Good afternoon and welcome to the Panhandle. Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of weeks, I took boys to camp and then took students to camp. So here we are looking at the 49 General Commands of Christ Jesus or I should say revisiting them. Several years ago I looked at them and posted them here as some of my first blogs. So come on in sit down open your Bible and let's dive in.
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17).
Repentance Definition
Webster's New World College Dictionary defines repentance as "repenting or being penitent; feeling of sorrow, especially for wrongdoing; compunction; contrition; remorse."
The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary defines repentance in
its fullest sense as "a complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future."A biblical definition of repentance is to make a change of mind, heart, and action, by turning away from sin and self and returning to God.
REPENTANCE: The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: The word metanoeo (met-an-o-eh'-o) expresses the true New Testament idea of the spiritual change implied in a sinner's return to God. The term signifies "to have another mind," to change the opinion or purpose with regard to sin. It is equivalent to the Old Testament word "turn."
Yes, words like "turn," "return," "turn away," and "seek," are used in the Bible to express the idea of repentance and issue the invitation to repent. The prophetic call for repentance is a loving cry for men and women to return to dependence on God. That is why the motives for repentance are found in the goodness of God, in divine love, and in the pleading desire to have sinners saved. Sinner, no one wants to admit to being one, but whether we admit it or not that is what we are; me, you, everyone: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23). Okay, we are all sinners, why do we need to repent? Why do you have to turn from the life your living now to a life with Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? The simple answer is so that you can be saved from eternal separation from God.
It is because of the inevitable consequences of sin – death; For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23). The death spoke of here is that painful, eternal separation from God I spoke of earlier. Repentance is the only hope of a spiritual new life and membership in the kingdom of heaven.
Why repent? Because Christ Jesus preached, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew Henry in his Commentary on Matthew said this about repentance: “The doctrine of repentance is right gospel-doctrine. Not only the austere Baptist, who was looked upon as a melancholy, morose man, but the sweet and gracious Jesus, whose lips dropped as a honey-comb, preached repentance; for it is an unspeakable privilege that room is left for repentance.” What Matthew Henry was saying was that repentance is not just preached by Baptist preachers. And that before there were Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Non-Denominational or what ever denomination preachers; our loving and gracious Lord, Christ Jesus preached repentance. Christ Jesus is calling you to something good and something better, so you should seek repentance and welcome the forgiveness that only Christ Jesus can give.
The word from the Master is to repent. Christ Jesus' message, make a decision to identify your life with Him. When you choose to repent changes follow, they are the outward manifestation of an inward change; of letting God be God in your life. If you are to be a participant in the kingdom of heaven, repent.
Thanks for dropping by, I pray our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus will bless and keep you and yours. Next week we will look at “Follow Me”: Matthew 4:19. And so until next week.
Biblesurfer
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