)  From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "

Repent:

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

The above definition is from Thayer's Greek dictionary. When John the Baptist spoke to the Pharisees he said, (Matthew 3:8) “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

Repentance calls for three things:

1. To change our minds so that we agree with God.

a. agree that we are sinners

b. agree that sin as defined by God is heinous

c. agree that to live by God's standards is right

2. To hate our sin.

3. To start living and continue living according to God's standards.

Note this is the message that Jesus preached "from then on." This was and is His Gospel or good news. The good news part is that the Kingdom of God is near, at hand, here right now and you are invited to partake in it. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that there are ways of living that will keep one out of the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, [10] or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

There is a teaching that says, “All you have to do is believe and you will be saved.” It is based on pulling a few verses from their context and is often referred to as “easy believism.” It is true that one receives salvation by believing in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and by confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 10:9 my paraphrase) But, to believe in the heart means a change in the life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

The heart will change causing a change in the outward actions. A toddler doesn’t believe that touching a flame on a candle will hurt her hand, and therefore she will reach for the pretty glow. Hopefully the parent can persuade the child, but in most cases one touch is what it takes. After that, the child is a believer and that believing will forever after alter her behavior around fire.

Likewise, believing that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin and that God raised Him from the dead, and proclaiming Jesus as LORD will change the heart, which will subsequently change the actions. This is repentance; agreeing with God, seeing sin as He sees it, and changing our actions to match His standards.

Repentance becomes a lifestyle for the believer, daily turning away from evil and turning toward our Heavenly Father. It is continuously seeking His Kingdom and Righteousness.

Father in Heaven, Help us today to seek You, Your kingdom and righteousness. Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Keep us from evil.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!