Transcript: Repentance from Dead Works: Path to True Christian Salvation

Music Music We are going to discuss a subject which is little talked about in the church these days. Repentance from dead works. Repentance from dead works is our subject. And we will see in this word that the book of Hebrews speaks quite clearly of this basic truth which we need to understand in order to truly advance in wisdom and maturity in our spiritual lives and kingdom of God on this earth. So we're going to begin this word today by turning to Hebrews 6.1. Hebrews 6.1, please. Therefore, let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teaching and doctrine of Christ, the Messiah, advancing steadily towards the completeness and perfection that belongs to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the same foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works and by the faith by which you turn to God. Verse 2 With teachings about purifying the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware of long, long ago. Verse 3 If indeed God permits, we will now proceed to advanced teaching. Verse 4, For it is impossible to restore and bring again to repentance those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have felt how good the Word of God is, and how the mighty powers of the age and the world to come, if they deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance it is impossible to bring them back to repentance for because while as long as they nail upon the cross the son of God afresh as far as they're concerned and are holding him up to the contempt and shame of public disgrace. Wow. Wow. Well Paul makes it clear doesn't he? He makes it very clear that we need to understand this advancement in wisdom and maturity in our spiritual lives, as I had stated before. You see, all the bad things that we deserve were laid upon Jesus at the cross. And all of the blessings or the promises of the kingdom that belong to Jesus, we share in through the cross and the resurrection, the work of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. We must understand, dear church, that salvation is by grace. And it is by the grace of God that we can be fully accepted by Him as our Father and live the kind of life that pleases Him. See, no matter or no amount of religious work or obedience to God's commandment on our part can buy or earn God's blessings. Jesus bought these blessings for us at the cross. He paid the price. And we can never say that through our works we merit or earn or deserve any part of God's salvation. God's salvation is freely available to us and we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Hallelujah Hallelujah Romans 3.21 please in Romans 3.21 we're going to see this but now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the law Although actually it is attested by the law and the prophets, namely the righteousness of God, which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ, the Messiah. And it is meant for all who believe. Hear that? For all who believe. For there is no distinction since we have all sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. Verse 24. All are justified and made right and in right standing with God freely and virtuously by His grace is unmerited favor and mercy through the redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus. Hear that. In Christ Jesus. Verse 25, whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a mercy seat and propitiation by his blood, the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation to be received through faith. Through faith. This was to show God's righteousness because in his divine forbearance, he had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. Verse 26. It was to demonstrate and prove at this time in the now season that he himself is righteous and that he justifies and accepts as righteous him who has true faith in Jesus. Hear that? In Jesus. Well, please, also, let's look at Ephesians 2.8. Ephesians 2.8. for it is by free grace God's unmerited favor that you are saved delivered from judgment made partakers of Christ's salvation through your faith and this salvation is not of yourselves of your own doing it came not through your own striving but it is the gift of God verse 9 Not because of works, not the fulfillment of the law's demands, lest any man should boast. It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory for himself. Verse 10. We are all God's own workmanship, his handiwork. Recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew, we may do those good works which God predestined and planned beforehand for us, taking paths which he prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them, giving the good life which he has prearranged and made ready for us to live. Hallelujah! I pray that word washes over you precious ones. You see, no one can receive full peace with God who still wants to fight against him and rebel against his will. It's just that way. God's will is that we be reconciled to Him. This is God's will. And this is saying that we will not fight against His will for us and rebel against His will when His will is that we be reconciled to Him completely. The repentance that we need to have is that turning away from self to God. It is here where we desire and want God to fill us, to free us, to change us, and work in us, and then work through us. Look, please, at what John the Baptist spoke in Matthew 3, 5. Matthew 3, 5. then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the country around about the Jordan went out to him and they were baptized in the Jordan by him confessing their sins verse 7 but when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them you brood of vipers who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and the indignation of God against disobedience that is coming. Verse 8. Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance and let your lives prove your change of heart. Other translations say produce fruit in keeping with your repentance. In other words, prove by the way that you live that you have really turned from your sins. That's from self. And turn to God. This turning will evidence itself, precious one, in your kind deeds, your actions, honesty towards God and man, pure thoughts, love to others, in being a person of your word. and I would like you to look with me please in an eye opening account of our precious Jesus his timely work in heart for sinners whom he came and died for in Luke 24 36 I say that that it is an eye opening account and I believe if you're not ahead of me you will see why Luke 24, 36 Now while they were talking about this, Jesus himself took his stand among them and he said to them, Peace, freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as a result of sins be to you. Verse 37 They were so startled and terrified they thought that they saw a spirit. Verse 38 And he said to them, Why are you disturbed and troubled? And why do such doubts and questions arise in your hearts? See, my hands and my feet, that is, I myself feel and handle me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Verse 41. And while, since they still could not believe it for sheer joy and marveled, He said to them, have you anything here to eat? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish. And he took it and ate it before them. And then he said to them, this is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything which is written concerning me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. And then he thoroughly opened their mind to understand the scriptures. and he said to them, Thus it is written that Christ the Messiah would suffer and on the third day rise from among the dead. Verse 47. And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. Both repentance and forgiveness are imperative in the life of a true believer because otherwise all that we do for God will be considered amongst the category of dead works. You see, repentance is a blessing, precious church, and we should seek it both for ourselves and for others. And the reason we should seek it is because it leads to the joy of salvation, of righteousness and peace in the Holy Spirit. My prayer for you is that precious Holy Spirit will move upon your heart and that you will begin immediately to respond to everything that the Spirit of God is nudging you to do in the way of repentance. Let's look again at the scripture in Luke 24, 45 and understand this precious truth and revelation. Verse 45, then he, Jesus, thoroughly opened up their minds to understand the scriptures. This divine and sacred truth is a statement of unspeakable value. On one hand, it expresses Christ's immediate access to the human spirit and the absolute power over it. And it also shows how the master has complete authority and ability to adjust their perspective of vision and also their permanent correction for spiritual discernment. Jesus fully opened their understanding is also saying that they had a measure of light before so that they discerned the scriptures to be the true word of God and to speak of the Messiah. but they had not light enough to help them to apply these scriptures to their Lord and Master. But now, by the influence of Christ, they see not only the prophecies which pointed out the Messiah, but also the Messiah who was pointed out by these prophecies. They beheld him. They beheld him. And this wonderful book of life may be received in general as a divine revelation. But the proper meaning that is the revelation and the ability to apply the revelation of scripture in honest and sincere Christian living can only be discerned by the light of Christ Even the plain the very plain Word of God is a dead letter to those who are not enlightened by the grace of Jesus And this is because the precious Word of life speaks of spiritual and heavenly things and the carnal mind of reason cannot discern them. Let me say, they who do not receive this inward teaching continue in their dark and dead existence while they live. But we read in the scripture where Jesus Christ by his spirit operates on the minds of men and women, on the minds of all that are his. He has access to our spirits and can immediately influence them. Even well-founded or sensible men and women need to have their understanding opened up. Even though they are not of darkness or belong to the dark one as they were by nature, yet in many things they are still in the dark. Even King David prayed, O God, open my eyes and give me understanding. You see, David knew that there was more. And he knew his spiritual eyes needed the illumination of God's Spirit in order to truly know God in a deep way. An apostle Paul, who knew so much about Jesus, desired and declared his need to know and learn more. It was his desire. It was a need within him that he professed and declared. Our Lord's way of working faith in the soul and gaining the throne of it is by opening the eyes of understanding to discern the evidence of those things that are to be believed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And so, precious one, Jesus comes into the soul by the door of faith. Yes, he comes by the door of faith that you open up by faith to say, come, come in, when he knocks upon the door of our hearts. This is an absolute gift of God and we need to see it that way. never, never, never, never take this precious gift for granted. Although salvation is a gift, only those who repent and believe the gospel receive that gift. And this is not to imply that only those who are blameless in heart have access to God. I'm not implying that at all. Scripture is so full of warnings against turning back to a lifestyle of sin and rebellion after receiving a knowledge of truth. In fact, we're going to see that please, Apostle Paul's heart here, as he was declaring to the people in his day in Hebrews 10, 26. In Hebrews 10, 26. