Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
When someone possesses true sorrow, contrition, and genuine penitence in their heart, repentance can take place. Sincere sorrow for going against God’s will, is one of the first steps towards turning away from sin and becoming a changed person. Before you can repent and do the will of God, you must accept the truth that you are living in sin. You must acknowledge that you are not walking according to God’s will and purpose. Once you accept the truth, Godly sorrow and a penitent heart for misdeeds can lead you to change. Repentance is about undergoing a conversion from your will to God’s will. Lasting conversion leads to salvation. Conversion has to happen because you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven unless you convert and change from your sinful living.
1 John 2:17 …,….but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
It really doesn’t matter if you profess to be a Christian. I could profess to be a mechanic, but not have any desire to do what a mechanic does. It’s more than just saying what you believe, it’s living what you believe. Repentance is so important that the disciples and Apostles were constantly warning and preaching that people turn from their sins. The city of Nineveh was one such city that we’re filled with contrition and repented of their hearts.
Jonah 3:4-10 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
There are many people who profess to be Christian today, who are not turning from their sins at all. They continue to live in their sins and feel like they are on their way to heaven. What a ridiculous thought from the carnal mind. They are only deceiving themselves. Willful sin is egregious with God. What makes people think in this day and age that they don’t have to repent, and turn from sin to the will of God? Why is it that some have to repent and change their ways, while others feel that they don’t have to do the same? It’s because of the combination of arrogance in their life, and no fear of any consequences with God. No one is above repentance, and those who refuse to repent, will certainly perish.
Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
In the following passage, people were finding fault with the Galilaeans rather than recognizing that they needed to repent themselves.
Luke 13:1-9 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.
Even in this passage, some felt like they were better than other people, just as the proud Pharisee felt he was better than the humble publican. The humble publican was actually the one who was filled with contrition and felt bad about what he had done. In his own eyes, the Pharisee could do no wrong. Jesus teaches that repentance is a requirement to obtain eternal life. Those who mock this are only going to find themselves thrown into a lake of fire. God is no respecter of persons, whomever they may be. No one is above repentance. They might not believe it now, but they certainly will believe it later. In order to obtain lasting conversion and repentance, contrition and penitence must take place in a person’s heart. Those who can’t weep over their sins are spiritual frauds.
James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
The Lord Jesus draws near to those who are contrite, and He resists the arrogant.
Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Genuine repentance will cause you to go in a different direction. Instead of walking the wide road of sin, it will cause you to follow the narrow road of Christ. It is a change of your heart and your mind that leads to conversion and to doing the will of God.
Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
This story teaches us that repentance is about a change. Christianity is about conversion and turning around to do the will of the Heavenly Father. Without genuine sorrow and heartfelt feelings about the sins that one commits, repentance cannot happen. This is why the apostles warned repetitively about damnation of the soul. To those who reject contrition and purposely sin against God’s will, don’t love Him or the things that He taught. To abide in that state will only result in one thing……
………Game over
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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