Repentance
True repentance, is godly sorrow, it means to turn from, to stop doing, to turn around, to change . When there is no change, no sorrow, there is no repentance, therefore repentance has not been granted!
Acts 17:29-30 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device; And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.
God commands all to repent. Repent because you are truly sorry, Not because you got caught.
Gen. 3:10-13 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
When man or woman gets caught they always want to blame someone else, That is just like it is today.
Matt. 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John the Baptist preaches repent because the kingdom of God is at hand. How much closer is it today!
Matt. 4:16-17 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. For that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The first thing preached - REPENTANCE.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This is the first message preached. It takes repentance to get in - its going to take it to stay in!
Luke 13:1-5
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.Unless you repent you will perish!
Rev. 2:1-5
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.You need more than good works, you have to return to your first love and repent. God gives us a space of repentance. If you fail to repent he will cut you off!
The Church of Jesus Christ
Bis. Jarret R. Spence, Pastor
Portage, IN