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we've received the knowledge of truth, No sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Verse 28, anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be treated? A man deserves to be punished, who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who is treated as an unholy thing, the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the spirit of grace. For we know him who said, it is mine to avenge, and I will repay, and again the Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And also, 2 Peter 2.20, making our point here, please, that we have the warnings about once we've known the sweetness of the truth and then we turn back and living a lifestyle of sin and rebellion. 2 Peter 2.20, if they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and again are entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. Verse 21. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Verse 22. Of them the Proverbs are true. A dog returns to its vomit and a sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud. So, and therefore, Our repentance from dead works does not make us deserve God's forgiveness, but is one of the two conditions for receiving that forgiveness. You cannot have Jesus as your Savior and reject him as Lord and Master over your life. Neither can I. Jesus is a gracious and patient Master, But there are times when he makes it very clear that we cannot go on with him unless we let go of certain things. And Jesus made it very clear to the rich man in Luke 18.18. Very clear. The one who came to him and asked him what he must do in order to inherit eternal life. In Luke 18.18. And a certain ruler asked him, good teacher, you who are essentially and perfectly morally good, what shall I do to inherit life, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom? Verse 19. Jesus said to him, why do you call me good? No one is essentially, perfectly, morally good except God only. And you know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not witness falsely. Honor your father and mother. And he replied, All these things I've kept and I've done for my youth. Verse 22. And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, One thing you lack, sell everything that you have and divide the money among the poor and you will have rich treasure in heaven and come back and follow me, become my disciple, join my party and company. But when he heard this, he became distressed and very sorrowful for he was rich exceedingly so. Verse 24, Jesus observing him said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. for it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. You see, the grace of God had come to this poor rich man. He had the opportunity to drop to his knees and repent, ask forgiveness for the idol in his life. But he did not. And his money, his idol, did not go with him where he went to spend eternity. see it is by God's grace that we can be willing to repent and it's a dangerous thing to refuse God's grace once it comes to us and it usually comes when by one means or another we have Jesus Christ in his sacrificial death on the cross painted before the eyes of our heart this selfless act is a constant reminder of his love for us. God never wants us to forget Jesus nor his sacrifice. We need to keep looking to him that this is the key to overcoming sin, precious ones. You may ask, so what is repentance? What is it about? What is it all about? I can tell you what it is not it's not a way of dressing and it's not a way of speaking it is not a way of going to church nor is it using religious words like brother or sister it's not walking in a certain way or saying spiritual words that sound religious nor is it locking yourself up in your room and poring through books and tapes or CDs. You see, a person can do all these things and still not repent or be repentant. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry that you sinned or did wrong. Repentance is not an emotion. Emotion and sorrow for sin normally accompanies repentance, but it is possible to feel sorry, remorseful and weep without truly repenting. So again you say, well what is it? Repentance is a serious change of mind leading to a change of direction. Repentance is truly seeing yourself as a poor miserable sinner. You come to where you deplore sin because it is a crime against your most holy, divine and wonderful Lord and God. And you understand sin is contagious and it offends God. True repentance brings a sharp and serious turnaround or change of direction in your life. Dead works are not of faith since whatever is not of faith is sin. in fact unbelief is at the root of all sin and it is only through faith in Jesus Christ knowing who he is and what he has promised that we can overcome sin dead works are works contrary to the word of God dead works are not of faith and since whatever is not of faith is sin that's Romans 14 23 dead works as I said are contrary to the word of God and they include the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 19 the acts of the sinful nature are obvious sexual immorality impurity and debauchery idolatry and witchcraft hatred discord jealousy fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. And I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. You know, God says that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. We just read that. So anything not done in love is a dead work. What is its motive? We must ask ourselves, any religious work done in the power of man alone is a dead work because it is not the life of God in it. And the heartless or no life observance of religious tradition that men or women perform are all dead works. They're all dead. you see this is where our scripture in galatians 5 19 shows that people can even be engaged in prayer groups praying for a move of god in their city their state and even the whole world having selfish ambitions and having envy and jealousy for a brother or sister in christ and even caused dissensions and gossip but are so deceived in thinking that their prayers hit the throne room of God and bring about what they petition. But Galatians 5.19, our scripture we just read, says, Now the works of the flesh are evident. These which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresy, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries, and so forth. But the fruit of the Spirit, the work which His presence within accomplishes, is love, joy, gladness, peace, patience, and even temper, forbearance, kindness, goodness, benevolence, faithfulness. Verse 23, gentleness, which is meekness and humility, self-control. You see, against these things, there is no law that can bring a charge. And those who belong to Christ Jesus, the Messiah, have crucified the flesh, the godless human nature, with its passions and appetites and desires. Verse 25, if we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God let us go forward walking in line our conduct controlled by the Spirit Let us not become vainglorious and self competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another envying and being jealous of one another. You see, even prayer, sacrifice, and church attendance can be in the class of dead works. when the heart turns away from God and His Word, which we just read in Galatians 5.19. And Proverbs 28.9 declares, if anyone turns a deaf ear to the law or God's precepts, even his prayers are detestable. See, the very basic, most fundamental repentance necessary to be right with God is the recognition that we need not only Jesus' sacrifice to deal with our sins, But we also need Jesus in our lives every day. Everyone who calls themselves a believer is either moving towards Jesus or away from him. And when one willingly moves away from Jesus for any reason and does not reverse his tracks or course in seeking him, this individual cannot have true biblical assurance of his salvation. Yeah. If 2 Timothy 2.18 declares, nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with his inscription, the Lord knows those who are his and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away. I'm going to repeat that. Must turn away from what? The scripture says from wickedness. And this includes jealousy and envy and gossip and dissension. As we move on with the Lord, we will come across other areas in our lives where we need to repent. God gives us time to repent. He even said of Jezebel in Revelation 2.21, I've given her time to repent of her sexual immorality, but she is unwilling. You see, her aim was to destroy the prophets because they spoke the truth of God. And if we fail to repent in time, there will come judgments of increasing severity. Ultimately, if sin is serious enough and persistent enough, it will take us into eternal hellfire, even if one has truly once believed in Jesus Christ. So, therefore, it's wise for us to wake up and take heed in all of our ways. Especially, I say this today, if this is speaking to anyone today, or anyone listening to this message, it's a wise thing for us to wake up and take heed in all of our ways. You see, repentance from dead works means to realize that works without faith, precious ones, without faith, life and love of God in them are wrong. And to turn away from them, from the heart, is the only way. It's the only way. Jesus says, I've come to do the work of my Father in heaven. You see, this was a pure, undefiled work of self-sacrifice. And it certainly was no dead work. For you and me, This involves renouncing all religious pride, all independence from God, and all unclean or dishonest practices such as not keeping our word or harboring jealousy or envy. It involves a change of heart and a change of lifestyle. And it is done by putting total faith in Christ, who He is and what His word tells us. True repentance happens as we yield to the convictions of the Spirit of God. John the Baptist and Paul both taught that men and women who repent must produce fruit in keeping with repentance. We'll find that if you want to write that down or take note of it in Luke 3.8. This means not only to feel sorry or say that you've sinned, but to change behavior and seek to make restitution where needed from past sins against others. Often it involves humbling