Sermon on 21 July 2024 by Ps Gaius
Introduction
Repentance is a topic many do not like to hear about. It means you must first admit wrongdoing. It calls into question what is wrong with your life. But we need to continually come into repentance.
Message
Living in God’s kingdom is to let Him rule; let Him take charge over us. God is righteous and God is just.
“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” - Revelation 22:7
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. - Revelation 22:12
Jesus told us He is coming soon. Many have tried and continue trying to predict the date of His return. But the Lord told us that no one knows the hour when He will come. The more important question is - are we ready? Because if we are ready, we will not worry about when He will come.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! - Revelation 22:20
John the Baptist prepared for Jesus’ coming. At that time, the scribes and Pharisees tried to find fault with him. John the Baptist told them to repent.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 3:1-2
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. - Matthew 3:8
What fruits are these? They are fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). If we live in sin, these fruits cannot be borne.
Before Jesus’ coming, John the Baptist had one clear message - to repent. After Jesus’ coming, His first message was also to repent. This is important for us.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 4:17
Peter also preached of repentance.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptised every one of us in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38
In Jesus, there is no condemnation. As long as we repent, He will restore us. Who is kept outside the kingdom of God?
Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises falsehood. - Revelation 22:15
Dogs refer to those who keep going back to their sin (2 Peter 2:22). Idolaters refer to those who focus on anything that takes away God’s importance in their hearts.
Repentance is not going back to our past sin.
King Saul made mistakes. As king, he was not supposed to make offerings but he did. The prophet Samuel confronted him. Instead of admitting his mistake, Saul blamed the people from scattering, Samuel from not appearing, and the Philistines coming against him, leading Saul to force himself to make the offering (1 Samuel 13:11-12). Saul’s other mistake was to disobey the Lord. Saul was instructed to destroy everything of Amalek. However, he kept some alive (1 Samuel 15:3). He made excuses for himself (1 Samuel 15:20-21).
If we keep going back to the same sin, we will not enter the Kingdom of God.
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. - Luke 13:3
Those allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven are those who keep themselves holy. There is no ritual to keep ourselves holy, except to obey God.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. - Revelation 22:14
King David committed two grave mistakes - adultery and murder. His sins were more serious than that of Saul’s, but his behaviour was different from that of Saul’s. When he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, king David admitted his sins (2 Samuel 12:13).
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. - 2 Samuel 12:13
1. Realise your sin
Realise your sin. If we want to repent, we must first recognise that we are in the wrong place. If we do not even realise our mistake, we cannot repent.
2. Remove your sin
In the parable of the prodigal son, he removed the pride in him by admitting his sin against God and against his father (Luke 15:18-19).
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. - 2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly grief is grief in accordance with God’s will. If it causes us to turn away from wrong things and draws you closer to God, it is godly grief.
3. Return to God
The prodigal son did something many would find difficult to do; he returned to his father (Luke 15:20). God wants us to return to Him.
4. Resist
We face daily temptations, which we must resist. As long as we take the first step in the right direction, the subsequent steps get easier.
Jesus did not condemn the prostitute whom the people wanted to stone. But He also commanded her to sin no more (John 8:11).
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:7
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? - Ezekiel 18:30-31
Closing
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” - Ezekiel 18:32
God is not interested in punishing us. He wants us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus came to call sinners into repentance. He wants us to turn to Him. Let us encourage one another into repentance.
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