Prove It
June 3rd, 2007
Sol
“I preached that they should REPENT and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” – Acts 26:20
John the Baptist: “Repent…”
Jesus: “Repent…”
Peter: “Repent…”
Paul: “Repent…”
Although people of our day do not see repentance as the most endearing of words, it is a concept that was used heavily by the 4 powerful evangelists and teachers above. It is a concept necessary for gaining salvation; a turn from sin to God. That’s the Gospel. That’s the greatest news ever. I can turn from my sin and run into the arms of a powerful God who will not let me go. Repentance is truly a glorious thing, however unpopular the word may be in this day and age.
But how do I know I have repented? How can I know I have gained salvation? It is a spiritual happening, and it is often hard to see or feel? I can know the reality of my repentance unto God by the works of my life. A changed life, with new convictions and a pursuit of holy living show true repentance, but continual, unrepentant deeds of darkness prove the opposite. Jesus taught the same thing in Matthew 7. If I am a good tree, I will bear good fruit. If I am a bad tree, I will bear bad fruit. Our fruit (deeds) magnify our heart’s repentance or lack thereof.
Lord, daily show me the sin I must repent of. Give me a repentant heart, and show this world the power of that word.
June 5th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Sol, THANKS for your journal entry today!
While the world really can’t understand repentance, isn’t it just the most amazing foundation upon which the Gospel rests? Our God could have designed salvation any way that He chose to, but He chose repentance as a foundational act for us… the giving up of our will… a turning… a return to Him. I always think of the image of turning around. I think of turning away from my sin… and turning back to face my Lord.
Isn’t that just how the believer’s life works? It really isn’t much about where we are in life… instead, it’s EVERYTHING about which direction we are headed. Are we headed closer to our Lord each day?
blessings, Michael
June 19th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
amen, Solomon. Repentance scares people. Part of the reason might be that repenting admits a sin (or sins) necessitating the repentance. Admitting sins means we have to come to terms with the fact that thewre MUST be a definite right and a DEFINITE wrong. Of course there are gray areas throughout life that take a lot of work to decipher… but the basics, the essentials, they have definite correct and incorrect responses. that scares people and makes them angry - unfortunately, many times Christians are included in that fearful bunch.
prove it. what a great title. God says if we love Him we will prove it, and not with t-shirts or bold speaking (although they can be a part of being unashamed). we prove it by being obedient.
there’s a challenge that stings.