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.
When I was a young man, we lived pretty far away from town. From what I can remember I think it was about a half hour drive to get into town. Sometimes I would grab my jacket and the car keys, and off I went. But you know what, there are a couple of occasions that I got halfway into town and finally realized that I forgot my wallet. There was nothing I could do at that point because I had to turn the car completely round and go back home and get it.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Like turning around my car on the highway, repentance is about changing direction in your life. You must turn away from sinful things that you have done towards God and others. True repentance is about changing your mind, and learning to go and sin no more.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJB) 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.
In order to repent, it’s first going to require humility, which is having an attitude of lowliness of mind. When someone possesses this quality they will display great meekness in the sight of God, just as the humble publican did.
Luke 18:10-14 (KJV) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
If there’s one thing that can absolutely ruin one’s relationship with God is the lack of humility. This is because pride is the enemy of repentance, and puts up a rock wall between sinners and God. Sometimes, just like the proud Pharisee, people will examine everybody else rather than taking a look good inside of their own hearts.
Luke 13:1-5 (KJB) 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
John the Baptist even warned the religious leaders of his day that they really didn’t have any fear of God at all. They were very religious, but they needed to produce fruit that was worthy of that type of lifestyle.
Matthew 3:1-10 (KJB) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
This is why there are so many warnings about hypocrisy in the scriptures, because when you live your life in that manner you are living a double life, and without repentance the soul will be lost.
Matthew 23:27 (KJB) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Job 8:13 (KJB) ……..the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
Ultimately, to prove to the Lord how much we love Him, requires doing His will from our hearts. It’s more than saying you are going to do something, it is doing what you say!
Matthew 21:28-32 (KJB) 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.
How many of you parents have been walking with your children through one of the local department stores, but then they started to wander away from you? Perhaps you put your hand gently on the top of their head and turned them back around again. It’s basically redirecting them, and pointing them down the right path. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was doing with his life, turning people from the darkness to the light. Repentance has to take place in a person’s heart, because that is the only way that you can ever cease from sin.
Acts 26:16-20 (KJB) But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to 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 that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 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.
So it’s much more than just claiming to believe in God, it’s living for him with a humble and obedient heart. Repentance is about turning around and heading back home, just like the day that I was,…..
…….Outta Cash
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 all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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