Repentance

THE HOLY BIBLE

REPENTANCE:

ARE YOU DEFILING GOD'S TEMPLE: ......you?

1 Cor 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are [your flesh body]." KJV

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. KJV

No flesh can live without sinning ....... even those who are "saved" are not living without falling short of Jesus' example to us in some manner. Some folks might argue the point, but the Bible is clear about it.

Rom 3:22-23
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; KJV

1 John 1:5-10
5 This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. KJV

We are to repent of our sins. Our Heavenly Father wants us to live with Him for the rest of eternity, but He requires our obedience to qualify for that gift. We are given the freedom of choice .... to exercise our free will even if it conflicts with His will.

Ezek 18:32
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. KJV

God is patient and hopes for our choosing everlasting life instead of everlasting death. Look at this verse in the book of 2nd Peter:

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9; KJV)

Did you catch that point made there? It says that the Lord does not want us to perish, but rather wishes us to repent of our living sinfully. However, He still gives us the free-will to choose everlasting death if we insist on doing it that way.
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What Is Biblical Repentance:

repent (ri-pent)v. re-pent-ed, re-pent-ing, re-pents.v. intr. 1. To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite. 2. To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it: repented of intemperate behavior. 3. To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.v. tr. 1. To feel regret or self-reproach for: repent one's sins. 2. To cause to feel remorse or regret.[Middle English repenten, from Old French repentir : re-, re- + pentir, to be sorry (from Vulgar Latin *paenitire, from Latin paenitere).]--re-pent'er n.

This requires a sincere mind-set of regret for sins committed and a determination to try and avoid repeating past mistakes ..... then ask God for your forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ. Know that you are forgiven through your faith in Jesus and not through some pastor or any man ..... only through Jesus.

Repentance is the requirement for eternal life beyond accepting Jesus the Christ as our individual Savior.

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV)

The Old Testament required a sinner to provide an acceptable sacrifice for the remission of sins. Jesus Christ, by His becoming our individual Sacrifice (the Lamb slain for us), has eliminated the blood-shedding required of our ancestors. In this way, Jesus became our Savior....... our sin offering. It is your choice ...... your freedom to choose either Jesus and life eternal, or reject Him and receive eternal condemnation.
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You might say: "But God tells us that if we abide in Him, we won't sin!" (as stated in 1 John 3:6)

I John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.

Can Christians live without sinning? No. Here is why I say that:

The English words that we are given in the translation from the original Greek words do not convey the reality of God's message to us. Surely you do not believe that it is possible for humans not to sin. There was but one who was perfect: Jesus. That fact alone should alert us to something not being said quite right here in 1 John 3:6. But let's look in the context of what's said in the previous verses.

When you sin, you are breaking the law. If there was no law, there would be no sin, because you simply can not transgress the law that doesn't exist. It would be foolish to say that we have no sin in the world today among those who call themselves Christians.

In I John 3:5 it says: "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin."

Why did Jesus Christ the Son of God come to this earth in the flesh? The simple answer is "to take away our sins." Jesus paid the price for our sins, and our salvation is free (upon our repentance) through Christ's blood.

Then in I John 3:6 it says: "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him."

I could say: I sin every day. Does that mean I don't know Christ? ... that because I am not "without sin" that I am not really saved?

No, because this word for "sinneth" in verse 6, is the word for habitual sinning. The habitual (premeditated and intentional) sinner does not desire to seek after the ways of our Lord; they do not abide in God. The habitual sinner has rejected Jesus by choice. This verse is not speaking about those who have accepted Christ and try to "do right" by their being free from any sin. It is saying that they are free of habitual, intentional sinning.

Woe be it to any Christian who knows he/she sins, but does not stop; each one of God's children shall pay for sins not removed through repentance.

Do children receive punishment for their fathers' sins? Not punishment from God:

Ezek 18:19-22
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. KJV
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Accept Jesus with His gift of life eternal, and then seek God's wisdom in His letter to humanity, the Bible. The Bible is the "operator's manual" for life in the flesh in an acceptable manner to God ........which may not necessarily be an acceptable manner to some human or church organization.

You must remember: You and you alone are accountable for your life when you stand before God on Judgment Day!
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What is God's guidance to His people? We are all His people whether we follow Him or Satan:

Ezek 18:4
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. KJV

He is our Creator; the author of our very existence ....... our very soul and spirit housed in the flesh vessel called a human being. Obey God's voice and it will be well unto you.

Jer 7:23
23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. KJV

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith [in Jesus], wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked [wicked one, Satan].
17 And take the helmet of salvation [through Christ], and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (KJV)

Does that mean that your life in Christ will be without trials, problems, or outright hate from other people? No, not at all! But ....... fear not, God is always with those who seek Him out:

Heb 13:5-6
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. KJV

Never forget this promise to you:

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 There hath no temptation [a testing] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted [tested] above that ye are able; but will with the temptation [testing] also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. KJV

What is that escape He promises?

.... that you love Jesus more than yourself.
.... that you want to please Him more than satisfying your fleshly wants and desires.
.... that you obey God's written Word "so that it will be well unto you".

Obey God and your troubles will be few. Know that this life of 70 or so years is but a "blink of an eye" in the eternity left for us to be with God!

And also Remember:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6, KJV)

JESUS IS THE only PATH TO ETERNAL LIFE!

Jesus returns at the 7th trumpet. Here is the description of His arrival:

Rev 19:11-13

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
KJV

JESUS IS THE LIVING WORD!
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You must study His written Word to learn about His guidance and the conditions you must meet in your life to hear Him say:

"Well done my good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21, 23)

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j_b@holyscriptures.com