REPENT!

I have been wondering what happened to the preaching of repentance?
If we look at the totality of Scripture we see that the message of God is REPENT.

In the Old Testament we see God saying turn from sin and turn to God.

I’ll focus on the new in this post.

1. Then we see John the Baptist the bridge from the old to the new preaching Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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

3. Then we see the 70 who were sent out doing signs and wonders but look close at the message they preached. God confirmed his Word with signs and wonders but what was his Word? REPENT. Mark 6:12-13 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

4. Then we see Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost preached, Acts 2:38 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.

5. Then we see the Apostle Paul who could of shared all the different things he mentioned but said,”That they should repent to sum it all up”, Acts 26:19-20 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

6. Then we see that 5 of the 7 Churches in Rev. are told to Repent.

a. Revelation 2:4-5 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Relationship was left…

b. Revelation 2:14-16 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Embraced false doctrine…

c. Revelation 2:20-22 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Sinful deeds…

d. Revelation 3:2-3 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Not watchful, unperfected works…

e. Revelation 3:15-19 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Lukewarm…

Relationship was left…
Embraced false doctrine…
Sinful deeds…
Not watchful, unperfected works…
Lukewarm…

Sound familiar?

We need repentance preaching.

I’m wondering about all these so called revivals that have no repentance…

It seems like in the Bible revivals were directly connected to repentance…

If we ever want to experience fresh times of refreshing we must repent.

Not an event but a lifestyle.


Acts 3:19 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

I thought I’d just scratch the surface…

If anyone knows any good repentance resources please post.

Thanks

Blessings,
Josh

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JOSHUA MEYERS

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William Thomas Anderson

Concerning repentance, we see this in Acts 17v30, 'Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.'

Or, in other words, God has commanded us to repent, He doesn't beg us. Although, there might be some people who have the ability to show from scripture that is otherwise.

Verse 31 tells us why we should repent, 'because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness...

In order for people to repent, repentance has to be preached, not glossed over.

I hope some find some backbone in order to do so.

As for resources, try sermonindex.net

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
2Co 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2Co 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2Co 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2Co 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It is the love of Christ that caused Paul to even beg that mankind be reconciled to God and it will be the love of Christ that will cause a man to preach and it will be the love of the lost that will cause that man to preach repentance in truth and love. That will take a heart and a backbone.

All for souls,

wta

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William Thomas Anderson

Heart and backbone?

Good combi.

If nothing else you got a good start to a tasty pie...

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William Thomas Anderson

Paul prayed for Christ to be formed in US, it is God that reconciles us to himself.

Food for thought:

Lu 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Lu 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mr 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Lu 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Lu 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Lu 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Lu 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

[Notice Jesus said unless we all repent we will all likewise perish.]

Let us look at the closing of the gospels, where Jesus gives the great commission to the disciples he had chosen. He gives hem specific commands and tells them not to go do, but first they are to tarry until they receive power from on high to be enabled to go and do them.

Observe -the gospels were the life of Jesus and his disciples before Pentecost. They were written by the apostles after Pentecost. They write about what Jesus said and did before Pentecost. The book of acts, except for chapter 1, is about what happened after Pentecost.

In summary the closing of the gospels are written telling us what Jesus commanded his disciples before Pentecost had actually come. He even said in Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. But when the Holy Spirit is come, He would lead and guide them in all truth. The very first message to be preached was after Pentecost in acts 2 and was given by the Holy Spirit to the apostle Peter. It was the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified because of our sins, and that God had raised him from the dead. He also told them God had made that same Jesus that they had crucified both Lord and Christ. They that were convicted and asked what must we do.

Peter told them - Ac 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.

Matthew 28:19-20 is what Jesus said to his disciples before Pentecost. Acts 2:38 is what Jesus said through the Holy Ghost in Peter to tell the people under conviction what to do.
The first sermon (message) preached in the New Testament church was a message of repentance by a Holy Ghost filled preacher. People debate over what Jesus said in matt 28 and what Peter said in acts 2:38. Peter did exactly what Jesus told him to do.

Acts 2:38 lays out the plan of salvation. All through the book of Acts Jesus Christ is preached as the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved. All through the book of acts repentance of sins and faith in the Lord Jesus is required for remission of sins.

They demonstrated their faith in the Lord Jesus by water baptism, believing that their sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. They believed they were buried with Him by baptism into his death. They wanted to be rid of their past sinful life. They believed they were to live and walk in their new life in Christ.

Their faith in Jesus Christ was evident in their repentance, submitting to being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins.

These apostles didn’t stop at salvation in Christ, they wanted those who had received Christ to be baptized in the Holy Ghost with power, to do the works of Christ.

The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We must be filled with the Spirit.

Heavenly Father, help us to realize, we need to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

Respectfully submitted by rbanks

[u]Evavgelist asked for resources on repentance[/u]:

Richard Owen Roberts has a book, titled Repentance, I think. He is on SI. Could call ministry directly. Doubt you will ever say God hates sin but loves the sinner again.

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=279

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William Thomas Anderson