The Message of Christ's Ministry
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2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
I find this to be no coincidence that the message spoken by John the Baptist as he ushered in the ministry of Jesus is the same as what Christ would speak at the start of His ministry.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The message carried through from Christ is the same we see His disciples carrying through in their ministry.
12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
Why so much emphasis on repentance? Without repentance, what hope do we have?
Repent (verb, requires action on our part)- metanoeo - to change one’s mind, to reconsider — to have a change of self (heart and mind) that abandons former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.
Too often, today, we do not hear near as much on repentance as we do on prosperity. Why do you think this is?
Repentance makes us face our sin. We understand that we have fallen short of the moral standards by God, our creator. It makes us realize we can do nothing on our own to secure our salvation. It causes us to look at and acknowledge our personal moral failure and state of lostness. This doesn’t lead to popularity for most pastors or the churches. As a result, many have shifted to more prosperity gospel. I find it interesting that it is not only in the United States. List to this exerpt from pastor Dr. Conrad Mbewe of Africa “I have observed with a growing concern how repentance is no longer a clear call in much of today’s preaching. This may not necessarily be true all over the world but as I listen more and more to various preachers on African soil this is certainly true here on our continent. The vast majority of preachers treat sin more like a disease than a state of rebellion. Hence, the remedial approach is that of “deliverance” rather than a call to repent.”
Was THIS the prevalent view we see in the Bible? By no means! When we look at the apostles on the day of Pentecost, their message was clear.
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What I find interesting is this; they did not preach on the love of God, they did not preach on the blessings of God, they didn’t even preach on the rewards received in heaven by believers. They simply preached the gospel message as Christ did when he started His earthly ministry “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. THAT simple message didn’t just add warm bodies in a seat, it didn’t make someone feel good so they would tithe, it didn’t add to their small groups … it changed their LIFE.
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Too often though, we are more concerned with the number of people in the sanctuary or classroom, we are more concerned over the activities or the meals, we are more concerned about the entertainment and the music than we are about lives being changed and people being added to the church. Now, this doesn’t refer to membership, but born again believers - repenting of their sin. This was the gospel brought to the world by Christ. It changed lives then. It can change lives now.
Repent
Repent
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
If this was Christs message at the beginning of His ministry, has His message changed since then?
So, if the message has not changed, what should the message of the church be today? Do we see this consistent message being taught and preached in today main stream churches? I would suggest that the message just brought Jesus is not being fully taught or preached in many churches today because it is not a popular theme!
It seems as though churches are often more focused on “things” than they are reaching a lost and dying world with the critical message "REPENT". Repent means to change our minds, to turn away from our current way of thinking from the sinful world's perspective, and to focus our mind on the things of God. So, we see a picture of a full 180° turn in our lifestyle, walk, talk, thoughts, desires, wants, in reality all we are changes the day we accept Christ as our Savior and repent of our sins.
Why was this message so important that these were the words chosen to describe the start of Christ’s ministry? It is the complete theme seen throughout scripture. Turn from sin, turn to God!
So I ask you, why is this message so important? Because it has a vital purpose for our lives.
Purpose
Purpose
3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Here, Jesus is speaking to the disciples, helping them to grow in faith. He speaks of being a light to a world that cannot be hidden, to not just be a Christian of outward show like the Pharisees, to not fear the thought of death, to stand boldly and proclaim Christ, to not worry about storing up worldly possessions as this life is uncertain, to not fret over where food or clothing would come from, but to stand ready for the return just like the groomsmen would await the return of the groom.
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
This could be at the second coming, or this could be by death. Either way, He will come for us all. This shows the PURPOSE of preaching and teaching REPENTANCE to a lost and dying world. No one is guaranteed time to prepare for death, so now is the time for repentance for all.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
God overlooks a lot of our ignorance simply because He is patient with us, wishing that none should perish (be separated eternally from Him in hell), but that all should reach repentance. Not only do we see the purpose of preaching and teaching repentance, but there is also a promise.
Promise
Promise
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God patiently waits on each and every one of us to respond to the conviction of sin and to turn away from sin and to tur to God. If we turn our life over to Him, repenting of our sin, He gives us a promise.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith
Justified
Saved
Eternal life
What in the world do all these words mean? Faith - Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is simply believing that God sent His Son to die for our sins. And that by dying for our sins, he paid the price we owed God for those sins. When we put our faith and trust in Christ as our Savior, God then looks at us as justified. God looks at us and cannot see any sin. We are no longer guilty of our sin and no longer can be held accountable for the penalty, the fines, we owe for our sin. It is at that time we can find peace that we are saved. Saved from what? An eternal separation from God for eternity in hell. Instead we are guaranteed a spiritual life for eternity in heaven with our Creator and our Savior. That is the most wonderful promise I can think of! We even have the promise that our salvation is secure.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul said he is CONVINCED nothing can stop the love of God for His believers. Absolutely nothing. Hallelujah, we not only have a promise but we have ASSURANCE of our salvation.
Closing
Closing
We see this beautiful picture of repentance in the Old Testament the same as in the New.
21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22 None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
God desires that we should LIVE in Him that to see anyone die in their wickedness. You see, when sin separated us from God He even formed a plan to restore our relationship with Him. THAT is how much our God loves us!
But notice Paul’s words we previously looked at, nothing can separate us from God’s love, oh but there are times we will separate our love from God. Maybe we have grown complacent and cold in our faith. Maybe we have gotten out of church and can’t get in the habit of coming back. Maybe we come to Sunday morning service, but we neglect Sunday School evening service, or Wednesday bible study. Maybe we have let sin sneak in and rule areas of our lives. Maybe we haven’t served God in the way He has called us to. Maybe we have asked for forgiveness, but never really repented of our sin. Maybe we have convinced ourselves everything is okay, when deep down we know it’s not.
Today, I bring you the same message spoken by Christ. Today, you MUST repent, turn from your sins, and turn to God before it is eternally too late.
Will you do that today?