REPENTANCE
Think about where you have fallen from, and then turn back and do as you did at first. If you don’t turn back, I will come and take away your lampstand.
Revelation 2:5
The first post in the ministry of Jesus Christ was to call men and women to ‘repentance‘ No withdrawal of that command has ever been issued. Matthew 4:17 Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.” We cannot bypass it, we dare not dilute it, we must not dismiss it lightly; it has to be an engaging word for us each for the term of our natural lives.
Repentance is a prerequisite to change life. It is the first thing to do when we ‘make a decision to let God help us change‘ It is the one thing required before God takes over in reclaiming our sin-ruined lives. Pleading and pardoning can only occur and be effective if SIN is realized as rampant and recognized as repulsive in our lives.
Repentance precedes forgiveness. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime exercise. It needs to be practiced daily.
Sin is shortness – a failure to measure up, weakness in attaining, backing away from God. Romans 3:23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal.
Repentance is the message of recall when we say NO! to God. A word of encouragement to recapture our rightful place in relationship with Him. Never be afraid to repent but don’t treat it lightly. 2 Peter 2:21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
What The Bible Says
I have had one message for Jews and Gentiles alike—the necessity of turning from sin to God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21
“You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations–starting from here, from Jerusalem! Luke 24:46-47
Did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. Romans 2:4
Come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God.Hebrews 6:1
#Repent #Turn #Truth
PRAYER
Thank You Lord, that I can come to You in penitence and prayer for help. Save me from my sin, and keep me from repition of failure and error.
sharing my experience, strength and hope. 