Why Repent? A Kingdom Authority Message
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Call To Worship Scripture
Call To Worship Scripture
Call To Worship Scripture
Call To Worship Scripture
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Sermon Scripture
Sermon Scripture
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Why Repent?
Why Repent?
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
REPENT: metanoeō (verb) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
KINGDOM: basileia (feminine noun) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule - not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom - of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah - the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom
HEAVEN: ouranos (masculine noun) the region above the sidereal heavens (above the distant stars), the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings
HAND: eggizō (verb) to bring near, to join one thing to another - to draw or come near to, to approach - of time, with reference to things that are imminent, as the kingdom of heaven, ; ; ...
For a while I thought this verse was saying that Jesus is here. And while that is a true statement and does not contradict the verse, this passage has a much deeper meaning. After all when Jesus begins to preach in , He is not merely announcing His arrival, but rather He is “preaching” that is proclaiming the Word and as such the work of God:
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew
The same words are used in both verses ( & 4:17).
Matthew is displaying the Kingship of Christ. And in historical context, the people who were to be awaiting their King, were not doing so. They were a lost people, who had become lax in their seeking of God. The priest were corrupt and their sacrifices defiled. Yes they were a religious people, practicing their rituals - but they were not mindful of God.
NOTE: Being mindful of God vs. religious rituals
Thus, they have to change or they will miss the reaching out/down of Heaven. They have to change their minds about how they (God’s people) live their life, how they approach worship, interact with the world and each other, prioritize their lives, seek security. They have hate their defiled ways and in abhorence, turn from them.
That is what is being said when you look at the context, but note, we are not given any reason to believe that the hearers needed a description as to what they were doing wrong. They were not being mindless of God out of ignorance, nor were they offering defiled sacrifices out of ignorance, and yet, even though they are not ignorant it is as though they are blind to it. So rather than describing what the people were doing wrong, the text takes us a different direction to describe the cause for repentance (repentance therefore not being caused by something that we do but by what God is doing)
Repent is the verb - for (conjunction) - the Kingdom (feminine noun). The word Kingdom here is not describing a place but an authority. When we say, Thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory - we are saying that all authority to do belongs to God, all power needed to do what He wills belongs to Him and all glory for the accomplishing of that will belongs to Him alone. Or you could note that this is what Jesus is referring to in
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Now this authority is authority over what? What is the Kingdom of? Authority can sound like a big word but the (what of) makes all the difference.
Answer: Heaven (masculine noun). The Kingdom of Heaven. This is the region beyond or over the distant stars - it is the seat of order of things eternal - the dwelling place of God and other heavenly beings. In other words the Authority that we are speaking of is over all things, for the Kingdom is over all Kingdoms. This is why Revelation says of Jesus:
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 1
Now it is one thing to say repent for the Kingdom of Heaven. Simply knowing or being mindful of such a place and Kingdom should cause one to turn. However the call or the verse then says “is at hand” (verb). The word here means to bring near, or to draw near. Thats why it is a verb. It is speaking of a present action not a stagnant being.
Matthew
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
Matthew
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The Authority of Heaven is presently drawing all to Himself, not just during the time of John the Baptist or the 3 year ministry of Christ, but listen:
So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
-20
So why should we repent? Why should we turn fully to God with all of our heart, soul and mind? Because He has come to us, He has drawn near and to reject Him, to turn Him out in His drawing my friends will not be forgiven. However today we ourselves and all who hear even through us (as the word Kingdom refers even to the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom) rejoice that today is the day of salvation - the day which God is drawing all to Himself. This is the showering of His grace, the pouring out of His Love.
For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
2 Corinthians 6:2-3
For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
2 Corinthians
Matthew 28:18