Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from The Book of Luke.
In order to begin taking a new direction in your life, it all comes down to that first initial step. It’s absolutely amazing how many things can change in your life, when you finally make the decision to do so. Repentance has been defined as having a change of attitude towards sinful behavior, combined with Godly sorrow and remorse for sinful activities. This will result in a complete transformation as you turn away from the works of darkness in order to walk in the light of righteousness. Repent or perish is a message that has been preached for thousands of years, because without it, people are going to come up short of eternal life. God is going to punish sin in an everlasting lake of fire, but that’s not His first choice. He wants people to repent of what they have done, and get off the wide road that leads to destruction. Through what Jesus did on the cross, He provides each of us with an abundance of grace so we can do this very thing. Jesus was spending a lot of time with sinners, in an attempt to convert them from their sins, because if you can convince someone to change their behavior and their beliefs, you will save their soul from death and hide a multitude of sins.
Luke 15:1-32 (KJB) Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living..And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
In this story, the pathway of repentance began in the son’s life when he realized how foolish that he had been, and made the choice to turn around and go back home. Not only was he sorry for what he had done, but notice how his sorrow was accompanied by an actual physical act of humility, in returning to his dad. Genuine repentance is going to have works that openly display not only your change of heart, but the direction in the way you are living your life. The Apostle Paul is one of the greatest examples in scripture of a man who was once persecuting the church, but then went in the complete opposite direction and began planting them. This is the same message that he preached wherever that he went, that people should bring forth fruit that is meet for repentance.
Acts 26:19-20 (KJB) 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.
These works are the outward evidence of a change of heart. For example, if you were once a thief, now you become a gracious open-handed giver. If you were an adulterer, now you become faithful to your spouse. If you were a habitual liar, now you speak the Truth with your neighbor. Everybody in the church has some background that they have come out of, and each of us need to turn around and do what’s right with our lives. Our God is incredibly merciful and kind towards us, in granting us mercy in our time of need, but we must prove our love towards Him with a thankful and obedient heart. The church needs to be a place that is filled up with good works and kind-hearted deeds, not just towards each other, but all people in society. The old creature that we once were in the past needs to be destroyed, so that the new man of goodness, righteousness and Truth can emerge.
All of us must renounce all of the sinful works of our past, so that by the grace of God we can become a brand new creature in Christ Jesus. We are in an age of Grace where forgiveness is available, but many times people can be their own worst enemies. Changing your mind can be as quick as flipping a light switch on the wall, and when it comes right down to it, repentance is only,…..
…….One Step Away
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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