Repent, and Believe the Gospel, for the Kingdom of God is Near

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”(Matt 3:1-2;)

Repent: It paints us a picture of a man with a sign, sometimes screaming out to an unhearing, unattentive, uncaring  populace. Repent: What does this mean? Biblical repentance  is to make a change of mind, heart, and action, by turning away from sin and self and returning to God. Turn from evil and turn to what is good. It is believing God and turning away from evil and ungodliness. It is a radical change of heart wrought by the conviction in one's inner being of one's disobedience toward a Holy and Righteous God. Much is said about how all this transpires. 

There are those who believe it is totally by a persons own volition, there's enough good in us to make that choice. They say a prayer or cry out to God in repentance, and they are born again. (regenerated) Others say it is God who choses a person, opens their heart to believe His truth, are regenerated and then they believe, confess and repent. 

Scriptures on both views: Free will of mankind*** The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3)   Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. (John 1:7)  For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33)  I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51) And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.(John 12:47)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4) 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11)***

God makes the choice***  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.(John 6:44)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Eph. 1:3-6)  Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.(John 1:12-13)*** 

Important note: Paul quotes these Old Testament verses:   As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;

There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.”(Romans 3:10-12)

also: "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sin  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Eph. 2:1-3)  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (2 Cor. 2:14) These verses postulate this presupposition, if people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19) If they are dead to the things of God following the course of this world and can not receive the things of God. How can anyone believe without the intervention of God? For their heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9)   

To conclude Peter told the believers  in his first letter chapter 1  "to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.... you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, (Matt 3:8)

fruits....good works....Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, Honor the King (1 Peter 2:17) Yes we are saved unto eternal life by grace thru faith and not works BUT we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, FOR GOOD WORKS which God has prepared in advance, for us to do. (Eph 2:10)

John the Baptist proclaimed, " indeed I baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matt 3:11) The Holy Spirit and fire. Interesting way to have put that. Did John the baptist understand or somehow know what was to come to Jesus disciples and soon to be Apostles. "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:2-3) Peter went on to say this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt 4:11) Repentance says I am done with my old life. The new has come. But we are still in these corrupted, perishing, bodies of rotting flesh. It has been programmed for pleasures that once infected every fiber of our being. It consumed our life and still hangs on plotting to tempt us to indulge which you now want gone from your life. As Jesus Himself said to His disciples "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." It is a battle raging  within all children of adam. His full armor must be appropriated each day. The breastplate of righteousness. The gospel of peace. The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirt which is the Word of God. 

 ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”(Matt 9:11) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) Knowing that there is a problem and the problem is us and that only way to solve the problem is Jesus the Christ transforming your life within. When you are born again, born from above, regenerated the new life begins but it is not without temptations, suffering and even doubts. But He says, You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart. Put off the old self, which is dead through Christ and put on the new self,  renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, (Col. 3:10)  

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”(Luke 13:5) When you are regenerated by God the Holy Spirit you see the present evil age in a whole new light. You understand the god of this age, that serpent, the dragon, the devil, that is satan himself, is the one whom the world follows after. And the world's people love darkness because their deeds are evil. I had a radio pastor once say to me "we sin  because we like it." How true. Sin is comfortable, familiar, like an old sweater. Yet is tattered, torn, filled with holes and frayed with the ravages of destruction that sin brings. The devil is not your friend. Sin is not your friend. Evil is contrary to a Holy, Righteous, Perfect creator. It is a war we are in against the world, the flesh and the devil. And the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world.  "On the contrary, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, "they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (Acts 3:19) That word refreshing is the Greek word anapsuxeos meaning strengthen, refresh, relieve; recovery of breath. Recovery of breath. Ever try to see how long you could hold your breath under water? Without the saving work of God thru Jesus Christ in your life, it is like you are existing in this world holding your breath, never coming up for oxygen that allows you to breath and have life. Without the only name under heaven by which we can saved. You really are the walking dead. Physically animated but spiritually dead.   

Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-22) Only through Christ Jesus is this possible. Without Him the war is lost.   

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (Acts 17:30) 

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (1 Cor 7:1)

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 eter 3:9)

God commands us to repent. It is not a request. It is a command. It is God who has led you to this point, to walk worthy of the call you have received. Follow Me, Jesus the Christ says, and I will  give you rest. For He is the Lord of our Sabbath, that eternal rest and peace with God, through a healthy fear of God, who is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.  And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles:

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death

Light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:12-17)

Who You know,or Who Knows You

 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the craving of sinful mankind,  the lust of the eyes, and the boasting of what we say or do—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

I have heard it said before. What is the will of God in my life. What does God want me to be? What does God want me to do? Where does God want me to go? Scripture records that and it is very wise of us to let these words sink down into our ears. 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in  sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; (1 Thess 4:3-5)

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. (1 Peter 2:15-16)

Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:16-18)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

John speaks about **The cravings of sinful mankind.** Scripture tells us we were  brought forth in iniquity and in sin we were concieved. That is all of us were born with a sinful nature , inherited from the representatives of all the human race. Adam and Eve. Who failed to believe and thus obey God.  But instead believed the lie of the serpent, the dragon, the devil of old,  Satan. The adversary of everything that is contrary to and in opposition to the One True, Holy, and Righteous God. 

All of us have that prospensity toward sin. For there is no one righteous, no not one. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus Himself said we are evil. (Matt 7:11; Luke 11:13) that we were slaves to sin and free from the control of righteousness. (Romans 6:20-23)  Sin was our master. We obeyed it's commands coursing thru every fiber of our being. For we are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. We were born that way. And we desire to satisfy those inherited sinful desires. 

The Apostle Paul expounds on those cravings in Gal. 5:19-21 "Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, (any sexual activity outside the bond of marriage between a man and a woman)  impurity (contamination, polluted, foul, filthy),  sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),  idolatry, sorcery (The use of witchcraft, incantations, and drugs in calling up familiar spirits: The New Testament uses the word Pharmakeia, from which our english word  pharmacy is derived) hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions (that promote heresies),  envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21)

The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1 "To God's chosen people, exiles scattered through out various provinces of the day "with minds that are alert and fully sober,(self controlled) set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

You have been set apart brought from darkness to the light of the world. You are not your own. You were bought with a price. The precious blood of Jesus Christ.  (1 Cort 6:20)

We have been  called out from this present evil age to let our light so shine, that the world can see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. Paul added, "preach the word." Have genuine concern for the lost, knowing the severity of their fate without the one mediator; the way, truth and life; the only name by which anyone can be brought from darkness to life and from death to life. Remember one plants, one waters but God gives the increase.    

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9-10)

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.  And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;  as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 5-7)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Not one will stand before the judgement seat and claim God did not give them enough proof of His existence. All of creation says there is a creator. It is not a result of some accidental chance happening. God created for His glory and purposes. But mankind decided they wanted to be like God and so all creation was subjected to futility. Cast out of the paradise of Eden away from the God who brought them into existence.   

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

No one gets away with anything. God is all knowing. God is all seeing. The book of life will be opened. Those written in the book will hear, "well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the lord." But those who loved the things of this world.....those who do not believe...   

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate  mind, to do those things which are not fitting;  being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers (gossips),  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;  who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18-32)

The world is so consumed by its own fallenness it can not see how utterly corrupt and condemned they are. All they comprehend is the here and now. They want as much as they can get. Eat, drink and be merry, they say for tomorrow we die. No God means no  consequences to their actions. Death is the end all. Nothing comes after we take our last breath.    

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  For we have spent enough of our past  lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.  In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.  They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:1-5)

Scripture says everyone will give an account of what they did in this life. But it is not what you do that counts, no number of good works can justify entrance into God's kingdom. For all are tainted, polluted by sin. 

