This blog we understand what Jesus spoke on Repent or Perish as we read in Luke 13:1-4 'Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? '
Some guys came to Jesus and told him something that had just happened in Jerusalem - Pilate had sent out a company of soldiers to execute some Galileans who had broken Roman law. When the soldiers arrived, the Galileans were worshipping and offering sacrifices - and the soldiers killed them where they stood. Historian Josephus tells us that at one Passover, 3,000 Jews were killed in the temple courts. Another similar incident resulted in 2,000 Jews being killed. Those guys were not saying it in sorrow, but rather in self-righteous judgment. They told Him with the tone, "Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices”
Many of us believe that God makes good things happen to "Good" people, and bad things happen to "Sinners"? Yes, God judges sin, and he also rewards goodness. But most of life's circumstances cannot be interpreted as rewards or judgments.
Very often, wicked people prosper, and good people suffer. Although we think that if we look at the circumstances and incidents of life, we can figure out what's going on. That's not the way the Lord works.
In Isaiah we read that God says, Isaiah 55:8-9 '“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. '
So why do wicked men sometimes prosper and righteous men sometimes suffer? The highest explanation is ultimately his sovereignty, His right to do things the way He wants, without any explanation Psalm 103 says that Ps. 103:19 ...His sovereignty rules over all.
So, if you're in a great place of blessing right now, don't assume it's God's stamp of approval on everything that you're doing. In the way opposite, if you're in a place of great trials and tribulations, don't assume that God is angry and judging you.
Repent
Jesus Says Luke 13:5 “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Repentance is an action to get to the Kingdom of heaven. We cannot come to the Kingdom of heaven unless we leave our Sin. A person does not repent till he is in the grip of Sin. The wages of Sin is death. That’s what the Lord says “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
The call to repentance is important and cannot be neglected. It’s accurate to say that it’s the first word of the gospel.
Repent was the first word of John the Baptist’s gospel (Matthew 3:1-2)
Repent was the first word of Jesus’ gospel (Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:14-15).
Repent was the first word in the preaching ministry of the twelve disciples (Mark 6:12).
Repent was the first word in the preaching instructions Jesus gave to His disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:46-47).
Repent was the first word of exhortation in the first Christian sermon (Acts 2:38).
Repent was the first word in the mouth of the Apostle Paul through his ministry (Acts 26:19-20).
Repentance is the foundation of the gospel. We must acknowledge that we have sinned. Jesus cannot and will not save us from our sins unless we acknowledge that that we in fact have sinned.
In the world around us, We see sinners not getting punished as we would like them to suffer, Peter explains in 2 Peter 3:9 'The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. '
God’s inaction to punish the guilty should not be misunderstood that God supports these actions, what God is doing is he is giving the Grace so that we come to Repentance.
To repent means to change your way of thinking about sin and turn the other way. It’s a U turn to the Sin. Repentance and turning from your sin, is ESSENTIAL to the gospel of salvation.
Unrepentant sin will harden your heart and drive you away from God.
Don’t repent to escape God’s wrath - Repent to get the salvation.
Repentance and Faith are two sides of coin for salvation, don’t assume faith in Jesus is good and repentance is not applicable when you have faith.
Repentance for religious custom - In Roman Catholic principles we are to confess the sins to the priest and ask for repentance, don’t do the repentance as a religious custom, repent from your heart that it make us do a U turn to the ways to God.
Repentance is only for all (Christians & non-Christian’s) - it’s a lie that Satan tells to Christian’s that they are pure and don’t need repentance, repentance is for all who are sinners, doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or non Christian.
Repentance is only for Big Sin or Small Sin : Satan lies to us and make us compare the sins with others as small sin vs big sin, in God’s eyes “sin is a sin” there is no big sin or small sin, we are to repent for all the sins as God says “one who is holy let him be more holy”
Don’t repent vaguely - Be detailed and come to God specific with a list of all the sins that God has shown you and confess to God, don’t generalise all as I am sinner forgive me father, instead say out loud what sin are you bonded to, if you are not specific, some leftover sins will stick like un-cured cancer cells to come back and make you perish.
Don’t compare with others - Satan deceives to say we are better than the other person and more holy than others and says we don’t need to repent. If there is one person you want to compare, then compare against Jesus and repent for your sin.
Open your mouth and confess the Sin -
Many times we say I have confessed in our heart (silently without uttering a word out), when you open your mouth and confess to God, God hears and bloats the sin from our life to do the U turn he wants us to do.
Where you confess from heart without opening your mouth satan cannot listen the confession hence he comes back and does the sin again and again. 1 John 1:8-10 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.'
Repentance is not one time activity - Repentance is a daily activity. As we walk in the world we are bound to make mistakes, ask for repentance to Jesus to cleanse you so that you become better every day.
Perish
Jesus gives a Parable to explain the actions of Perish in Luke 13:6-9
'Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” '
Now in telling them this parable, Jesus is not leaving the subject of repentance and judgment
The fig tree is also picture of the believer who has had the seed of the word of God planted in his heart. The seed and the soil have been watered with the Word of God, and it germinated and grew, and became a plant. But this tree bears no fruit! John the Baptist said, Matthew 3:8" 'Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. '
Since it's not bearing fruit, since the believer has not been producing fruit in keeping with repentance, the Master says, "Why does it even use up the ground? Cut it down!" You see, we can be all leafy and green, looking like we've got it all together, but if we're not walking in repentance, we serve no function, we're just taking up space in the Master's field.
Fortunately, we have a mediator, Jesus Christ, who says, "Father, don't have it cut down yet. Let me work on it. I just know that I can help this tree to produce fruit in keeping with repentance." How is He going to do that? He's going to dig to the root of the problem, and expose what's been covered up. Then He's going to put in fertilizer, literally means "dung", or "manure", so that the tree can produce fruit.
When we are covered up with our sin, which is the root of our problems, it makes us unable to bear fruit. To help us, Jesus exposes the roots and covers them in dung. What is the dung? Trials, tribulations, bad situations etc. All these things will bring sorrow. Why would Jesus want to cover us with dung and bring sorrow into our lives? To produce fruit. 2 Corinthians 7:10 'Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. '
If there is a godly sorrow, the dung that we get surrounded with produces fruit in keeping with repentance.
But if there is only worldly sorrow, there will be no fruit. And after a period of time, bearing no fruit will result in the Master saying, "Cut it down!" 1 Corinthians 5:5 'hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. '
So my friend turn to Jesus examine your ways to him and confess to him that you are a sinner and ask him to open your eyes on the sins of your world to wash him
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