yourselves before those you have wronged. It means living a new life according to the will of God. Paul taught everywhere that men should repent, turn to God and do works befitting of repentance. Acts 26 verse 20. Let's see what Paul says. Acts 26, verse 20. First to those in Damascus, and then to those in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and to the Gentiles also. I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. For example, if you've hurt someone, contact them and apologize. If you've stolen from someone, confess it and return the goods or give back the money with interest. And if you don't have anything to give back, still confess and recognize your debt to that person. And this is between you and God. Let it be your heart's intention to rectify any loose matters in your life. If you've had any complaints about others, forgive them as Christ has forgiven you. And if you've been sinning, stop sinning. Stop being selfish and give your life to God and seek to please Him. God says in His Word, these were times of ignorance that God has overlooked. But now He commands all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17, verse 30. In the past, God overlooked such ignorance. But now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Dear church, repentance is essential. It is essential. This is a very important issue. As I said at the beginning, which is not well explained, yes, even in many churches today. The kind of repentance I am talking about is not often presented as a condition of salvation. And it seems that our modern evangelism today plays down the importance of repentance. Why? Why is this? Well, we have to say it's the fear that people will be unwilling to receive Jesus if it's presented like this. And the result is that many people who have been led to Christ are not changed. And the dominion of sin in their life is left substantially unchallenged. Yes, the dominion, the reign, the rule of sin in their lives is left unchallenged. You see, people become half-hearted, lukewarm, ungrateful Christians who are still bound to sin more than they are to Jesus Christ. Never being deeply convicted of sin, of righteousness and judgment or justice, they view the gospel as a kind of offer to be tried out. And many converts become disappointed with the results they experience or being tempted never stay long enough in church to find out what God's word says about repentance. Those converts who do stay many times settled down into the commonly accepted and practiced idea that we really do not have to go after God and get rid of our sin. You see, their idea is just to make it into heaven so they will not burn for eternity. And yet, the Bible tells us to lay aside not only the sin which most easily entangles us, but also any weight, the things in our lives that reduce our effectiveness as Christians, those things that hold us back. In Hebrews 12.1, Hebrews 12.1, since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands let us strip off everything that slows us down or holds us back and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us keeping your eyes on Jesus our leader and instructor He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards. And now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God. Well, there's another thing, dear ones, I must mention at this point in the message today. I know it's not a popular thing to be saying. And that is the subtle replacement of psychology in the church, which offers recovery for all that ails you instead of repentance. Repentance, not recovery, is needed for every believer. I'm presenting the article that I came across in a major well-known Christian magazine, which I found of interest regarding this subject, and I just want to share that with you. It goes like this. Liz Basler isn't the first one to challenge the way Christians have embraced psychology, but she does so after years of professional experience in the field. The former psychotherapist now believes the religion of psychology has become a most dangerous threat to Christianity. Rather than turning to God, too many people are looking for help from a system that often denies his existence and power, she says. Sin has been replaced by disorders, diseases, and addictions, while recovery takes the place of confession and repentance. But without true confession and forgiveness through Christ, we cut off fellowship with God and short-circuit his power to help us overcome our problems. We cheat ourselves out of God's blessings by throwing up our hands and surrendering to the claims of psychology. Self-pity has replaced prayer and petition, Basler says. Support groups have replaced trusting God's power. Many Christians believe they have no power over their mental, emotional behavior problems problems when all the while God waits for us to unleash his indwelling power through confession and simple childlike faith in him. Practicing in hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes, Bessler began to doubt her profession shortly after she became a Christian. She was concerned that so many of her Christian colleagues did not seem to use the Bible in their work, and she found scripture contradicting the methods that she used. Another psychotherapist who was an older Christian advised her to stay in the field, but I found myself fighting with God's will for me. It took months of God's Holy Spirit prompting me to leave before I finally obeyed. Psychology turns the common experiences of life, like depression, anxiety, and