Saturday Motivation! A Call to Repentance!
28th March 2020
Saturday Motivation! A Call to Repentance! Winners let`s glow!
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2 Peter 3 v 9: 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.
1 John 1 v 8-9: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2 v 15 – 17: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Introduction
Last week, the Lord instructed me to inform the whole world to worship and praise Him, but how many people obeyed? Not even up to three quarters of the world. The message did not reach some people, some are busy washing their hands and living in fear while some are going about their normal lives as if there is no tomorrow. Some are asking; what is taking God so long, why hasn`t He began His judgment?
For your information, it is God`s mercy that delays His judgment. God is simply just waiting to give more people the opportunity to repent. Before I complete this message, a lot of people would say; God is wasting His time. The reason is because they are the children of perdition. They have sold their souls to the devil. No matter what we do or say, they will never change. They will never come to repentance. They are proud, arrogant and full of earthly wisdom. The wisdom of God is not in them.
Today is another beautiful day that the Lord is calling all to repentance. He is saying live holy even though He knows that not everyone will repent . He will not force anyone and that`s why He gave unto every man free will. It is undeniable that many will perish. However the effectual calling of God would prevent all from perishing even though all deserves to perish for all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. A lot are saying what have I done, why should I repent. They act this way because they do not believe in God and have refused to change their hearts and mindset to suit God`s plan and purpose. They prefer to follow their own course. But there is a way that seems right unto man of which the end therein is destruction; (Proverbs 14 v 12).
Why the Call to Repentance?
The concept of repentance is the very essence of the gospel. We are called to preach repentance for forgiveness of sins to all nations.
We already know that iniquity separates us from God but if we humble ourselves and return to God with true contrition, He longs to take us back no matter what we may have done or where we may have been. God wants us to truly come to him after we have forsaken our sins!
God does not require religion from us. He wants our heart. It is not those that are healthy that needs a physician but those that are sick. This call is not for the righteous it`s for sinners. Repentance is crucial at this time so as to avoid perishing.
The ministry of John, Jesus and the disciples were all about repentance and heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner than over a hundred who are righteous and do not need repentance.
Repentance provides for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit brings us into all truth.
God is saying that He will overlook our times of ignorance. He will not count the times of ignorance, even though He has a fixed day that He will judge the world. This day is only known to Him and no other.
What is the Call to Repentance
Mark 8 v 34: … If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
A call to repentance is a call for turning away from self. It is an invitation to sinners to turn from controlling their own lives and follow Jesus.
Some are wondering; are you sure it`s not a call to an already saved person to deny himself, take up his cross and be a more devout believer. Are you sure it`s a call to unbelievers alone? No it is not. It is a call to everyone because once saved is not always saved.
I am certain because Luke 9 v 25 says: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.
The call to repentance is a call to repent from a self-centered life, a self-directed life, a self-indulgent life, a sinful life to follow Christ. It is a turning from your own life, your own will, your own way to follow Jesus at all cost.
It is a change of heart, a change of mind and a change of attitude.
How important is it to repent?
Luke 13 v 3 and 5 says: I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish
This world and the world to come are enemies. This world is full of evil vices, let me name a few; adultery, corruption, greed, idol worship. While the other gives these things up, others want to have both worlds. We cannot be friends of this world and the one to come. To get the one that is to come, we must give up the one that we are currently in. And I do not mean we should vacate the earth and move to space like an astronaut. What I mean is; friendship with the world is enmity with God!
We are to repent not only from the more corrupt sins of life. Not only from the outward vices but from all vices.
All transgression must be renounced or else the gates of heaven will be barred against all sinners.
True repentance involves giving up the whole soul to God and to be His forever. It is the renunciation of the sins of the heart as well as the sins of life.
We cannot ask Christ to be our savior, forgive us our sins, promise us heaven but still decide to hold on to some sins.
Let`s look at two parables to better understand repentance
- Luke 18 v 9-14:
It is a parable about some certain set of people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, they looked at others with contempt, these people were Pharisees.
In that parable, two men went into the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee while praying said to himself; God I thank you that I am not like this tax collector, I fast twice a week, I pay tithes of all I can get… He was there confessing his righteousness to God, but remember that God says that our righteousness is like filthy rags before Him.
Now let me ask the following questions;
Did the Pharisee believe in God? Yes
Did he have faith in God? Yes
Was the Pharisee saved? No
Why was he not saved? Because his faith was devoid of repentance.
Even though the Pharisee was a believer, was devoted to God, he went to the temple to pray often to the God he believed in but there was no repentance in his heart neither did he have a personal relationship with God. The Pharisee was a fraud.
The tax collector on the other hand stood in the temple pounding on his breast, crying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner.
Jesus said in that parable that the tax collector was more justified than the Pharisee.
The Pharisee was a believer who did not understand salvation. He was a believer who did not repent.
The tax collector was an unbeliever who repented. He was a spiritual and religious outcast but he repented.
Repentance is saving faith. The kind of faith that involves a redirection of a man`s will to do the will of God. It often leads to a change in behavior. It is a choice to forsake all unrighteousness and pursue holiness.
Repentance is an invitation to turn your back on all evil so that God will accept you when you are saved.
Repentance changes lives and in fact real repentance alters the character of a person. Real repentance is what the tax collector exhibited. It is a state where a sinner realizes that the sinful nature is in him and he longs to get rid of it. He is ready to turn his back on any shape or form of sin. He is ready to renounce the world whatever the cost. He is ready to deny himself and follow Jesus even if the whole world says he is a fool who is suffering from religious mania.
Repentance produces a new way of life. It begins internally then manifests itself in our attitudes and actions.
- Matthew 21 v 28-32:
In this parable, a man had two sons, he came to one and said, son, go and work in the vineyard, the son said I will not, but later regretted it and went.
He came to the second son, who said “I go sir” but he did not go.
Question; which of the two sons did the will of the father? The former.
Jesus answered, tax collectors and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you.
The purport of the above parable is that Jesus was describing two kinds of people;
People who pretend to be obedient but are rebels in their heart and;
People who begin as rebels but later repent.
We will be surprised when we get to heaven to see this exact scenario being played out.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I leave you with Isaiah 55 v 6 -7: Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
We must prove our repentance by our fruits and forsake all our unrighteous ways. We must prove that we have repented by the life we now live. The fruits that our lives must showcase after true repentance are; righteous deeds, holy deeds and a transformed life.
We cannot continue in sin that grace may abound. God forbid!
Let us pray!
Psalm 24, Psalm 91, Psalm 23, The Lord`s prayer and the grace!
Shalom!