Pride or Repentance

There are a lot of messageS out there about sin and hell, about grace and mercy. Some of them have been isolated, some of them intermingled unjustly, some of them suggested to return to. The other day, as I was getting off my bus a couple men I heard talking about God and the need to bring back the message of sin separating us from God and hell being real and THAT message being mentioned again. As they passed me, they turned, acknowledged my presence and implied my consent, which I did give them. There have been many messages about God being mean and unjust, loving (of all acceptable perversions), even unjustifiably just. I also heard in their tone and noticed their inflection that others need to get saved (?pride?)

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My consent was that sin does separate us from God and that hell is very real. I did not hear them however, speak of the Savior…the One who took on death, hell and the grave. They still have power…but only over those who deny, reject or are unwilling to turn their lives to THIS Savior…Jesus Christ and live for Him. I did not hear them speak of God’s kindnesses or mercy which is perhaps why many speak of God being mean or without what Jesus, who came from God, was full of…grace. By the authority of His name, because He took on death, hell and the grave…AND defeated them and now offers forgiveness to the individual of mankind; but each one must “receive” it. How? By believing? Is that it? Even the devils believe so strongly that they tremble. Do you truly “believe” if you don’t tremble? That’s a fair question, but begs a depth not many are willing to answer or explore. Even the honest person who wants to skirt around that question or exploration would say that is fair but may be unwilling to. Acknowledge your ways before the Lord and He will direct your path…right? Sounds good. However in that is an expectation to follow the path He is directing you.

I mentioned toward the beginning how the two men seemed to assume only the “sinner” needed saved and thus the watered down message of sin and hell, but what is the greater message? What is the message for the sinner…and yes, the “saint” or as these men would probably acknowledge…the “sinner saved by grace by faith”? That answer can be found throughout the Word of God. The prophets spoke often of it…to the children of God and those who were soon to be under judgment be they the “sinner saved by grace” or the “sinner”. The message was clear and simple and perhaps “quick” to escape and discover God’s goodness…again, but the message required a reply; not only a willingness but the action of the choice. The Word of God speaks to the church’s in the book of Revelation and implies it throughout of God goodness, that it is not His desire that any perish, but that all come to; not only salvation, or faith, or grace, or eternal life, but to repentance. It is, in fact, the goodnesses of God that it is written…leads men to repentance.

The bottom line is, repentance calls both sinner and saint…the “child of God” and the one who is not yet a child of God. But what makes someone a child of God? When you become a co-heir with Christ upon acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross, the authority of forgiveness and the producing of fruit fit for repentance. It is relationship and God is no respecter of persons and knows those who are truly His.

Repentance is the message needing to be remembered, because it calls the sinner and the saint, the good and the bad, the poorest and the richest, the best and the least among men. The world is not in the condition it is in because of the sinner, but because of the unrepentant, be they saved, or not. Are you…person, ready to repent and say yes to Jesus…the first or in continual pursuit? Are you ready to get up again, or to join in becoming a co-heir of the Only Begotten Son of God? If your answer is yes, please let me know, let someone know, but please let me know so we can walk together, pray together and get back up together in encouraging one another, because the days are evil, but God still loves…YOU…US.

Stuff With a Message is restoring the call of repentance to the earth. You can help by simply sharing these articles. The needs of the ministry are minimal, but the need to restore the call is great. Restore the Call!!

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The macaw is often a symbol of sacred union and lasting relationships.

Union with the Savior (and perhaps each other) and the reality that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us and that HIS love is...patient, therefore our repentance must be constant.