fear, into permanent conditions that require extensive psychological treatment, she comments. Psychology has succeeded in duping the American public into believing that if they don't feel right in some way, they must have a disorder and must get it treated by a professional. But as Christians, we have control over our behavior, she writes. Not so-called disorder or disease has the power over us, regardless of what psychological experts claim. Instead of blaming our behaviors on disorder and disease, we should admit our fault. And once we take responsibility for our actions, we can trust in the Lord to help us, and he will give us the power to overcome our sinful nature. Hallelujah. Powerful acknowledgement and brave statement. Hallelujah. Somebody standing up and speaking the truth. Not popular, but praise God. I'm sure she's a blessed woman today. You see, dear church, the word of God must be our authority on this question of the need for repentance. And Jesus taught us so many ways when he spoke in Mark 1.15. When he said, the time has come. The kingdom of God is near. repent and believe the good news Jesus is saying repent you see everything is cleared out of the way we've repented we've asked for forgiveness he's given it and he says believe the good news that means it will rush forward to us it will change us because of the inherent power within it to do its good work within our souls Luke 13 3 I tell you no but unless you repent you too will all perish This clearly refers to more than physical death Since all the apostles died physically yet we can be sure that all except Judas Iscariot were repentant men. And Jesus is saying here, unless you turn away from your sins, you will go to hell. Matthew 5.30 and if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. But it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. I'd say that this does not sound like Jesus is encouraging a casual attitude to any problem we might have with sin in our lives, does it? He's saying that we must get rid of all or anything that causes us to sin, no matter how much it costs us, or we will go to hell. You see, all of God's servants must repent or they may be condemned. And Luke 12, 47 declares that. The servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. That means stripes or lashes. we must understand this is God's love for us dear ones as any loving parent would discipline his or her child is demonstrating their love towards this child in the discipline in causing them and helping them to understand their bad behavior or their wrong behavior is not acceptable And so this is a shaping and a molding of a child needing to learn right from wrong. And this is what this word is speaking to us. That while and when we hear the word of God, let's practice the knowledge of the truth in that word. God's word is truth. It is promised to change us if by faith we will receive it. You see, Christians are spoken of as branches in the vine of Jesus. And that's declared in John when Jesus says, Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he'll take away, he'll purge, he'll cut off. And Jesus also said that if anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. But, dear ones, the encouragement here for us is in Matthew 24, 13, in Jesus declares, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. He or she who stands firm to the end will be saved. That means practicing the knowledge of the truth in God's word as we grow in it. You see, repentance is not just a one-time event which guarantees our future relationship with God. Repentance is a lifestyle. And while we have forgiveness in Christ, even though we may fall short of perfection, we walk on dangerously thin ice if we let ourselves grow lukewarm towards the Lord by letting little sins which we somehow and distortedly think the Lord will tolerate or accept. All such things need to be confessed and renounced and put away. We deceive ourselves if we justify these things by comparing ourselves with anyone else. You see, sin is not okay. Let us not look at others, what they're doing and thinking that our sin is alright because it doesn't seem to be quite as bad as our neighbors. Revelation 3.5 says, He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white, and I will never blot out his name from the book of life. And this is a promise. This is a promise for those who overcome sin, not for those who are overcome by sin. I say embrace God's word. Embrace the truth. Put it to practice. And Jesus said in Matthew 10, 33, Whoever disowns me before men, I'll disown him before my Father in heaven. And he also declared, But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you your sins either. So this is saying, don't allow the poison of bitterness or resentment towards another to poison your heart. It could cost you not only your happiness right now, but also even your eternal relationship with God, your heavenly Father. Jesus declared in Matthew 7, 13, Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction. And many enter through it, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Jesus declared also in Matthew 7, 21, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. And many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers. You see, it is wise to base your practice on what Jesus says in his word to you. This last scripture is very plain to those who desire to serve God and an exhortation to those who are already doing so. you must truly know God's word but also you must know those who lead you the scripture