Repentance

Repentance

 

John The Baptist came out of the wilderness and proclaimed, “Repent – for The Kingdom of GOD (Heaven) is at hand!” Matthew 3:1-2

 

Jesus said to the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda, “Go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” He said to the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” John 5:14, 8:11

 

So what is repentance in relation to The Kingdom of GOD (Heaven)? Repent means to “think differently” or to “reconsider”. Repentance means a “reversal of decision”. So to repent is to change how we think about GOD, sin and eternity; and repentance means that we have changed our mind about GOD, sin and eternity. Strong’s Greek Dictionary 3340, 3341

 

So when we repent we change how we think about GOD, sin and eternity.

Repentance is the actual change in our life style to reflect how we now think (believe) about GOD, sin and eternity.

 

Paul said to the Ephesians, “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry and do not sin’; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of GOD, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32

 

Paul said to the Galatians, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of GOD. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:16-26

 

Paul said to the Corinthians, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in GOD for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

 

Paul said to the Philippians, “Therefore my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is GOD who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of GOD without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:12-16

 

Peter said to the Elect; “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind (procreative power), be sober and rest your hope fully on the Grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of JESUS CHRIST; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He Who Called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I Am Holy.’…Since you have purified your souls in obeying the Truth through The SPIRIT in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,  through The Word of GOD which Lives and Abides forever,…Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babies, desire the Pure Milk of The Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that The LORD is Gracious.” 1 Peter 1:13-16, 1:22-23, 2:1-3

 

James said to the 12 tribes (Jewish believers); “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing…Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of Life which The LORD has promised to those who Love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by GOD’; for GOD cannot be tempted by evil, nor des He Himself tempt anyone.…So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of GOD. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and abundance of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to Save your souls. But be doers of The Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before GOD and The Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:2-4, 12-16, 19-22, 26-27

 

John said to all believers; “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him.’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. But whoever keeps Is Word, truly the Love of GOD is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6

 

JESUS said we would know people by the fruit of their life (Matthew 7:20), so no matter what people claim about themselves pay attention to how they live and how they treat people and you will know their true nature. This is true about ourselves, people will observe us and know if we are truly a Christian or not by how we live and treat others.