As you travel around in a new place, you take a wrong turn in one alley and drive past and it takes you to another road, it keeps going and you find your way lost. When you discover that you are in wrong road you take a U to what you are doing to return back to the roots.
Same is there in our spiritual life. We are born again we get the taste of spiritual life, Satan tempts us with the worldly pleasures (Many times its called lifestyle, as he does not want us to grow spiritually) and slowly backsliding starts with neglected prayer, next it gives room to other pleasures of Sin, Over a period of time we get adjust to Sin and become numb to sin leading to backslidden stage.
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) - 'But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. '
To get back to God, repentance is the only way to return from backsliding and getting to God’s perfect will. The call to repentance is important and must not be neglected. It is entirely accurate to say that it is 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).
Repentance & Faith
Every religion talks on Repentance and there is a difference between what Jesus teaches vs the worldly view of repentance. The Bible does not talk about “repentance” only; but “repentance” and “faith” - ”Repent and believe the good news”
Mark 1:15 (NIV) - '“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” '
One Famous writer wrote Repentance comparing with breathing - Repent: Exhale— Exhalation | Believe: Inhale— Inhalation Together, it’s breathing!
Lets look at two incidents of Bible to understand the importance of Repentance with Faith
Judas Iscariot Example
We all the know of the story of Judas, just to summarise the way how Judas betrayed Jesus. I have given how he betrayed and how his repentance was
Judas betrayal story
Matthew 26:14-16,47-49 (NIV) 'Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. '…
Judas repentance
Matthew 27:3-5 (NIV) 'When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. '
Lessons to learn
He realised the mistake, he felt sorry for his mistake - “he was seized with remorse “
He confessed his mistake by returning the money - “returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders”
He openly confessed that he had sinned - ““I have sinned,”
What happened here was the worldly repentance finally hanging himself to death - 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) - 'Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. '
Peter Example
Like Judas, Peter who was a disciple of Jesus denied Jesus for 3 times. He did that like how Jesus had told him in the last supper.
Luke 22:54,56-58,60-62 (NIV) 'Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. '
But here Peter also had repentance and how was his repentance different from Judas that we can learn from Peter to emulate in our life
Lessons to learn
What Peter committed was more grievous sin - Jesus himself had told its a Sin and its implications Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV) - 'But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. '
Peter also had repentance for his Sin, we read “he went outside and wept bitterly.”
The key difference between Judas vs Peter is, Peter looked at the eye of Jesus when he was condemned “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.””
Here are some actions that followed after he looked to his eyes, He believed the word of Jesus had spoken “Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him”
Because of the Faith, he has a new birth of living to write the book of 1 Peter, he writes his actions of repentance in 1 Peter 1:3 - 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, '
Because of his experience he writes how to be Holy by not confirming to the desires of your heart - 1 Peter 1:14-15 (NIV) - 'As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; '
Repentance + Faith = Leaving and cleansing
Repentance + Faith = Actions
Repentance Actions
Matthew 3:8 (NIV) - 'Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. '
Actions that follow repentance with Faith
Flee - Fleeing is doing a “U” turn to the life that you may have lived in the past life. It can happen only if you repent and believe God has cleansed you from the Sin. It does not matter how worse the sin can be (E.g., Sins of Adultery / ponography / drugs / alcoholism or any deadly sins that bible describes.)
Need to get more Holy with God - Once you flee, God’s spirit will lead you to show other areas of your life which are unholy to God. He does this thru many means, one of the ways is when you read the Bible, the word will convict you of the Sins from your heart Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) 'For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. '
Voice of God - Like a sheep, we hear the voice of God to protect us from the wolf attacks of Satan, his flattery deceptions to trap us again to get back to backsliding - John 10:11-12,14 (NIV) - ' “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— '
Peace of God - There is a peace that you will find that God has redeemed you and washed you from the Sin and you are no longer a slave to Sin, the urge / temptations to Sin are gone. God’s Holy Spirit will guard your heart and mind - Philippians 4:7 (NIV) 'And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. '
Keep running the race - You keep running the race like a marathon to live for Jesus in eternal life, you will keep away from the Sin’s of the world that affect your daily life, you don’t tolerate even a small sin that may separate the closeness with God. You start living a life how Paul describes 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (NIV) 'Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.'
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