Read about what Peter told the crowd of people in Acts 2:32-41,
“This Jesus God has raised up, of which
we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and
having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out
this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but
he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, till I make
Your enemies Your footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ. 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?’ 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. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are
afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ And with many other words he
testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three
thousand souls were added to them.”
Throughout the scriptures we read about repentance and confession. These men were cut to the heart, they were
convicted of what they had done to the Lord because of Peter’s words and said, “men
what must we do.”
Now read what 1 John 1:9 says for instance, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Then read 2 Corinthians 7:9-16, “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led
to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer
loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to
salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For
observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it
produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what
vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved
yourselves to be clear in this matter. Therefore, although I wrote to you, I
did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of
him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might
appear to you. Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we
rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been
refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am
not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting
to Titus was found true. And his affections are greater for you as he remembers
the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.”
In these too later incidences, Paul was talking to the
communities, or churches, which shoots the hyper grace movement in the foot, so
to speak, which says that we are forgiven at the time of our conversion for our
past, present and future sins, so we don’t have to repent anymore for the sins
that we commit. Just threw that in as a side note!! John the immerser, also spoke about repentance,
in fact he immersed people who had repented; that is what his emersion was for.
Repentance wasn’t just a ritual to John
it was a serious matter.
Read Matthew 3:1-10, “In
those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and
saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was
spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ Now John
himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and
his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the
region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the
Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned
you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I
say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree
which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’”
Repentance isn’t just talk, it is action, it is turning from
sin and turning to the Lord with godly sorrow which will eventually bring forth
salvation.
When Jesus started His ministry He also preached repentance,
read Matthew 4:12-17, “Now when Jesus
heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving
Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions
of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah
the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way
of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in
darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and
shadow of death light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
I want to add this scripture about grace and faith. There are more but this one sums up what I am trying to say, read, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through
faith. And this is not from yourself–it is the gift of God. It is not based on
deeds so that no one may boast.” I think this scripture sums it up nicely, so be sure it is
not your good works that saves you, it is the mercy and grace of the Lord!!
This is talking to the communities, or church, also. I could go on, but I think I got the point
across I hope this has been an encouragement and help and also a blessing. May the good Lord bless you and yours and may
you have a super day!! PS don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is
worthy!!
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