Repentance: Giving it up for God

Repent or Perish

(Hook) Have to turned to God with all of your desire and understanding,? This is what God calls repentance, and if you haven’t done it, you might want to!

When Jesus Christ came on the world scene, He came announcing that God’s Kingdom was present and approaching.

Mark 1:14–15 NKJV

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus said that the first requirement to be a part of The Kingdom is repentance, but what is it?

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 3340. μετανοέω metanoéō

μετανοέω metanoéō; contracted metanoṓ, fut. metanoḗsō, from metá (3326), denoting change of place or condition, and noéō (3539), to exercise the mind, think, comprehend. To repent, change the mind, relent. Theologically, it involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a true change of heart toward God

My point of repentance: 2009

So Jesus tell those of us listening that we must change our place and condition.

It is also said to involve regret or sorrow.

Jesus Christ tells us that it is God that draws us to Himself, Being a Spirit, a Being of The Supernatural Dimension.

John 6:44 NKJV

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

One of Jesus’ Ambassador’s of His Church, called an Apostle, says this also about God drawing us to change our ways and direction of life:

Romans 2:1–4 NKJV

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

As Jesus had ended His ministry, He reminded His disciples of the most important points that He had taught them, and they were to tell others:

Luke 24:45–48 NKJV

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

As Jesus’ disciples take over His ministry physically, and He lives through them by His Spirit within them, they also continue to preach and teach repentance when it’s needed to:

Acts 2:36–38 NKJV

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:41–42 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Another of Jesus’ Apostle’s named Paul, taught those of various nations and ethnicity’s the same thing as He proclaimed Jesus’ Message of God’s coming Kingdom:

Acts 20:17–21 NKJV

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:25–27 NKJV

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Repentance is our first step and initial response to God’s Message and Word, turning to Him with all our desire and understanding as He draws us into relationship with Himself.

Repentance however also becomes part of our daily values as we will get sidetracked, and as our humanity will try to cause us to follow its’ desires instead of God’s, to do it’s own thing instead of working with God to prepare people for His coming Kingdom.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1–2 NKJV

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

This world, this age and set of values is only temporary. It’s broken and continues to produce broken families and lives.

In turning to God with all of who we are, our desires, our minds/intellect and allow Jesus Christ to transform and prepare us for His coming Kingdom, He will help us to have better quality of life now through our change of perspective and values where needed.

Ultimately He will carry us over to the time when He will set up His gov’t on this earth with those of us who have been prepared before hand, helping Him to co-govern and rule as He shows what a perfect world looks like.

So if you feel Jesus drawing you, turn to Him, connect with me and let’s follow His and His disciples plan and map to make it into the Age and world order that is ahead of us.