Repentance: Change of the Mind or Change of Action?

The word of God states in Ezekiel 18:30:
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.
In Matthew 4:17 Jesus says “ … Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” These are just a few of the many verses God speaks directly about repentance. God is very concerned about His people repenting of their evil actions, thoughts, and ways. This is a truth that, I believe, has fallen by the wayside in today’s Christian culture. I seldom hear Christians speak about repentance. I only hear, “believe and that’s all you need.” Is this a true statement? I would say yes and no.

I agree with Martin Luther and the reformers that your are saved by grace alone, through faith alone. Amen, hallelujah! However, we must remember the caveat that they place on this statement that is so often excluded: “I believe in faith alone, but not a faith that is alone,” – Martin Luther.

What did he mean by a faith that is not alone? At first glance, it appears that Martin Luther is merely contradicting himself. However, after careful examination, one sees that Martin Luther was speaking about a great paradox in the bible.

James says that faith without works is dead. Faith needs works to be alive or existent. You, however, don’t need faith plus works. They are invariably interwoven. If you have faith without works, then the reality is that you don’t have faith at all. See James illustrates this in 3:15-17:
¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[b] is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Take note to what James is saying: that faith without works is like a man saying go in peace and be warmed and filled without actually doing anything for him. This is ridiculous. This is not true concern or charity. This “concern” or “charity” lacks consistency. There is no substance found within.

This is how faith without works is. It lacks validity. How can you say Jesus is Lord, and not do his will (works). How can you say Lord not my will but your will be done (works) and do only your own? You my friend have a dead faith, which will produce nothing.

Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 7:21:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven

What is Jesus saying here? He clearly states that not everyone who professes faith (Lord, Lord) is truly saved. It’s not the one who professes to have faith and has no works, but the one who does the Father’s will.

Can you do the Father’s will and not believe in him? Of course not. As Martin Luther said, “Faith alone, but not a faith that is alone.” How much works do you have to have? There is no such requirement given in scripture. If you truly have faith in Jesus Christ, you will be born again, and your new redeemed person will have works.

One of these works that will result from your new redeemed life is repentance. God will give you not only the desire, but also the power to repent of your former ways. Philippians 2:12 :
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

So who then is doing the work? Is it you or is it God? The Word of the Lord says it is God. So whether it is faith (Ephesian 2:8 …it is a gift from God…) or your work (Philippians 2:12 …it is God who works…) it all comes from the Lord. Therefore, if you are in Christ, you will have no problem doing Jesus’ command, “to believe and repent,” for both of these things will be given to you.

This is all, however, God’s perspective. Man’s perspective is that you need to believe and repent — work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Don’t let any tradition of man rob you from the truth. It is not enough to simply believe. You must believe and repent, for this is true faith — the former will only get you to Matthew 7:21 “…Lord, Lord…” The latter will bring you to Revelation 21:1 “…a new earth and the new Heaven… “

My Lifes Work: Bible Commentary

I wrote an article today about the importance of not living a vain life. That we as Christians,in the end of our lives, should be able to reflect on our lives and be proud of our contributions. Well with this mentality in mind,  I am considering writing a commentary of the bible. Now I would divide this task into smaller chunks such as first just the gospel of Luke. Then possibly all the books of Luke. So forth and so on, until I finished the entire bible. This is a lofty task and will take no shortage of time but  I am considering it.

One of the primary reasons, I feel led to pursue this goals is because today when I wrote 500 words about 7 verse in Luke. It felt so right.  It felt like God has gifted me with the ability to… not quite effortlessly, but efficiently write about his scriptures. Every time  I read the Lord’s word I want to discuss and teach it. I feel that burning in my soul.  After I wrote about Luke 5:2-7 and read the next section, I wanted to write a exegete on the subsequent scripture. I refused the temptation – for I knew if I excepted it, I would have to write another 500 word essay. Laziness got to me. I didn’t want to. Lol.

Well, this might be another one of my many pipe dreams, or this may be the beginnings  of a life’s work I pursue – - only time will tell.

God bless you; abide in his love through obedience and sacrifice.

