Tag: repentance
Power, Patience, Repentance
Scripture reading for November 18: 2 Peter 3
“They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the Word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same Word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not over look this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one do. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:4-9
Peter was well aware of the current worldview of many in the church and the world of his day. When Jesus Christ’s return in power was declared by the preachers and apostles, scoffers mocked them by stating that these kinds of warning had been around for thousands of years. Things really never changed, they said, so why make any changes. They said these things while deliberately rejecting God’s Word detailing the judgment of the world through water in Noah’s day. God created the world out of water and used water to judge the rebellion of man and start over.
But God’s Word also declares that the current heavens and earth will one day be destroyed by fire when Jesus returns in power to judge the ungodly. Peter plead with them to consider that with God a thousand years are as a day, and a day as a thousand years. God was not locked in our time frame and was certainly not slow or unable to bring about what His Word declared. Instead, God was showing His great kindness and patience with mankind. He wanted none to perish in fiery judgment, but that all would find repentance leading to eternal life in the new heavens and earth that would result after the fire.
Have you ever scoffed at preachers warning of Christ’s return? Do people in our world still use the argument that things will go on as usual despite God’s Word? Do you have a friend or loved one that needs to repent? Would you pray for them today and ask God to reveal Himself to them?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing patience with the scoffers and mockers. Help me to declare Your patience and kindness in Jesus Christ and the coming judgment of the ungodly at His return. Forgive those who mock and reveal truth to them through Your Word and past fulfilment. Amen.
Healthy self-examination
Scripture reading for August 14: 2 Corinthians 13
“This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them–since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For He was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but in dealing with you we will live with Him by the power of God. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:1-6
Paul was writing to the Corinthian believers about church discipline of members who were living in known sin. Paul had evidently visited them before about the need to repent and the consequences of continuing in sinful relationships. In this letter, he was again warning them that they would not be spared from church discipline when he came to them in person again. Pastoral love flows to the believers through this honest communication and confrontation. God wants none to perish but all to come to godly sorrow leading to repentance and eternal life. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10) The absence of consequences to this point does not signify God’s weakness but His patience and long-suffering. Paul’s warnings were not out of weakness either, but done in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul encouraged all the Corinthian believers to do a healthy self-examination concerning their own confession of faith. Did they recognize Jesus Christ as indwelling them? Was Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior and only hope of forgiveness and eternal life? Had they humbly repented of sin and invited Christ’s Holy Spirit to live in them? If they failed this test they could quickly repent and again live by faith. Paul’s prayer and confrontation was done for their restoration, not their condemnation. He did not want to have to confront them in person but would rather rejoice with them that they had willingly responded in humility and repentance.
Has God used patience with you in dealing with besetting sins in your life? Have you experienced gentle pastoral correction or the inner conviction of the Holy Spirit prompting you to make changes? As you do a healthy self-examination today, what assurances of Christ’s pleasure and indwelling are evident?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for godly correction through the Holy Spirit and Word and through those in church leadership. Thank You for Your gentleness and drawing me to make changes. Help me to be gentle and Christ-like in dealing with those who may be going astray. Amen.
Life without regrets!
Scripture reading for August 6: 2 Corinthians 7
“For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it–though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regrets. whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:8-11
As believers, we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. One of the benefits of the Spirit is the conviction of sin. As the Word of God is preached or read, the Holy Spirit takes that Word and brings conviction of sin which produces godly sorrow in the human soul. For unbelievers, this godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation and new birth. It has been said that truth is often negative in our first hearing. It produces sorrow and sometimes anger towards the one speaking. Believers also experience conviction through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is grieved by sin and we feel that grief in the sorrow of feeling separated from God.
Paul admitted that he knew that his letter admonishing the believers to repent and forgive would cause some to grieve. He briefly grieved and regretted having to call them out. But now Paul was rejoicing because their godly grief had brought repentance and salvation and restored relationship with the Holy Spirit and God the Father. But some were just sorrowful that they were called out and did not repent. This group was headed towards death–eternal separation from God! True godly repentance brings earnestness to be cleared, holy fear of God and zeal for God’s will and leads to no regrets.
Have you ever experienced a godly sorrow over sin in your life that brought you to a change of heart and direction? Have you ever experienced worldly sorrow that brought no change? What are some of the possible regrets with simple worldly sorrow?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling me. I welcome the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit producing godly grief enabling me to know I need to repent. Lord Jesus, keep me from worldly sorrow that leads to death and the weeping and gnashing of teeth in eternal regret. Amen.
A deceptive world view!
Scripture reading for July 14: 1 Corinthians 6
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, not thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, your were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Many people, even in the church, have bought into the idea of universal salvation. They posit that God is a God of love and mercy and He wants no one to be lost. They love the idea of grace as they see it. To them, God’s love causes Him to overlook sins like idolatry and sexual immorality and drunkenness. They profess to believe that Jesus paid the debt for all sin, and a one-time confession is your ticket to eternal life in God’s kingdom. It was no different in Paul’s day and he wrote to the church to enlarge their world view with the truth of Scripture.
