Repentance and Faith

By Bob Freeman

May 1, 2021

Genesis 1:1 says,

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

The Bible says that God created everything that is, including you and me. Since He created us, He owns us and we are responsible to Him. God created us in His image and His desire was for us to have a perfect relationship with Him. But Adam and Eve, the first created people, chose to disobey God. Their sin damaged man’s perfect relationship with God. All people, since Adam and Eve to the present, fall short of the glory of God. All are under condemnation because of sin which separates all mankind from the holiness and righteousness of God.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

People sin because they are all sinners.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14).

People are sometimes caused to sin because of the temptation of Satan.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

A person MUST understand that God is absolutely holy and perfect.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

God cannot tolerate anything or anyone who is less than holy. In order to satisfy His righteous demands, the debt of sin must be paid.

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thes-salonians 1:8-9).

Since the wages of sin is death, all people are destined for hell, a place of eternal torment and suffering. Revelation 20:10-15 says,

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

But, God has good news for everyone.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

The Gospel is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

“…I declare unto you the gospel…by which also ye are saved…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…”

The Bible clearly states that God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us, “to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Since Jesus was fully God and fully man, perfect and without sin, He fulfilled the righteous requirements of God in relation to mankind. Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection provide the remedy to sin and death for all mankind.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

But not all accept the gift He offers. The way of salvation is provided, but many reject it, as they reject the Holy Spirit and Christ.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The Bible states clearly that no man comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

God’s requirement for all people is that they must repent (agree with God, turn from sin and turn to God), and believe Him to the point of trusting in Him as Lord and Savior.

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

If anyone chooses to turn from their sins, they tell…

“how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9b)

and trust completely what Jesus has done for them,

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9)

God’s Spirit will then place them “in Christ,” guaranteed to never receive the punishment their sin deserves.

Repentance (turn from sin, turn to God) and faith (belief-trust) are the two essential elements of God’s required response to His Gospel.

Are you ready to repent of your sin, and believe God’s Gospel?

If so, communicate that to Him in prayer.

Just praying a prayer does not save you.

Turning from your sin, turning to God, and trusting in Him does save you.

Then read the Bible, pray, and obey Him.

If you would like to talk with someone about God’s free gift of eternal life, or if you have questions, please e-mail us at: northwoodsvista@gmail.com

This message prepared by Bob Freeman (website: mynorthwoodsvista.com)

 

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