Category: Discipleship Foundations

Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Jesus Is Lord

 

 

 

 

 

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3  concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:1-4 (ESV)

Christ’s resurrection was the most important event in human history. He died for our sins on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God, but he rose from the dead in glory and power as the indisputable Lord of Lords, the promised Messianic King of Israel to whom every knee will bow and who one day will judge the entire earth.

The proper response to discovering that Jesus died as God’s Lamb is to humbly and gratefully receive the provision of God’s mercy and grace it provides.

The necessary and fitting response to hearing that Jesus is the risen Lord is to make a declaration of faith and allegiance to him, which is the central meaning of water baptism.

...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV)

In the West we have reduced Christ’s ministry in many cases to that of the Lamb of God, instructing those who hear our message to receive him into their hearts.

The gospel of the apostles declared the lordship of the risen Christ and called hearers to acknowledge and submit to him.

The gospel is not simply a “get out of jail free” card that allows us to live free from any commitment to God. Rather it is an offer of forgiveness, justification, redemption, reconciliation, and sonship with the express purpose of making us fit subjects and obedient servants of the King.

Prayer

Jesus, I never realized my need to acknowledge you as my Lord and King. I do that now and pledge my allegiance to you. I depend on your grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to enable me to be faithful to you all my days. Thank you for dying for me. Help me now to live for you. Amen.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Resurrection from the Dead – Jesus Is the Resurrection

 

 

 

 

 

The apostle Paul wrote that the resurrection from the dead is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14  and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15  Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17  and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:13-20 (NASB)

Jesus offered himself as an offering for our sin by dying on the cross. Without the resurrection from the dead, he would be just another tragic and delusional historical figure who thought he was something special, when he was only a man, just like everyone else.

However, Jesus’ glorious resurrection was proof positive that his sacrifice had been accepted by his Father in heaven, who vindicated him in the eyes of his disciples.

His Second Coming at the culmination of time will glorify and vindicate him in the eyes of everyone else.

Jesus foretold his own resurrection on multiple times. He told his disciples that he would be put to death on a cross and rise again.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 (ESV)

He told them that he would be raised from the dead as a sign prefigured in the book of Jonah.

But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40  For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:39-40 (ESV)

He told his enemies that if they destroyed the temple of his body, God would raise him up again.

The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20  The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21  But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22 (NASB)

Jesus told Martha that he would raise Lazarus from the dead because he was and is the embodiment of the resurrection.

Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23  Jesus *said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24  Martha *said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:21-26 (NASB)

He promised his disciples that one day he would raise each of us from the dead.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:39-40 (ESV)

Not only did Jesus rise from the tomb after dying for our sins, he is the Resurrection. Those who put their faith and allegiance in him will participate in his resurrection both now, in a spiritual sense, and physically at the Second Coming. Jesus is the resurrection and the life!

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Laying on of Hands – Ordination

 

 

 

 

 

Ordination is the third use or aspect of the laying on of hands. It combines everything we have already learned about this important principle and practice. It is used to identify the ordained person with the ones doing the ordaining, and through the laying on of hands blessings, grace, and gifts are imparted to the person being ordained to enable him or her to fulfill their ministry and commission from God.

Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, 16  “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17  who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” 18  So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19  Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. 20  You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. 21  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.” 22  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23  and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses. Numbers 27:15-23 (ESV)

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14 (NASB)

Ordination should always confirm what God has already done or is doing. It is more of a recognition of God’s hand upon a person than it is anything else. That being said, an actual impartation does take place through the laying on of hand in ordination.

Identification also is at work. The ordained one becomes a representative of the one who ordains him or her.

This is why Paul warned Timothy to avoid identifying with people we do not know well.

Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. 1 Timothy 5:22 (NASB)

Damage is done to the gospel and our ministry when we are poorly represented by ordaining people who are not truly called or ready. It is better to wait until we are sure than to hastily ordain someone. It is far easier to ordain than to decommission.

"Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. 15  "Then after that the Levites may go in to serve the tent of meeting. But you shall cleanse them and present them as a wave offering; 16  for they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself instead of every first issue of the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. Numbers 8:14-16 (NASB)

Identification contains in it the idea of representative service.

The commissioned one serves on behalf of those doing the commissioning. The Levites served the Lord in place of the first born sons. This was God’s choice. In a sense, whatever the Levites did in the way of service was a credit to all the first born. In modern times, when missionaries are sent out by a local church, they represent that local church wherever they go.