Paul taught them that no unrighteous person would inherit the kingdom. He went on to define ‘unrighteousness’ as sexual immorality of all sorts, greed, drunkenness, thieves and swindlers, and the like. He emphasized that all people were involved in these sins of law-breaking and unrighteousness. The only way anyone could be freed from these sins was through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and the washing of His blood that brought justification. The Holy Spirit brings the conviction of sin and our need of righteousness and the coming judgment. That same Spirit indwells believers and leads them in the ongoing process of sanctification. We respond in humility and faith and are given the gift of righteousness in Jesus our Lord.
Have you ever held the world view of universal salvation? How do you presently view those in our culture involved in gross immorality, drunkenness or greed? How do you think that Jesus might direct you to reach out to those who are under deception and a sinful world view?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You do want all people to be saved and come to the truth in Jesus Christ our Lord. Reveal any deception in my life today and draw me to repentance and faith. Use me to illustrate righteous living for those in darkness deception. May none be lost but all repent. Amen.
Obeying the heavenly vision
Scripture reading for June 10: Acts 26
“”Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:19-23
Paul, lead by the Holy Spirit, was given the opportunity to share the Gospel with King Agrippa. In this account, Paul again shared how his view of Jesus and those following Him was radically altered by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. During this encounter, Paul was given an appointment to serve Jesus as a witness to his people as well as to the Gentiles. Jesus had promised to deliver Paul from the Jews and from the Gentiles. Through Paul, God would open the eyes of all those in darkness granting repentance through Jesus Christ. (Acts 26:15-18)
In sharing his personal repentance in response to God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to King Agrippa, Paul was obedient to that vision. His world view was powerfully altered and after the vision Paul changed from a persecutor and killer of Christ’s followers to a witness of Christ’s love and mercy for all men. Paul powerfully proclaimed Jesus as the fulfilment of Moses and the prophets through His suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead. This placed him in conflict with the Jews, who like him before this vision, considered Jesus an impostor and his followers as dangerous.
Have you ever had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that brought repentance and dramatic conversion? How have you sought to be obedient to that heavenly revelation? Are you aware of the conflict that comes when you change your world view to embrace Jesus and His followers?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your personal revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and my appointment to preach Your amazing Gospel. I have sought to obey that heavenly vision and continue to daily walk it out. Deliver me from those bent on my destruction and use me to reach lost people. Amen.
“Who are You, Lord?”
Scripture reading for June 4: Acts 22
“”As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the One Who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.” Acts 22:6-10
Have you ever noticed how many questions there are in Scriptures? By one estimate, there are 183 questions in the Gospels alone. This is because God wants us to think and evaluate the answers so that we might chose to change our minds willingly. In this testimony of Paul, he again recounts his earlier life as a devout Jew who persecuted Christ’s followers. He was on his way to Damascus with arrest warrants for believers there when Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, then called Saul. A light shone around him and a voice asked him a penetrating question. He was addressed by name, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Paul (Saul) responded with another question: “Who are You, Lord?” Although Paul knew about Jesus Christ, he did not know Jesus Christ. Jesus wanted personal relationship. This conversation, although heard clearly by Paul, was not understood by those with him. As Paul processed this information, he must have come quickly to the conclusion that his world view of Jesus Christ was in error. His persecution of Christ’s followers was actually a persecution and rejection of Jesus! “What shall I do, Lord?” was the humble request of a heart changed! The result of this bright revelation of Jesus was blindness in Paul, needing to be led by the hand. He obediently followed to Damascus, awaiting instructions.
Have you ever been convinced something was true and found out that it definitely was not? Has a question ever caused you to think more deeply and reflect on your direction? What question would you have for Jesus if He appeared to you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for desiring personal relationships with each of Your children. It is comforting to know that You ask us questions to help us find truth. Help me, as a teacher of Your Word to ask questions that probe the heart and draw people to Your Word and Jesus. Amen.
Remember the Word!
Scripture reading for May 20: Acts 11
“And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on as at the beginning. And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”” Acts 11:13-18
Although Jesus had shared how the disciples were to wait for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and they had experienced the initial baptism of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they needed further and a deeper understanding of God’s desire for all people to received this empowerment. God sent Peter through a vision to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. God had told Cornelius by an angel where to find Peter and how Peter would share a message that would bring salvation to him and his whole household. When these two people listened and obeyed, God showed up through Peter’s preaching and poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Peter and his helpers were amazed!
Peter’s conclusion was that God had given these Gentiles the same gift as the disciples had received. His testimony to the church leaders about this brought initial silence as they processed this amazing event. Then they glorified God and stated their understanding that God had granted these Gentiles repentance and eternal life. Everything was confirmed by the Word of the Lord and took place as the Word of grace through Jesus Christ was preached. It was just as the Lord had said!