says you know them by their fruit and they will always point you to Jesus dear church they will always lift Jesus up so the spirit of truth opens up your eyes so your eyes can see you see the work of repentance for dead works is putting off the body of sins of the flesh. And faith and repentance is inseparable. And that faith which does not produce a true and sincere change and turn around from known sin is called dead faith. Colossians 2.9 For in him the whole fullness of deity, the Godhead, continues to dwell in bodily form, giving complete expression to the divine nature. And you are in him, made full and having come to fullness of life. In Christ you too are filled with the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And reach full spiritual stature. And he is the head of all rule and authority, of every angelic principality and power. Verse 11. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a spiritual circumcision performed by Christ, by stripping off the body of flesh, the whole corrupt carnal nature with its passions and lusts. Let me leave you with this encouragement. The Lord has the best rights to you. And when you yield yourself to him in this process, He will assist you. Understand, dear one, he loves you and longs for your true change. Consider what the Lord has yielded for you. Romans 8.32 declares, He who did not withhold or spare even his own son but gave him up for us all, will he not also with him freely and graciously give us all other things? Romans 5.8 declares, But God shows and clearly proves his own love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One, died for us. Jesus is very desirous of our yielding and submission. And he's not seeking our true repentance and submission without offering us a reward or a prize at the end of our victorious journey, dear church. In Revelation 3.19, he declares, To whom I dearly love, I tell them their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chase and I discipline and instruct them. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent, changing your mind and your attitude. Verse 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears and listens to and heeds my voice and opens a door, I will come to him and I will eat with him and he with me. He who overcomes is victorious. I will grant him to sit beside me on my throne as I myself overcame was victorious and sat down beside my father on his throne. Don't miss your opportunity of a lifetime. Sitting beside Jesus on his throne for eternity. Don't miss it. Remember please. by that kind love looking out of our precious Savior Jesus Christ tearful eyes on the day he went to the cross for each of us by the love which was visibly streaming from those bleeding wounds whereby he took every stripe and lash and piercing sword and endured the hair of his beard being torn off from his beautiful face and by that faithful love that strong love that pure and impartial and abiding love, he endured the shame of hanging naked upon the cross for all who would choose him as Savior, Messiah and Lord of their lives. He saw you there, and he saw me there too. All of our sins, our sickness and wretchedness were laid upon Jesus as he willingly allowed himself to be our substitute so we would not have to endure the flames and the darkness of eternal death. Dear one, by the heart and by the depths of our Savior's compassion, I solemnly plead with you to incline your ear to what has been spoken today through this message. And do not turn away as though it were nothing to you. But believe on and in Jesus today and you shall be saved. Entrust your soul to Him, and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in everlasting glory to reign and rule with Him forever. Begin today by not putting off what you should do now in the advancement of the eternal kingdom of God within your own soul. Do not be like those who have hardened their hearts and where the Holy Spirit says, today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as happened in the rebellion of Israel in their provocation and embitterment of me in the day of testing in the wilderness. Hebrews 3.7 If this message is spoken to you today and you feel you have need of repentance and forgiveness please allow me to pray with you. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ who might be listening to this word and have been convicted by your Holy Spirit that they have sinned against you by their known sin and or sins of ignorance Lord I pray that precious Holy Spirit be their source of peace and joy and contentment in their lives as they have acknowledged their sin before you father please allow your abundant grace and mercy to over spill to overrun and chase after them all the days of their life as they continue on their path and journey being led by the spirit of grace so freely given them papa may they be transformed as they sit in the presence of your glory as a fellowship in the light of communion with you and bask in the sweet company of your love. Holy Jesus, may we all be transformed by the renewing of our minds until we reach the perfection or maturity that you desire in us all in order that we may look and act like you. father surround your children and keep them from the evil one and give each one peace this day to ease the burdens that they may carry in the name of jesus we humbly pray and thank you for the answers and the manifestation of these prayers and desires to leap into existence and become a fact in the name of jesus we give you praise and thanks amen Thank you.