REPENTANCE

July 9, 2013

REPENTANCE:

“Repentance is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally involves a commitment to personal change and resolving to live a more responsible and humane life. The practice of repentance plays an important role in the soteriological doctrines of the world’s major religions where it is considered necessary for the attainment of salvation.”

Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”. Repentance is not just feeling remorseful, or conscience-stricken, but convicted through God’s Spirit to live according to God’s precepts and laws. Feeling sorry without giving it all to the master is not changing one’s life. The fruits of repentance are visible actions, that demonstrates a person has actually turned His life around.

Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Once a person reaches maturity, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn out or dying cells and to repair injuries. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells; instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired.

Often, cancer cells travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. These cancer cells, if they are not entirely eradicated, will continue to multiply and will eventually kill the patient. Cancer and sin are much alike we must completely eradicate sin. If we wish to live abundant lives, Galatians 2:20 tells us “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Paul states that he is dead and crucified but he still lives because Christ lives in him. In Acts 3:19 – it states “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”.  Repentance is A transformation from the results of sin to the Character and  life that we live through Christ. We are not able to divorce oneself from the penalty of sin unless we recognize that it is as a cancer that will spread and cause death.

Paul says in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “But when the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit of God, the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discern something of the depth and sacredness of God’s holy law.” John 1:9 states The “Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, illumines the secret chambers of the soul, and the hidden things of darkness are made manifest.” “Conviction takes hold upon the mind and heart. The sinner has a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and feels the terror of appearing, in his own guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher of hearts. He sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with Heaven.”(E. G. White Steps to Christ, p. 24.)

Matthew 3:1-3 says “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” One of the greatest gifts God has given man among many is the ability to repent and be saved. Without this capability we would be unable to enter God’s pure and holy Kingdom and receive eternal life. Repentance and Restoration of our lives leads to the sinner entering into the Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It also means a 180 degree turn around, and not 360 degrees. For 360 only tells our savior I’m returning back to the forces of evil because I have not allowed you to completely cut out the cancer of this world that have been distracting my five senses starting with,

#1 (SIGHT -Our over saturation of television programming has turned the United States into a nation of zombies. Sin and Satan’s desire that we all lose sight of Christ saving grace, as we squander away our time in front of the TV. For we only have but a short period of probation, from birth to death in which to prepare for God’s pure and holy kingdom. Watching TV immediately shifts our brain activity to an unfocused state of mind which lacks the act of knowing, perceiving, or remembering the things God deems beneficial, and precious for our salvation.),

#2 (smell- 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 tells us But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

#3(touch- Sensuality is a major sin in this imoral world we live in. Of all the things to exercise control of, this is perhaps the easiest. God has given us the opportunity to exercise the sense of touch to inform each of us, weather man or women when we are being treated in an ungodly fashion. fact: Samson who once laid his head in the lap of a woman named Delilah and later gave His life for the master, but physically blind and young in years. A simple I am a child of God keep your hands to yourself’ would have saved Samson’s life and ministry.)

#4(taste- So it is with anything you put in your mouth; God gave you the ability to discern , Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God gave us our sense of taste to warn us what is good and acceptable to God. )

#5(hearing-The last senses that you must take control over is the ear. There is no reason that we cannot identify the destructive and foul sounds of inappropriate music, and gossip that affect us spiritually . Think of your heart as a recorder. Your tongue will then become the ‘sound system’ that replays every thing that you filled your heart with…Luke 6:45 says A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Remenber my friends 2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY