What is the alternative to Repentance?
“There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” -{Luke 13:1-5}. Unless you repent…you…will Perish! In the book of Revelation we read,”They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him “-{Rev 16:9}. Such is the clinging to self that they would not repent as they did not want Him glorified. They wanted to be their own “god,” and wanted Glory for themselves.The essence of sin. Idolatry! Some people can appear very “meek,” until they are called to “repent” and then the stiff-necked rebellion arises and the rejection of the LORD Jesus is manifest!
Repentance is a consciousness of sin and a change of mind about self, sin, God and a change of direction in the way one lives. A Turning from evil to GOD! Its like driving down the highway when suddenly you read a sign that informs your mind you are heading the wrong way and you need to turn completely around in order to be heading in the way you should go. At that moment you make the choice to turn your back on what you had believed was the right direction and immediately turn around to go the right way! Turning from.. a turning to! I turn from living my life on my terms for my sake to God and submit to Him and entrust my life into the hands of the LORD Jesus to live by His power for His Sake on His terms for His sake. Or like a professional soccer player who is transferred from one team to another. They now have a new team, a new allegiance. A New coach, a new authority A Change has taken place!
Jesus came with purpose which include a life changing message…
“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” -{Luke 5: 31-32}; There is no salvation apart from Repentance,.
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”-{Luke 15:10}.
THE MESSAGE FROM HELL;
“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them,so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets;let them listen to them.’ -{Luke 16:26-31} “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”-{Luke 16:26-31}. Heaven’s message is Repent. Earth’s Message is Repent. Hell’s Message is Repent! There is better theology in hell that many a pulpit who leave out the message of “Repentance” which is the missing message today! People are offered Christ, His forgiveness, without needing to give up themselves and their sin! Keep your sin and have Jesus too is what is on offer when repentance is not preached. And people end up twice a child of Hell as they have been presented and embraced a lie~ It is to change the message of the LORD Jesus either out of ignorance or defiance! But it is another “Gospel” a false Gospel not the Gospel of God, therefore God will not own or honor the lie, for it attacks Him and the work of His Son AS INSUFFICIENT, UNTRUSTWORTHY!
We too were once rebellious towards God,“But God…” convicted us and granted us, and those who obey His command to repent, He sets spiritually free and it begins with you doing a U turn… u turn from self rule to God and submit to Him and submit to His Son to rule over you and save you from self love, self rule, the penalty and power of sin, the wrath of God and the control of satan!
Repentance and faith is where life begins… and then the fruit of repentance, of a changing life is evident as it is producing a new life under a new authority, The LORD Jesus.
For example if I asked you, “when is a thief no longer a thief ?” you may say when they stop stealing… But God says,“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” When they stop stealing and start working in order to give to the one in need! That is the “FRUIT OF REPENTANCE.” Instead of living to get at any cost. Self Obsessed. They are living to give lovingly for His sake!-{Read Eph 4:28}.
Have you Repented?
If Not, then Know…
No Repentance, No Forgiveness.
No Repentance, No gift of the Holy Spirit
to empower you to live the New life.
No Repentance, No Glorifying GOD
No Repentance, No Salvation
No Repentance, The Rejection of The LORD Jesus.
No Repentance you are an enemy of God
No Repentance you are still dead in your sin
No Repentance You …Will…Perish!
If you have not repented you are still dead in your sins and the penalty of sin is eternal death,-{Rom 6;23}; you are under the dominion of satan;-{Eph 2:1-3}; and under the wrath of God-{Rom 1:18}.
HAVE YOU REPENTED?
The GOD NEWS for you is…
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”-{2 Peter 3:9}
God’s message has called us to REPENT and then to Preach the message of REPENTANCE!
Turn And Trust. Turn from self, sin To God, Trust His Son to save, rescue you from the penalty,power of sin, and be liberated in Christ “for whom the Son sets free is free indeed! -{John 8:31-32!}