One of the topics I don't hear much of these days around many church circles, is the word 'repentance'. Many 'modern' or 'contempory' churches no longer use this scriptural word, in the fear that it might offend someone, or stop them coming forward on an altar call for those wanting to receive Jesus Christ. As a strategic thinker and planner I find this method of presenting the gospel disturbing. Although I appreciate that the gospel needs to be preached in different ways to reach different people, yet I am left with a sense of foreboding as to the spiritual state of these 'converts'. It seems that often these days the gospel is presented more like 'joining a club' than laying your own life down and following Jesus. The foundation of any building will ultimately effect whether it stands or falls in the years ahead. If the foundation is laid well and all the correct procedures are followed, the building will be strong and stable, and able to withstand the pressures that will naturally come against it. But if the builder 'cuts corners' or 'takes the easy way out', there is little doubt that a disaster will eventually occur. When I was converted to Christianity many years ago now, those witnessing to me were wise enough and trusted God enough, to let the Holy Spirit have 'His' way in my life. They simply preached the uncompromising 'Word of God' and prayed a lot for a lost soul, that desperately needed saving. They made sure they told me the parable of the man who set out to build a house, got half way through and could not finish, as they wanted me to 'count the cost' of following Christ. Jesus also spoke of the danger of those 'hearing the word' without having their heart prepared to receive it, that they are like seeds that fall on stony ground, they endure for a time, but then when difficulties arise they lose their faith. One of the main problems I perceive with the 'soft' approach of preaching the gospel is that those who have been only partly challenged with the requirements of living for Jesus and then fall away, think they have ' already heard it all' and are then twice as hard to convert the second time. I believe we are not doing these people any favours by withholding vital information from them. We need to allow them to soberly face the prerequisites that Jesus spoke of, so they have every opportunity of laying a solid foundation for their own Christian walk. Both Jesus Christ and John The Baptist began their ministry saying the same thing, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". Repentance is a crucial foundation stone in every Christian believer's life, and without it Christianity is just a religion, and not an intimate relationship with our creator. But what then is Repentance? To repent is to acknowledge that the way you were going was wrong and to choose to turn around and follow Jesus Christ and His teachings, forsaking your old worldly ways. Repentance is a daily lifestyle for those desiring to walk close to God. Repentance makes the room in our hearts, for the Holy Spirit to come and fill daily. The foundation for each days living is "repentance from dead works" and "faith toward God".
Warm Regards
John Nolan
Dads Uni
Suggested Scriptures
(Luke 14 v 27)
27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it"29lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
(Matthew 4 v 17)
17From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3v1)
1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight."
4Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9and do not think to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 13 v 3)
3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 13 v 20)
20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (Hebrews 6 v 1)
1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Psalm 51 v 10) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart" These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 34 v 18) 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | 
