Shouldn't Your Pastor Know & Live Repentance?

This New Beginning is a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5.17, Galatians 6.15).

The New Creation begins with God's plan that was predetermined before the Original Creation.  The one that was prophesied to come, by God the Father, through the prophets: the Last Adam, the Second Man, that is the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God (1 Corinthians 15.45-47, Colossians 1.15, 18).

This is a Regeneration of the Original Creation, where each one who chooses to join in can become born again of the Spirit (John 3.3-7) which leads the way toward everlasting life.

Without repentance there can be no new beginning for the individual (Mark 1.15). 

Repentance and salvation are the major topics for Mankind in the Scripture because of sin and disobedience. Repentance is required for sinful humans to be able to approach the One and Only Holy God of creation for salvation from this fallen world of sin and death.  Casting off sin and lawlessness is at the center of understanding what is truly repentance.  

A lawless one is a son of perdition.  Whereas the sons of god (and daughters) do all they can to walk righteous before God, by doing things his way and following his commandments.  For it was written, "If you love me keep my commandments".  This is called holiness, or being set apart from the world.

The Word of the YHWH Elohim says: And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:6) And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments (Deuteronomy 5:10).

Jesus said (Yahowshuah) these words that he got from his God and Father: If you love me, keep my commandments (John 14.15).  He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14.21).

But wait a minute, I thought Salvation was a free gift?

Well surely it is (Ephesians 2.8-9), but don't forget about verse 10 Pastor and friends.  For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

You have to Think Discipleship rather than "Flash in the Pan" theology!  This whole idea of Easy Belief and Once Saved Always Saved entirely distracts from the reality that God's People are supposed to be in sanctification.  This is what is called Walking in the Spirit.  If Your Pastor doesn't teach that we are to practices holiness like Christ, then Your Pastor Lies.  Doing whatever you want is lawlessness, not obedience.

Repentance and salvation are the major topics for Mankind in the Scripture, because of the human nature of sin and disobedience. 

In order for sinful humans to be able to approach the one and only holy God of creation for salvation from this fallen world of sin and death, repentance is required, and casting off sin and lawlessness is at the center of understanding what is this true repentance.

Without repentance there can be no new beginning for the individual (Mark 1.15). The Scripture ultimately defines this new beginning as the New Creation (2 Corinthians 5.17, Galatians 6.15), which is regeneration (reformation) of the Original Creation in mankind, where each one who chooses to by faith can become born again (John 3.3-7). Creation begins again, starting with the one that was prophesied to come by God the Father through the prophets: the last Adam, the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15.45-47, Colossians 1.15, 18).

But what is repentance? And what is it exactly that we must all repent from?

Repentance is a core change that begins in the mind and attitude of an individual concerning the authority of God and the one who God gave all authority to, that is the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28.18). Repentance is a verb and so it must also lead to changes in one’s life.  True repentance brings forth Christlike evidence. 

Repentance is done by turning toward Almighty God (Genesis 17.1, Exodus 6.3, Ezekiel 10.5, Revelation 1.8, Revelation 21.22) in faith by turning away from whatever little god(s) we currently serve, like the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4.4). While each individual has a different image of the god they serve, the universal sin that we’ve all committed is having some other god besides the One True God (Exodus 20.3, Deuteronomy 5.7, Jeremiah 16.20). 

Even atheists have constructed a god in their minds, as having concluded there is no god (Romans 1.22, Jeremiah 10.14, 1 Corinthians 3.19); they think to make themselves out to be god (Jeremiah 16.19-21, Psalm 82). So even the atheists have a god in themselves, just like everybody else, in their own image (2 Kings 17.29, Romans 1.21-23).

The concept of god is a being, or entity, or spirit, or something worshiped or served, that has power over humans, and the outcomes and fortunes and eternal destinies. This is usually thought of as being a deity, or a divine nature, that is greater than the self. However, no matter what men worship, most people simply live as though they are the god of their own life and destiny, giving themselves over to a false god, which the One True God commanded not to worship another (Deuteronomy 6.5-14).

Whatever definition one places on god, the core issue for everyone is always a false picture of a god.  From this we all must repent, which means to change our mind about who God is. 