The only way you can escape condemnation at the judgement seat is through the one mediator between God and all the human race, Jesus the Christ. Nothing else will do. Jesus Himself said, "without me you can do nothing." That is nothing anyone can do that is of intrinsic value to gain entrance into the Kingdom of God.  For all our righteous acts are as filthy rags.   (Is. 64:6) 

So in these few verses we see that God wants us to abstain from sexual immortality. Just the opposite of what this world is telling you to do. It is not easy. The Christian walk is a disciplined one. The world will temp and tease. Entice and ridicule. And think it strange of you not to satisfy the lust of the flesh. Remember this example from Scripture. Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked forward to the reward. (Heb. 12)  

God wants us to do good. That they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Peter said sanctify (set apart; consecrate; purify) the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15)

God's chosen people in Jesus Christ have hope that one day they will be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Which Paul said, is far better. God's people look forward to the New Heavens and New earth where righteousness dwells. 

But he who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev 21 and 22)

But he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still....And for those who have trusted in the only name under heaven by which anyone can be saved  there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.  They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.  There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. ”

The Past Gone the New Has Come

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:7-14)

These words from the Apostle Paul were on my mind when I woke up this morning. I think the hardest thing for many of us who were brought from a past where we had no thoughts of God and to coin the hippy phase and moral imperative of Woodstock in 1969 "If it feels Good do it." was our mantra.   It's hard for many of us to forgive ourselves.

A past can be riddled with the things of this world. The lust of the flesh and of the mind and acting on those impulses. And the flesh wants to hang on to them. In fact Jesus the Christ said to those who would become His Apostles 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." But may we all be like the Apostle Paul who said he counts all those things dung. Dung??? 

Now in the original language in which the New Testament was written that word is "skubalon" meaning:  any refuse, as the excrement of animals, offscourings, rubbish, dregs, of things worthless and detestable. That is waste material. All our righteous acts like filthy rags for even our good deeds are tainted by that nature inherited from the worlds first parents. Our sinful nature. (Ps. 51:5)

THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION:  The song says "Jesus paid it all all to him I owe." If Jesus Christ would have never been born there would have been no chance to be forgiven of our sins. Our transgressions against a Holy and Perfectly Righteous God absolute and remain. No Hope and therefore no salvation. All would be condemned. We die in our sin. Not a pretty picture.

Think about this: Jesus the Son of God, the Word who was in the beginning with God and being in very nature God, the Word through whom all things were created  (John 1:1-3;Phil 2:5-11) living in perfect harmony with His Father and the Holy Spirit. Perfect Love. Perfect Unity. Perfect Divinity. No Pain. No Sin just everlasting Glory. And to further that Glory, God created all we see today. Why? Because He could. He created for His glory. 

And we were created to adore and honor and serve our perfect creator. But sin through the one man's (and woman's) transgression and believing the lie of the evil one, (Has God said....you will not die....you will be like God) came into the world and dashed all hope of that intimate and loving relationship with God. A mediator, an intercessor,  a savior was necessary to bridge that gap between God and mankind. Without the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-8) there is no hope. 

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor 15:20-22)  

In Christ all will be made alive. Brought from darkness to light. from death unto life (Is. 9:2; 1 Peter 2:9). Not only today in this existence but also in the life to come. For those who have the Son have life.  For He indeed is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No One comes to the Father except through him.  No One! Jesus the Christ is the One mediator between God and all the human race. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. From ourselves, from a life separated from  the One True God. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5)  

This is not something I say but what God Himself says..."this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him. " (Matt. 17:5)

If you have heard His call and responded by grace through faith, repented, confessed, believed, your slate is clean. The debt paid. Perfectly. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord walk in Him rooted and built up in the Him and established in the faith as you have been taught. Forget those things which are behind and strain toward those things which lie ahead. God has work for you to do. So let your light so shine before all people that they may  see your good works and glorify our God in heaven. For there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.  (Col. 2:10;Phil 3:7-14)