The First Step Toward God

The First Step Toward GOD (Simple Sermons on the Old Time Religion; W. Herschel Ford)

Luke 13:1-5

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Many believe, the better we behave the better we are blessed; thus the inverse must be true as well. The Bible says, “…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? Yes then, and yes still today! BUT, Jesus said…

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 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?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Repentance is the first step toward God:

1. Repentance Is A Great Biblical Doctrine. (Repentance was preached during the ministry of Christ and all through the coming of the Church.)

a. [Rejected by most in their own lives but expected in the lives of others, that or the hope that someone else can achieve that which we have been unable to achieve, true repentance]

b. John the Baptist preached Repentance, Matthew 3:2

c. Jesus preached Repentance,

i. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

ii. …for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:13

iii. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Matthew 11:20

iv. Luke 13:3/5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

d. Peter preached Repentance, Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 11 helps us to see we are not saved through baptism.)

e. Paul preached Repentance, Acts 20:21 …repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

f. Every preacher – Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

2. What Repentance Is Not

a. It is not the fear of God – death bed confessions are proven true or false when the person lives on.

b. Repentance is not simply sorrow for sin. In most cases it’s a case of sorry I got caught. Either ways, simply being sorry is not true repentance.

c. Repentance is not merely conviction of sin. Holy Spirit brings conviction, but if the person does nothing with it, there is no repentance.

d. Repentance is not merely a profession of Christ with the lips. Preachers are often told, when a loved one passes away, I know he/she didn’t live a good life but I remember a time when he/she made a confession of Christ. Based upon that, we are expected to preach them into heaven. Well, it doesn’t work that way. A true confession will be preceded by a true repentance

e. Repentance is not merely being baptized and joining a church. That’s not repentance, that’s just joining a club. Nicodemus was a religious man, but Jesus told him he must be born again. Repentance is not being whitewashed in water; it’s being washed white in the blood of the Lamb!

3. What, Then, Is Repentance?

a. Repentance – Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence.

i. A turning away from sin.

ii. Metanoia – a changing of the mind / to think again and change your mind

b. It’s a turning away from the power of Satan unto the power of God (Acts 26:18).

c. It’s a changing of how you perceive God. Repentance is realizing that you cannot walk through this life without Jesus as you LORD. It’s realizing that you need a Saviour.

d. It is a complete change of heart and life.

e. It is a continuing change of heart and life.

4. What Does Repentance Do For A Person

a. Repentance brings him into a right relationship w/ God.

b. Repentance brings him into a local church – you will want to be with fellow Christians, worshipping

What is the first step toward God? REPENTANCE!

1. There is a Rejection of the Doctrine of the Word of God – people reject the word of God because it points out their own wickedness. They’ll accept the Bible until it speaks against their sin.

· Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…

· Isaiah asked, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”

· 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

· 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2. Repentance isn’t just for the LOST – remember, it’s a complete changing of the heart and life, AND a continuing changing of the heart and life. As Saints, we still sin thus we too need to repent. David said, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:” Psalms 51:4

3. Sins that need to be confessed and repented of:

16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. What defiles the body?

· Smoking

· Drinking alcohol (for anything other than a medicinal purpose, even then I would urge caution).

· Laziness, slothfulness – lay in a bed for 30 days and see what happens to the temple of God.

· Obesity – Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer

o These four all effect the body, the temple of the Lord.

o Does this effect your salvation? No. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

· Flirting – is adultery and is sin

· Fornication, including alternative lifestyles is sin

· Anger, bitterness towards anyone! Is sin

· Masonic Lodge members, that is a false religion and idol worship, and is sin

· Bullying people, and yes, adults do this – is sin

Sin is an abomination before God. The word abomination shows up 142 times in the KJV, 6 of which are in the New Testament. Now I would tell you that if you want to know if what you are doing is an abomination to God, read your Bibles, BUT, I know that you know whether or not you are sinning because GOD will convict your heart.

Let’s throw in some excuses for our continuation in sin.

· “It’s just the way I am”

· “It’s just the way God made me.”

· “I’ve been this way too long to change.”

· “I’m too old to change now.”

· “I’m too set in my ways.”

· “God has already forgiven me.”

· “Me and God have an understanding.”

· “It’s just a little white lie”

· “It’s just an occasional cigarette.”

· “It’s just an occasional drink”

· “The Bible doesn’t say it’s a sin”

· “It’s just harmless flirting”

· “It’s okay to read the menu.”

· “Looking’s for free.”

Every sin is a perversion of the truth; every lie a whisper from the devil; “Did God really say…” Repent, Metanoia – a changing of the mind / to think again and change your mind

NOW, what is your Heart telling you about the sin in your life?

Is God calling you to REPENT?

That’s between you and GOD. HOWEVER, if I have listed something (a sin) that you are doing and GOD is not convicting you of it, you should be genuinely concerned. The Bible is clear, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:6-8.

In Conclusion: Standing, Heads bowed, Eyes closed.

We all want REVIVAL but none of wants to REPENT.

Why is that?

Because none of us wants to give up our darlin sin.

Listen, God is calling this nation to repent and that act of repentance my very well being with YOU.

Do you dare to pray Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ask God to reveal your sins to you. Humble yourself and pray.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:” Psalms 51:1-4a.

People are calling for and praying for another Great Wakening in this nation, but the awakening must first begin in the hearts and lives of the individual before it will ever begin in the Church. That change, that awakening, begins with repentance.