Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Every day, people in the world fill out applications, and prepare a resume for a future job interview, but a lot of the time, it’s required to possess certain skills in order to obtain a position with a specific company. A lot of places won’t even look at you unless you have a four-year degree, an outstanding grade point average, or previous work experience. Even when they post a job opening in the newspaper, they will normally list all of the things that are absolutely required beforehand, in order to eventually be hired by them in the future.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
They don’t give certain jobs to anybody who comes along, and it’s the same way with the kingdom of God. To be found worthy to obtain everlasting life, there are certain prerequisites that are required beforehand, one of which is repentance from dead works.
Romans 8 ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
In order to obtain eternal life, we will need to mortify the deeds of the flesh, undergoing a complete transformation from sinners into saints. God through His mercy gives us a starting point, by washing all of our sins away through baptism. But from that point on, we must begin to prepare for the world that is coming. We must renounce the things that we did in our past and begin living for God. The evidence that somebody truly believes in Jesus is repentance, which is to turn away from sinfulness and dedicate yourself to becoming obedient to the will of God.
“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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
God gives us a free gift of His grace so that we can become His obedient children, but those who abide in sin will perish, along with all the rest.
Ephesians 5 ⁵ For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
⁶ Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. ⁷ Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
⁸ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Colossians 3 ⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
In order to obtain everlasting mercy and finally enter into the Gates of heaven, sin must be completely eliminated in one’s life.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Many people will quickly claim to believe in Jesus with their lips, but then deny the teachings of our faith. They want to become a Christian according to their terms, rather than God’s, which is one of the reasons many people are simply not going to have the stamina to make it all the way to heaven. They are similar to a disobedient wife who doesn’t obey their husband in everything. They simply cherry-pick the things that they don’t have a problem with, and skip all the rest. The path to heaven is very narrow and will require complete submission to God’s purpose, which is something that many people simply will not be able to do. Jesus died to take our sins away so that we could become new creatures, and anyone who truly loves what He did for us at the cross, will depart from iniquity.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19
Repentance is not optional, it’s mandatory, a prerequisite to obtain eternal salvation. A prerequisite is something required before you can obtain something else. People must repent, otherwise they will most certainly perish.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” — Luke 13:5
Paul’s entire life as a Christian was an example of repentance, and he warned others to take the same path.
Acts 26 ¹⁹ Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 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.
2 Corinthians 5 ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men….
…
Galatians 6 ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Many people who are very religious are going to wind up in the Lake of Fire. This is because they never truly repented in their hearts. Without repentance, people remain the same old sinners they used to be, the only difference is that now they are wrapped up in their own religious hypocrisy. They profess to be followers of Christ, but deny what that entails. They keep up appearances for the public, but on the inside they are filled with iniquity.
Matthew 7 ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
God gives us grace to change, but if there is no change then salvation will ultimately be lost. To obtain a righteous kingdom we must become righteous ourselves. We must strive to enter in through the straight gate, perfecting Holiness in the fear of God. We must cast off the works of darkness, and walk in the light.
If you desire everlasting life, then you must overcome the sinful nature. Repentance is not optional, it is mandatory, and God’s Divine…..
…..Prerequisite
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 goups. 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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