Repentance
Most people today do not consider the importance of repentance, when it comes to being saved from our sins. This is even true of people who believe they are Christians. The reason for this is complex, I am sure, but I can think of several reasons for this omission. Repentance is strict, and people today are more lax in their beliefs. Repentance requires change, and people do not like change. Also, preachers want to make it easy for people to join their churches, since there are fewer people coming to church, so they water down the truth. However, Peter was very clear in his preaching. He proclaimed to everyone that sins can't be blotted out without repentance coming first. (Acts 3:19) Please, take a moment to understand this vital point of Scripture.
Repentance is the act of turning away from all sin, so we can turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is a one time action of our will, in which we decide that sin is wrong, it is why Jesus had to die for us, so we turn away from walking in sin to walk in righteousness instead. It is literally turning from our way of living to God's way of living. He can't be Lord of our lives unless we make that change. Finally, repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of actions. It is not just feeling sorry for our sins. It is doing what it takes to put them away with the help of God's Spirit, and to put on the right things that God has for us. Then, we put our faith in Jesus to blot out our sins and be our Lord. Why would He want to do that for anyone who wanted to continue to live in sin? It would be counter to why He died. Let me make it clear that no one becomes perfect after repentance takes place, but we have a total change of mind, and we begin at that point to live a holy life, which is to be separated from sin to do what is right.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 4-7.
Repentance is the act of turning away from all sin, so we can turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is a one time action of our will, in which we decide that sin is wrong, it is why Jesus had to die for us, so we turn away from walking in sin to walk in righteousness instead. It is literally turning from our way of living to God's way of living. He can't be Lord of our lives unless we make that change. Finally, repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of actions. It is not just feeling sorry for our sins. It is doing what it takes to put them away with the help of God's Spirit, and to put on the right things that God has for us. Then, we put our faith in Jesus to blot out our sins and be our Lord. Why would He want to do that for anyone who wanted to continue to live in sin? It would be counter to why He died. Let me make it clear that no one becomes perfect after repentance takes place, but we have a total change of mind, and we begin at that point to live a holy life, which is to be separated from sin to do what is right.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 4-7.