We ended last time with this:
220.
As we see – Jesus says: “daily”, when He says;
“let him deny himself, and take his cross on him daily, and follow Me.”
This is a daily thing.
Every day we need to deny ourselves and take up our crosses, and follow Him who died that we might live.
So let’s continue:
Repentance
“This is easy to understand”, you might say,
“When I forsake all that I have, deny myself and take up my cross and follow Jesus
- then of course I also must leave behind sins and other things that do not please Jesus, right?”
You are right.
To leave sins behind is very, very important, and both Jesus and the apostles spoke a lot about it.
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222.
Yes, when Jesus started, He started with telling people to repent.
Yes, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say:
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
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223.
And later when some told Jesus “of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mingled with their own sacrifice.” (Luke 13:1)
Then “Jesus answered, and said unto them: Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such punishment?
I tell you, No:
But unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-3)
“Or those eighteen upon which the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, do you think that they were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem?
I tell you, No:
But unless you repent, you all shall likewise perish.” (Luke 13:4-5)
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224.
“Man, I get the point,” you might say. “But what does repent actually mean?”
Dictionaries say that repent means:
- that you turn from your sins and dedicate to the amendment of your life.
- that you feel regret.
- that you change your mind.
And that is a pretty good description.
It is an inner decision, and then you act accordingly.
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225.
On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles started their mission to tell others about Jesus.
And when Peter was asked;
“You men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)
The first word that Peter said was;
“Repent” (Acts 2:38)
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226.
And in Peter’s second message, a little later, he says:
“Repent you therefore and turn, that your sins may be done away,” (Acts 3:19)
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227.
And the same day, when he finishes speaking, he is doubling down on the message by saying:
“First unto you has God raised up His Son Jesus, and Him He has sent to bless you,
that every one of you should turn from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:26)
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228.
And Paul says:
“And the time of this ignorance God regarded not:
But now He commands all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30)
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229.
Yes, Paul tells that he had been “witnessing both to the Jews and to the Greek,
the repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21)
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230.
And when Paul is telling king Agrippa about how he repented and turned to God, he tells how Jesus said to him;
“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
But rise and stand up on your feet. For I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness, both of the things which you have seen, and of the things in the which I will appear unto you,
delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles unto which now I send you,
to open their eyes that they might turn from darkness unto light,
and from the power of satan unto God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:15-17)
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231.
And Paul continues;
“Wherefore king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and to the Gentiles,
that they should repent, and turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”
(Acts 26:19-20)
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Works befitting repentance
“I am with you”, you might say. “Of course we must repent, and turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
And works befitting repentance – that is to change your ways, right?”
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233.
John the baptist came as a forerunner, so he was the first out, and this was what he said;
“In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the wilderness of Judea,
saying:
Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2)
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234.
And when John said “Repent”, he also told them what it meant.
It was of course an inner decision – as everything has to start with the heart.
But when there is a real inner decision – it will always translate to actions, as we see here;
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235.
“Then said he to the people that were come to be baptized of him:
O generation of vipers, who has taught you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth due fruits of repentance,
and begin not to say in yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.
For I say unto you: God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Now also is the axe laid unto the root of the trees:
So that every tree which brings not forth good fruit,
shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:7-9)
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236.
“And the people asked him saying: What shall we do then?” (Luke 3:10)
“He answered and said unto them:
He that has two coats, let him part with him that has none:
And he that has meat, let him do likewise. (Luke 3:11)
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237.
“Then came there tax collectors to be baptized, and said unto him: Master what shall we do?
(Luke 3:12)
“And he said unto them: Require no more than that which is appointed unto you.” (Luke 3:13)
(The tax collectors duty was to collect tax, but they seemed to have a habit of collecting some extra to themselves.)
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238.
“The soldiers likewise asked him saying: And what shall we do?” (Luke 3:14)
“And he said to them: Do violence to no man: neither trouble any man wrongfully: But be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:15)
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239.
So repentance is not only an inner decision – but as we have clearly seen, works / actions befitting repentance, have to follow.
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Works do not save
Now, this does not mean that works in themselves will save anyone.
They will not.
You know, some might think that if they just do good Christian works – that will be enough.
But works cannot save.
There has to be an inner change and faith in Jesus.
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241.
But when there has been an inner change – works will follow.
They will come as the fruits of the inner repentance that has taken place, just like fruits come from a fruit-tree.
So if there is no outer change – then there has not been an inner change.
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242.
So it is 100% necessary to repent and turn to God and Give All the Heart.
And when this inner change has happened – actions will follow as the good fruits.
But doing good Christian works and actions – that cannot save you.
It is only the Grace of God that when you repent and turn to God and Give All the Heart to Jesus and believe in Him and make Him your Lord – that He will save you.
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Stay tuned for point 243-317
Keep looking up,the first trump will sound soon,our Redemption draweth nigh!