Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
There are going to be numerous people who are not going to be able to gain access to the kingdom of heaven. Instead, they will be cast away from God’s presence into a burning lake of fire, but this isn’t God’s first choice. God wants to save us, a desire that is openly displayed through the mercy bestowed upon us through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Remember that Jesus could have called down legions of angels and destroyed this world when He was crucified on the cross, but He didn’t. The world is standing here today because of God’s longsuffering and patience. God didn’t create the world and everything in it, for the sole purpose of destroying it. He doesn’t want anybody to perish. He wants them to repent.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
It is the lack of repentance which is the reason for the eventual downfall of mankind. God cares for this world. His own son Jesus laid down His own life for this world, but because of the refusal of some to repent and turn from their sins, the end result will be their own damnation. At the judgment, nobody will ever be able to say that God didn’t love them because He has proven His love to this entire world time and time again. The Lake of Fire is reserved for those who loved their sins more than God, a place of eternal punishment for people who chose not to repent.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The path of repentance begins with contrition and Godly sorrow. If you are never truly sorry for the wrongs that you have committed, how can you ever turn from them and do what is right? Pride will result in an obstinate refusal to apologize to God or others. If Godly sorrow is present in someones heart, it can result in a change of direction, a change of habits, and a change of your lifestyle.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Repentance Is being filled with a heartfelt desire to do the will of God rather than your own.
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 change of direction must take place in a person’s heart to obtain salvation. Sin will only lead to death, and those who choose to remain in them, will perish along with them.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
One of the greatest examples of repentance found in scripture, is the life of the Apostle Paul. His life went through a complete transformation, and he had the works to prove it.
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Outward works of obedience are the proof that Gods sanctifying Grace Is working inside of your heart.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
To repent means to turn from evil works, to good works. It means to change from disobedience to obedience. Without the outward display of these activities, faith is dead. Although forgiveness Is a free gift that we cannot earn, it is our works that prove that repentance is truly happening within our hearts.
James 2:17-24 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
The refusal for people to repent is so serious that it can destroy their relationship with God. God won’t even listen to their prayer until they first turn from their sins.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Lasting repentance requires genuine humility and contrition in the presence of God.
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 punishments for refusing to repent and being reconciled to God’s will are clear, concise, and just.
2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
God loves this world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to turn this world away from sinful living.
Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Turning from sin is required to obtain eternal life. Repentance must happen otherwise people are going to perish. Before God can forgive you, before God can heal you, before He will lift you up,….you must first learn to humbly…..
…….Get Down
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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