Lifes Work

Since I was a young boy, I have always been terrified of living a vain life. Vanity of vanity, the words that I have never want to fulfill. I remember when I was only a young pup, maybe ten years old, that I asked my mom what is the purpose of life. She answer, ‘ well, son, that is a question maybe have struggled to answer, and well I don’t know.’ I remember being dissatisfied with that answer. Even as a child, I knew that there had to be a purpose in life. Life couldn’t simply be meaningless. We where put here by God and I knew he couldn’t have put us here arbitrary. While at the time, I may not have been able to conceptualize this, I definitely understood this deep down (internally). Since God is our creator, we can only find are purpose in him. He designed us to fulfill a specific purpose. God did not just create us and leave us in this world to do as we choose. He is involved in every aspect of our life; he is also concerned with every aspect of our lives. The truth is life without God is meaningless; therefore, life with God is full of meaning, meaning only found in him. Now the question then arises, how do we find out God purpose in our lives? God luckily has given us a guide to navigate through this world. It called the scriptures – his inspired word. The Lord’s way is definitely not the easy path. Serving yourself is the natural sinful desire in all of us. Serving God and doing his will is truly counterintuitive. This, however, is the only way we can find our purpose in this world. The army has a sang ‘you serving something higher then yourself.’ How much truer is this when it comes to serving the Lord of Lord, the creator of the universe. Serving God is the only way to avoid vanity of vanity. Unfortunately, the consequences of not serving the Lord are not only vanity of vanity but also the fire and vengeance of God’s wrath – hell. As a Christian you can live partially a vain life. You can waste your time as a Christian filling your life up with wood hay and stubble. This should not be taken to the extreme of not allowing yourself any free time or time for relaxing. This is usually not an issue through. The usual issue is for Christians to over indulge in ourselves and ignore our duty and obligation to the Lord. This too is vanity of vanity.

Trust in the Lord: Through Trials and Tribulations

The apostles praise the Lord in the book of acts right after they were beaten; then where beaten and they praised the lord for there opportunity to suffer for Christ. How amazing of a group of individuals to do such a thing. Praise the Lord of creating such wonderful workmanship for his kingdom. I pray that the Lord will provide more men with this attitude and understanding of God. I pray that the Lord makes me like these men when I am called to suffer in my life.

Currently, I am being sued for a grand total of $ 30,000. Now I can fret and worry. I can freak out and throw my hands up at the sky and ask why, Lord, why! Or I can trust in the Lord. Psalms 40:3 blessed is the man who trust in the Lord. I want to be this man, me and my family. I want to praise the Lord of the opportunity to put my trust in the Lord and if I am called to suffer for the Lord praise his name. This is an exceptable reality.

It is not my story, but his-story. This is not my life – I count my life nothing. I am only here for the glory of the Lord. I am bought at a price. I am a slave, a doulous (greek word for slave). Who is man that God is mindful of him? God never answers this question because the answer is he is not anything that the Lord should be mindful of him. We are created for the glory of the Lord. If he is glorified by the the seasons of joy in you life praise the Lord! If he is glorified by the trials and tribulations in your life praise the Lord! What did Job say? The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the Lord. Blessed it be the Lord and give him praise all you saints.

I love the song “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” absolutely praise Jesus. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus . Psalm 127:2 says “The Lord gives his beloved sleep”. I shall sleep well today and tomorrow and forever more. My sleep and my rest in the Lord has nothing to do with my situations, but my relationship with the Lord. I am his servant! I am his son. If God is with me then who can be against me? Who can stand against the Lord and his anointed ? Not satan, not the world, and differently not trials and tribulations.

What does James 1:2 say, ” count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Count it all joy! Let’s live this scripture. James also says, “be not hears of the world only but doers of the world.” It is easy to say you trust in the Lord when all is well but can you say it is well with my soul in the midst of the storm. This reminds me of when in the gospel Jesus was sleeping in a boat during a great storm. His apostles where freaking out believing they would be consumed by the storm and awoke Jesus. Jesus then rebuked them and said, “ye of little faith.” The Lord can calm the storms in your life and the Lord will take you where he wants you. This may not always be where you wanna go but this where the Lord wants you.

God bless you; fear the Lord all the days of your life and it shall be well with you soul.