Repentance - a glorious privilege!
A new beginning leading to newness of life.
Is it any wonder then that it is the first message Christ preached
Mark 1
14 Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and [i]taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God, 15 and saying, “The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation]
There can be no salvation without repentance.
Repentance is the first foundation of any "truth" message, not the message come and you will feel good every day.
The evidence that one has truly been born-again, regenerated and filled with the Holy Spirit is the changed life one lives.
Repentance is turning (completely) away from the old ways of thinking, speaking, acting and choosing.
Why is it a privilege to be able to repent?
One can only see themselves in truth as measured by God's word, when God awakens them and removes the scales from the eyes. It is true that the flesh the old sinful way produces "death". It brings about consequences in the form of patterns and cycles that cannot seem to be broken and a general "weariness" day to day.
Break free today.
Ask God to shine the search light of the Holy Spirit to show if there is any wicked way and to lead us along the way everlasting.
You see we will all think ourselves as good, right and perfect, if we measure ourselves but when God convicts us of sin - it is a different matter.
Submit to God's process of refining, pruning and stretching willingly.
I can testify that when you do this. Your life will take on a new "dynamism" as you walk in freedom and enter God's rest.
Remember these great words of Charles Spurgeon
Repentance grows as faith grows. Do not make any mistake about it; repentance is not a thing of days and weeks, a temporary penance to be got over as fast as possible! No; it is the grace of a lifetime, like faith itself. God's little children repent, and so do the young men and the fathers. Repentance is the inseparable companion of faith.
Words to live by my friends
Father
We ask you to give us repentant hearts
Cause us to keep short accounts with you as we want nothing to seperate us from you.
Thank you Father for showing us truth and causing us to walk along the straight and narrow pathway into the life more abundantly
We truly appreciate you Father
Thank you
In Jesus name Amen
Walk good in Christ
Till we meet again
Pastor J
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