This image each individual has of the false god they have created in their mind (Exodus 20.4, Deuteronomy 5.8) grows over time to fit whatever a person wants god to be. This helps make people feel good about the choices they’ve made and justify the actions and sins in their lives. But all these choices and actions that are based on a false god produce dead works (Hebrews 6.1, Hebrews 9.14, Jas 2.17-26), which are works that lead to death (Romans 7.5, Romans 7.13).  And yes this even applies to religious church folks who have not truly repented.

All the actions of each soul that are not of true faith in the one and only genuine God of creation are dead works (Hebrews 11.6). Whether these dead works are religious or non-religious is mostly an irrelevant point of argumentation. If a person has works without faith (Romans 14.23, Galatians 3.22) then their works will ultimately lead to death (the second death in Revelation 2.11, 20.6, 20.14, 21.8). 

And the one who says they have faith, but has no works, has a dead faith (James 2, Ephesians 2.10), which also probably leads to death (the same second death), or possibly outer darkness (Matthew 25.30), if there is any difference. There are essentially dead works in a dead man walking wherever there is a lack of obedience to the holiness of the gospel that God requires (2 Thessalonians 1.8, 1 Peter 4.17, Romans 8.4-5).  

Call it false conversions or whatever makes you feel better, but if you are living in sin then you have no assurance of salvation, because you have not been saved from your sins if you are still in them.  If you think this is lordship salvation or heresy then just look into the judgment page of this site and the list of things that keeps people from inheriting the Kingdom of God.  If that doesn't help shape your mind properly then you are just deceiving yourself.  The good news is if you are reading this then you are still alive, so there is still time for you to repent.

True repentance leads to life (Matthew 7.14): first in the New Creation (2 Corinthians 5.17, Galatians 6:15) of the regenerated New Man (Ephesians 2.15, Ephesians 4.24, Colossians 3:9-10) during this life, and then ultimately unto eternal life following the resurrection; assuming you overcome in this life and make it to the first resurrection where there is no judgment unto the second death.  This second death is destruction and it's coming! 

This is the beginning of all individual salvation that starts at the core of universal sin: repent, which means to change your mind completely, that there is only One God who is your creator, whom you must turn toward in faith in order to obtain salvation from the imminent death you are facing. This Creator has a Kingdom that will be established here on earth in his Son Jesus Christ who will be the Preeminent King (Psalm 2.8, Psalm 37.11, Matthew, 5.5, 6.10). 

This is not a new concept in the New Testament.  It's called the Kingdom of God and it was prophesied throughout the ages in the Scripture by the Word of YHWH Elohim. This message of getting rid of your sin and unfaithful ritual works and turning toward the longsuffering grace and mercy of our God and Father is all over the Old Testament and New Testament (Numbers 14.18, Exodus 34.7, Psalm 103:8, Micah 7.18). You must turn from your wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7.14, Ezekiel 33.19), as forgiveness is conditional (Matthew 6.14-15, 7.21, 12.50). 

This is something that God prepared from the foundation of the world (Matthew 13.35, 25:34, Luke 11.50, John 17.24, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 4.3, 9.26, 1 Peter 1.20, Revelation 13.8, 17:8) for all who obey the good news. Salvation was predetermined by the one and only God who cannot lie, or die, or sin (Numbers 23.19, 1 Samuel 15.29, Psalm 89.35). It’s simply up to you to obey or reject the calling "by faith", just like Jesus Christ, who also obeyed the words and will of His Father (Matthew 24.35, Mark 13.31, Luke 21.33, John 7.16, 8.26, 12.49-50, 14.10, 24, 17.8, Ephesians 5.15-17). 

All of us need redemption and none of us can achieve it on our own by our own works, or attain it by following the way of a false god (Isaiah 43.3, 11, 49.26, 60.16, Hosea 13.4). It’s really that simple. Anyone who says they don’t have sin is a liar (1 John 1:8-10). Anyone who says they will not die is a liar (Hebrews 9:7). Anyone who believes they can overcome death by any other means than the only avenue provided by the one and only true God is a liar (John 14.6). 

Anyone who says they are immortal is a liar (1 Corinthians 15.26, 42, 50, 53-57). 

You are a mortal headed for death. There is no other way to think than this truth, and if you object to these truths then you probably haven’t truly repented.   

This is as our means for justification (Genesis 15.6, Romans 3.28, Romans 5.1, Galatians 3.11).  Surely the "Just shall live by faith", but the question is "Faith in what?"

