And they went out, and preached that men should repent. Mark 6:12
A gentle reader recently
asked about the people who say they believe in Jesus and still live like
Satan's world. I've encountered MANY, MANY, individuals who claim they've been
Christians for years--but they can't stand to hear about the things of God.
Many go to church and think that it is a social club never preaching the gospel
to a single soul. They are concerned with soup kitchens and hospitals and special
music and newsletters which is would be okay if it were based on truth--but
these people do not share the gospel with the lost! A man can go to hell on a
full stomach. Then you've got the ones that go to church once a week and as
soon as they leave out of the doors they get to cursing and doing whatever they
please. All of these categories have something in common--NO REPENTANCE. THIS
is an issue I've been wanting to address--badly.
We Bible believers have
our little formulas for leading people to Jesus, but we are leaving out a most
necessary part of sharing the gospel--the preaching of REPENTANCE. As a result,
there are a lot of heathens walking around thinking that they are saved. We
spend almost no time on this vital aspect of the gospel and then we spend a
good deal of time on assurance verses when the person has not even repented!
REPENTANCE is foundational--
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of
the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the
FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS, and of faith toward God,
The Lord Jesus had
plenty to say about REPENTANCE--
Luke 5:32 "I came
not to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE."
Luke 24:47 ...[Jesus
said to them] that REPENTANCE and remission of sins should be preached in his
name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Mark 1:15 ..."The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, AND BELIEVE
the gospel."
"[W]e
Bible-believers have been doing the unsaved a disservice as we share the gospel
with them. We say, 'just believe'. But does not James say that even 'the devils
believe and tremble'? When soul winning, we often tell people to just admit
that they are a sinner and believe in Jesus. Then we go on to stress MANY
assurance verses. This is terribly wrong. What we need to be stressing is
REPENTANCE from dead works.
"We don't need to
spend half of our time on assurance. It's okay for somebody to be scared when
they are doing wrong. That's called the fear of the Lord. That's called working
out your salvation with fear and trembling! They need to stop doing evil and be
holy like the Lord. Yet we say, 'Don't worry, you can do any old thing and
still get in. You can sin as much as you want to, don't worry about God's
commandments.' This flies in the face of many scriptures like--
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 11:22 Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but
toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also
shalt be cut off.
2 Peter 1:10-11
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an
entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
If you want Jesus, you
must repent.
Acts 26:20 ...they
should repent and TURN TO GOD, AND DO WORKS MEET FOR REPENTANCE.
Acts 2:39, 3:19 REPENT
YE therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...
Acts 17:30 And the times
of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to
REPENT:
Acts 20:21 Testifying
both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
It's okay to fear the Lord! It is the unbeliever that has no fear of God!
Romans 3:18 There is NO FEAR of God before their eyes.
THE LORD TAKETH PLEASURE IN THEM THAT FEAR HIM, in those that hope in his mercy. Ps 147:10-11
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF GOD.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR:
Pastor Rolando Ramos
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