For some reason, the blood red color of the above bromeliad reminded me of the fact of Jesus' shed blood at the Cross - His precious blood which alone can wash away our sins and make us a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). God made Jesus to be sin for us!
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 explains: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
The verses above would make the subject of another complete article on this blog, and perhaps that will be done in the future. The point now concerns the fact that once a person is truly saved and born again (a spiritual rebirth) he is considered to be a "new creature" because the heavenly Father sees that person as clean, by the blood of Jesus, and sees that person as righteous by Jesus' redemptive act at Calvary - sees the saved one "through" Jesus, so to speak.
It does NOT mean that we are perfect, of course, and that we will never sin again. Due to the fallen flesh inherited from Adam's fall, we will make mistakes and sin occasionally. However, unlike the world of unsaved lost souls, we will not deliberately and willfully sin. We will not go against God's will defiantly and assert our own set of "rules" independently of Him. Sin will not be our predominant nature.
This leads to the main subject of this post: Faith and Repentance. Charles Spurgeon has said that faith and repentance are inseparable. Check out You Tube for an audio sermon of his on that subject.
Sometimes this blog neglects to always mention repentance when salvation and salvation verses are shared here. Repentance is a necessary requirement of salvation; and yet, at the same time, repentance is one continuing act.
" I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." - Jesus at Luke 13:3
Following is a 55 minute audio sermon by George Whitefield on the subject: "A Repentant Heart", based in part on Luke 13:3. Whitefield was a Methodist evangelist who was born in Gloucester, England, and lived from 1714 to 1770. When he was very young, he met John and Charles Wesley. Whitefield's sermon below is excellent ! Please watch ! You will be glad you did.
In the above sermon, George Whitefield tells us to not say we do not have the power to change, for Christ will give us the power and strength to do so!
Here is a link to a wonderful article on repentance at https://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?s=Bibles&q=repentance
The article tells us that confession belongs to repentance and is needed for Divine forgiveness. Repentance means to turn away from evil, and to turn to good. One important comment in the above article is , "Repentance is only a condition of salvation and not its meritorious ground," and "repentance requires true brokenness and with a commitment to change."
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17
Luke 24:46-48 tells us: "And said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in HIs name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things."
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yeah, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things, ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." - Apostle Paul at 2 Corinthians 7:10-11
"And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Luke 5:31-32
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." - Jesus at John 3:7
On the above verse, Charles Spurgeon has written beautifully in his devotion which follows:
"Regeneration is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to take heed that we really are "born again", for there are many who fancy they are, who are not. Be assured that the name of a Christian is not the nature of a Christian; and that being born in a Christian land, and being recognized as professing the Christian religion is of no avail whatever, unless there be something more added to it - the being "born again", is a matter so mysterious , that human words cannot describe it. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit." Nevertheless, it is a change which is known and felt; known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural. It is not an operation which a man performs for himself: a new principle is infused, which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man. It is not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other. If you have then, been "born again", your acknowledgment will be : "O LORD Jesus, the everlasting Father, thou art my spiritual Parent; unless Thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day "dead in trespasses and sins." ... "My heavenly life is wholly derived from Thee - to Thee I ascribe it." ,,, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who liveth in me." - May the LORD enable us to be well assured on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope." (end of quote).
Following is a beautiful hymn used on this blog previously which is about confession of sin and a contrite heart and God's grace -- and more !
Here once again is Dr. Charles Stanley's short 8 minute video on the way of salvation:
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !
