REPENT
Matt 3:8-9
8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.
DEFINITION OF REPENT: to feel or show that you are sorry for something bad or wrong that you did and that you want to do what is right according to the word of God.
To turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life according to the word of God.
Therefore, repentance is a change of lifestyle from sinfulness to holiness. A transformation from worldliness to godliness
The blessings of salvation comes after repentance. Where there is genuine repentance from the heart God blesses those who change from their former way of life
We have many people in the church today who have not repented from their sins and their old lifestyles but want the blessings of God and call themselves children of God. These set of people have not repented
4 C of Repentance. CONVINCED, CONVICTED, CONFESSION AND CONVERSION
When you hear the gospel and you believe it is true – you have been convinced
When you believe the gospel, you first become guilty of your sins that Jesus died for – you are convicted
When you are convicted, you must then make confession by asking the Lord for forgiveness, it is only after you asked for forgiveness that you repent from your sins. After which you change from being a sinner to a saint – this is when you can say that you are converted. To repent means conversion – turning around – changing your lifestyle from bad to good. Changing from worldliness to Godliness.
Now many people in church today only got convinced of the gospel, which is they believe and confess – they ask that Jesus becomes their Lord and savior without actually being convicted of their sins and repenting or converting. If you did not see yourself as an actual sinner the day you accepted Christ as lord and savior you cannot repent or convert. If you have not change from worldliness to Godliness you have not repented. Many people who believe the gospel become automatic converts without being convicted, because they are not convicted of their sins there is no genuine repentance neither is there transformation. If you do not see yourself a sinner you cannot repent, you cannot change. Without genuine repentance from dead works there can be no transformation that brings genuine conversion. The doctrine of repentance from dead works is a major part of the gospel of Christ that should be practiced by the believer, for the believer to enjoy the full blessings of salvation. Salvation is not just believing and confession, salvation is to convince, to convict, to confess and to convert
Where there is no conviction there is no repentance, where there is no repentance there cannot be transformation or change. When you are not guilty of your sinful lifestyle, there will be no need for changing to a Christ like person. Beloved, it is only the sinner, the convict – guilty that gets salvation.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say
to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” NKJV
To be born again mean to repent, to repent means to turn around, to turn around means to change, to change means to transform
Jesus said except you are changed or transformed from a carnal person to a spiritual being, you cannot see or enter heaven
John 3:5-7 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. NKJV
To be born of the water means to be born of the flesh, that means you are controlled by the flesh
To be born of the spirit means you are a new creation of God that is a spirit and controlled by the Holy Spirit
To be born again means you are a human being born of flesh and blood but has repented, turned around, changed and transformed into a spiritual being that is a new creation and is controlled by the Holy spirit.
If you are in church and have not repented your from dead works, it means you have not changed, if you have not change then you cannot be transformed into a new creation, that means you are not born again
If you are not born again, you cannot enjoy the benefit of salvation. Neither can you see or enter the kingdom of God
A sincere and genuine change in lifestyle is a qualification for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit who will then reveal to us the rest of the blessings of our salvation. Without you having the gift of the Holy Spirit, you cannot unlock the rest of the blessings of the gift of salvation.
Acts 3:19
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, NKJV