Those who truly repent come to a place in life where they recognize their personal sins and understand that they need a savior. God has provided a means for salvation, because God gave his only begotten Son, the Christ, who gave of himself a sacrifice and died so that our sins can be forgiven (John 3.14-21). By and through the Son of God Jesus Christ who died for our sins, we can come to the place of redemption and regeneration. 

Stop thinking there is a useful god besides the One True God and turn yourself over to the Only Wise Immortal God in faith, and trust that this One and Only True God can lead you to life through his Son whom he has appointed; God’s Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 2, Act 4.26, Revelation 11.15, Revelation 12.10). Acknowledge your sins and confess them to God that your sins may be forgiven, and in this if you are truly repentant then you will start your new beginning. 

If you believe this by faith and turn toward God in repentance, and seek God to lead and change you in the ways of the good news of God’s Kingdom, then you will be saved. This is about submitting to God the Father and his Son in whom he has appointed all authority. It’s not religion. It’s a Hierarchy of The Kingdom whereby you repent and believe God the Father is Almighty (1 Corinthians 15:28), who has provided his Son for a sacrifice of obedience and raised him to Preeminence (Psalm 110.1). 

By and through Jesus Christ the Father shall subdue all the nations and kings of the earth to One Kingdom under the Rule of One God by the King of Kings Jesus Christ (Revelation 17.14). This is the righteous government system of YHWH.  And this is by far The Good News!

This is the universal thing we must all embrace no matter who we are: God the Father is supreme and nothing else, or no one else. Even Jesus taught this, of which so many calling themselves Believers deny (John 14.28, 20.17-21, 13.16, 1 Corinthians 11.3, 15.28, Philippians 2.9-11, Hebrews 2.9-15).  Christians need to stop placing Jesus in equality with the Father, or above God the Father.

All have sinned (Romans 3.23) and so repentance is required for all (Luke 13.3-5). From there the Scripture commands that you need to be baptized (Matthew 28.19) and have hands laid on you in prayer that you may receive the Holy Spirit of God (Acts 2.38-41) to be empowered to overcome the sin and death that currently plagues this world (1 John 5:4-5, Revelation 2.7, 3.21, 21.7).

This personal life-changing action that leads to immediate baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-39) is based on repentance that is best clarified by having an understanding of the seriousness of sin (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3). This partially comes from a deep desire to be forgiven (Psalm 51:1-3; Hebrews 9:14) and a determined commitment to change behavior and thoughts in order to stop sinning (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:19-20). For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation: but the sorrow of the world works death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Even the church needs to continually repent (Colossians 3), for by example we have mostly elevated the Son to the status of the Father, and brought the Father down to be equal with the Son, getting the true order and nature of the Lordships incredibly wrong for centuries! The church is full of the idolatry YHWH commanded against. 

Due to the sin nature of Man, everyone has dead works that must be repented of and forgiven by God.  Some dead works preceded righteous faith (vain works) because they were not done in the faith of the one true God. Religious works are also dead works. And even works of God’s law that are worked outside of faith are also dead works. Whatever is not of faith is sin (Matthew 23:23, Romans 3:27, 31, 4.16, 9.32, Galatians 2.16, 3.2, 11, Philippians 3.9). All dead works must be continually repented of, and overcome, before and after conversion, and repentance from dead works applies to everyone, especially once one enters sanctification by grace (Acts 20.32).

The repentant are to move on to good works (Ephesians 2.10). The book of James defines godly works as obedience to his law, as defined in the Scripture (James 1.21-27; 2.8-26). James defines works as actions or deeds, and tells us to be a doers of the work and blessed in the deed (James 1:25). And Jesus taught His disciples to set a good example by letting their lights shine before all men (Matthew 5:16). Their examples were defined as good works, which is obedience to God’s commandments. Paul said good works are the fruit of the Spirit that are opposite of the works of the flesh, and those produced by the Spirit of God are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5.22-23).

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God (Hebrews 6:1), and let us not deny that the blood of Christ is the only way to cleanse the conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9.14). 

Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, and believe the good news! If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shalt be saved. For with the heart man believed unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10.9-10).

For the silent Believer who is ashamed to share the message of repentance unto salvation: If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me (Ezekiel 3:19).  But if you warn them to repent and they don't repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself (Ezekiel 33:9).

In the Book of Revelation we see people who did not die in the plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! (Revelation 9:20)

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).  These are strong words that Jesus spoke...take note!

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming (1 John 2:28).