True salvation; I really believe this one scripture stated by the Lord sums it up:
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. {Luke 13:3}
You could have grown up in church, studied the Bible inside and out, and given your money to the poor. Perhaps you’ve even received the wonderful gift of His Holy Spirit, speak in tongues, and are baptized in Jesus’ name. You may even preach the gospel to all nations, heal the sick, and cast out devils. But if you have sin in your heart and you’re not right with God, and have not truly repented with works to show for it, then you’re lost. I’m sorry, but you are not saved. This is what the Lord said. Unless we repent we will all likewise perish.
What is true repentance? Repentance is not just saying you’re sorry. True repentance is having a change of heart and having the determination to not ever again do that thing you’ve repented of. So many of us can shout out, “I’m sorry” when we’re put in a spot and we know we’ve done wrong. But so many of us justify ourselves in the process of shouting out we’re sorry. We say sorry and then we forget about it. We don’t think about what we’ve done and have a change of heart. We just say, “I’m sorry” and then move on. So many of us, because we can justify ourselves, think we’re not really wrong after all even when we’ve done the same stupid thing over and over again, or have hurt people again and again. We say we’re sorry but we’ve not really repented.
I know the Lord Jesus has done the works of righteousness already for our sakes. He gave His life, hung at the cross and died, so that we don’t need to offer atonement for our sins. We don’t earn our salvation, the Lord freely offers it to us. But yet, there still must be works of righteousness to demonstrate we’ve really repented of our sins in order for us to be saved. I mean, what’s the point of us being saved from our sins then if we just continue to freely sin? Think about what John the Baptist told the Pharisees when they came to him to be baptized. He told them,
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {Luke 3:9}
Basically he is telling them, unless they show works of repentance they’ve not really repented. They might have come to be baptized, but it doesn’t mean anything if they’re going to go back to their old ways and not repent. And if they’ve not repented then they’re lost. They will be thrown out, useless, burned down into the fire. They are lost.
Think about it, the Bible clearly tells us that God is going to judge us according to our works. Here are a couple of scriptures:
Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. {Matthew 7:21-23}
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. {Revelation 20:12}
Everything we do and say will be judged. The truth is, our hearts will be the determining factor of whether we’re going to be saved or not. The Lord does not judge based on the appearance of man, or on “righteous works” to appear righteous, or the flattering words we say but we lie in our hearts. He will be judging us based on our motives and the truth that is in our hearts. The Lord tells Jeremiah about this,
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. {Jeremiah 17:10}
The Lord also tells John the Beloved in the Book of Revelation about this as well:
And all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. {Revelation 2:23}
So you see, it’s not enough that we say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me…” We must also examine our hearts, and change our way of thinking and doing things. We’ve got to try hard not to sin again or do that thing which we’ve repented of. We’ve got to put in an effort. If we’ve hurt a brother or a sister, or if we’ve done something God is not pleased with, then we need to turn around and do something about it. We need to truly repent. I know it’s easier said than done, that’s why we need to ask the Lord to help us if we’re struggling with this. He’s here after all to help us. We’re not alone in this you know. We’re not here to try to do the will of God without the help of Jesus. Honestly, not a lot of us are like Job. We cannot be perfect without the help of Jesus. We need Him. This is the very reason He came down and gave His life for us, so that we don’t have to live trying to please God on our own. He is here to help us. It is very important that we truly repent from our hearts, because we have no excuse not to be able to do it. The Lord’s help is here for us. True repentance comes from a change of heart, and a desire to do what God wills for us to do all the time. Therefore, we must truly repent because the Lord is looking for it from us.
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. {Matthew 3:2}
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {James 2:17}
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. {Romans 8:27}
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. {Psalm 139:23-24}
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your grace and mercy upon my soul each and everyday. I thank You with all of my heart for You in my life.
Please Lord Jesus, be gracious upon my soul and please forgive me. Forgive me for all of my unrighteousness. Forgive me for the many times I’ve disobeyed you again and again and have repented again and again, but did not truly mean it from my heart. Please Father, will You help me? I cannot do this on my own. The Bible says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. That is me, Lord. I desire to be holy and perfect and upright before You, doing Your will always. But when push comes to shove, my selfish self rises up again and I end up doing what I want to do. Please Savior, help me to repent. Help me to truly repent and do what is good and pleasing before You.
You are my help, Lord Jesus. You are my holiness and my righteousness; I look to You for my salvation. I pray all this in Your wonderful name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
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Rp11/2018″True Repentance”