Have you ever had your understanding of God’s will expanded through a supernatural event? Do you believe that with God all things are possible and His Word will prove to be true? In what ways did God through the Holy Spirit help those involved in this ‘Gentile Pentecost?’
Prayer: Father God, Your great love and patience with Your people is comforting and amazing to me. Thank You for filling Your people with the Holy Spirit and bringing remembrance of Your Word to help us overcome a faulty world view. Direct me to those who You are desiring to reach and bless. Amen.
Real rejoicing
Scripture reading for March 24: Luke 15
“And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:2-7
Religious people of all ages love to make judgments and comparisons. The Pharisees and scribes of Israel looked down their noses at Jesus because He was eating with ‘sinners’ and receiving them into His band of disciples. They thought it scandalous that He would choose to be with them and ‘contaminate’ Himself. But Jesus, wanting to expand their world view, told them a story to help them understand.
Jesus used a story about lost sheep, something very common in that time and culture of Israel. Sheep had value for meat, milk, and wool for clothes. A lost sheep was something of value worth looking for. It was the shepherd’s job and calling to protect his sheep and rescue them if they got lost, trapped, or wounded by a wild animal. We are not told what happened to this sheep, but only that the shepherd left the flock and searched and found this sheep. He carried the sheep home on his shoulders with joy. Upon arrival, he called his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. The point of this story came last: Heaven rejoices when one sinner who is lost, repents and returns to the fold! Instead of grumbling, those feeling no need of repentance should at least be rejoicing too.
As you examine your own heart, are there those that you judge to be ‘contaminating’ influences to be avoided? How does Jesus’ parable change your world view and invite you to enter into heaven’s joy? Do you identify with the shepherd or the ninety-nine or the one lost sheep?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You sent Jesus Christ, our Great Shepherd to seek and save the lost. I was found by Him and now want to help Him in reaching lost sheep. Teach me Your ways and lead me to the lost today. Fill my heart with Your love, my mouth with your Word and let rejoicing fill heaven. Amen.
“What shall we do?”
Scripture reading for March 6: Luke 3
“. . .during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. . . .And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And He said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And He said to them, do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be content with your wages.”” Luke 3:2-3, 10-14
When the time was right, John the Baptist received the Word of God in the wilderness. He responded by preaching as instructed a call to repentance and water baptism for all for forgiveness of sins. As the people heard the message, they asked John specifically what repentance would look like for them. To each inquirer, John gave a specific answer as the Word of God came to him. We might call John’s answers a “Word of knowledge given through the Holy Spirit.” Each person then had the opportunity to respond to the instructions and submit to water baptism as an act of faith that they had repented and received cleansing.
As we ponder John’s ministry and also that of Jesus and His disciples, we can see that as the Word of God is preached and declared, the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin and our need of righteousness and of the coming judgment on unforgiven sin. We know our own guilt and also cry out to God for mercy and a new pathway of obedience. Repentance is more than being sorry for sin. Repentance asks God for mercy and then sets a new direction of obedience and faith in God’s Word. What we once did as the world, we now have turned from and do what God helps us to do through the Word and Holy Spirit.
Have you ever heard God’s Word preached and experienced conviction of sin? What was your response to the conviction? Did you ask God, “What then shall I do?”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing Word and those that You have called to proclaim it. Thank You for the example of John the Baptist and his ministry. Empower me daily to share Your Word with those You send me to. May they ask “What then shall we do?” as the Holy Spirit draws them to godly sorrow and repentance. Amen.
The ‘heart’ of man’s problem!
Scripture reading for January 21: Matthew 15
“And He said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”” Matthew 15:16-20
The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day had set up many rules for worship of God and often majored on these man-made rules and taught them as God’s doctrine. One such rule was on the washing of one’s hands in order to be clean when eating. Now this was a good rule for cleanliness, but Jesus taught that this was not the major cause of someone being unclean. It went deeper than surface dirt on the hands or face!
Jesus revealed that the human heart was a greater source of uncleanness. This uncleanness is revealed in words, thoughts and actions that break God’s law and bring sin’s defilement which leads to death. Murder, theft, adultery, immorality and lying, all dealt with in God’s Ten Commandments, spring from the heart of sinful man. Because of Adam’s sin, we are born with a sin nature and it comes ‘naturally’! In order to remedy this, the human heart must be cleansed of sin through repentance. Repentance comes from a humble confession of sin and a willingness to turn from it. The heart is willingly surrendered to Christ Jesus as our new “Master” instead of our sin nature. This is understanding that leads to cleansing!
Are you following human rules and effort in order to be a ‘good’ person? Have you humbly encountered Jesus’ teaching about where true defilement comes from? Have you confessed your defilement and by faith received a heart-cleansing?
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for the many ways that I have defiled my own soul through evil thoughts, hatred, lust and greed leading to idolatry. I receive Your cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.