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)

The local church participates through sending and supporting workers whom God has called and commissioned and will share in the reward for their labors.

This is built into the principle of identification. Not everyone is called to go to a foreign mission field, to pastor a church, or to serve as an elder or deacon, but we all share the responsibility for that work and the reward of those whom we commission and ordain.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Laying on of Hands – Impartation

 

 

 

 

 

When hands were laid on the Old Covenant animal sacrifices a transfer or impartation took place symbolically. The sins of the offerer were imparted to the animal, causing the animal to carry or bear those sins and suffer the penalty of death for them. That is what actually  happened at Calvary. The Lamb of God became sin on our behalf. Our sins and the penalty for those transgressions were transferred to the innocent One who had never committed or even known sin before that moment.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

The transfer and carrying of our sins is mentioned in Isaiah 53.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6 (NASB) 

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 (NASB)

The physical laying on of hands in the Old Covenant was spiritually fulfilled in the New.

The laying on of hands also imparts blessings. Even in the Old Covenant blessings were imparted in this way.

But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head. So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18  “No, my father,” he said. “This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” 19  But his father refused. “I know, my son; I know,” he replied. “Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” 20  So Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing: “The people of Israel will use your names when they give a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Genesis 48:17-20 (NLT)

In the New, Jesus laid his hands on children to bless them.

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14  When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16  Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 (NLT)

He laid hands on the sick to heal them and set them free from demons.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41  And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. Luke 4:40-41 (ESV)

We are instructed to do the same.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18  they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18 (ESV) 

It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. Acts 28:8 (ESV)

The baptism in the Spirit and spiritual gifts are also imparted in this way.

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17 (ESV) 

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14 (NASB)

God often uses physical touch to communicate spiritual blessings.

We are human beings made up of a spirit, soul, and a body. Each part is important. Obviously God can impart spiritually without the laying on of hands, as when he healed from a distance by simply speaking a word. (Matthew 8:5-13) Nevertheless, God in his wisdom uses the laying on of hands to impart blessings. This why it is a good thing to lay hands on people when we pray for them. Sometimes people feel a tangible “touch” of the Spirit when we do that. Why not give it a try?

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: The Laying on of Hands – Identification

 

 

 

 

 

The laying on of hands is a foundational doctrine of Christ that is not often taught. Since it is listed in Hebrews 6:1-2, we can assume that it is very important. Why then do we have a disconnect between what is important and what is taught? The answer lies in the fact that today many do not understand its meaning or importance. This doctrine can be broken down into three aspects: identification, impartation, and ordination. The three are part of the whole, and each category easily crosses over into the others. I break this doctrine into three sections more for teaching purposes than for any real separation. In that respect, it is similar to the gifts of the Spirit.

Under the Old Covenant, when sacrifices were offered to the Lord, hands were laid on the sacrifice to make an identification between the offerer and the sacrifice. The animal “became” the offerer in a sense. It is probably obvious that impartation is also at work, but I will save that for the next article.

'He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. Leviticus 1:4 (NASB) 

"Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. 22  "The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:21-22 (NASB)

The Old Covenant pointed to what Christ would accomplish in the New Covenant. All the old sacrifices pointed to the one Christ would make on our behalf on the cross as God’s Lamb. When Jesus went to the cross, he was identified with our sins and us completely.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

Identification is one of the most important and consequential truths found in the Bible. It is the basis of our salvation.

For those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ the following truths are real and should become our experience. We would do well to meditate on them.

  • When Jesus died, we died. His death to sin defeated the power of sin to rule over us. (Romans 6:14) He paid the price for our sin, and, since we were in him and died with him, we have already paid the ultimate price of death for our sins. There is no double jeopardy. A bill only has to be paid once. That is why the Bible says that  Jesus died “once for all.” (Hebrews 7:27)
  • When Jesus rose from the dead, we rose with him. In John 5:24, Jesus said that those who believe in him have already passed from death to life. This is not mere poetry. It is the truth. Just as we died with him and in him, we also rose with him and in him. (Romans 6:10-11, John 11:25) Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. If we are in him, we are resurrected beings already. We are now alive to God through the new birth, which is another allusion to the newness of life that comes through spiritual resurrection. Obviously, at present, this resurrection is only spiritual. One day it will include our bodies, but for now it is a real resurrection in the spirit. (Colossians 3:1-3)
  • We are united with Christ in the Spirit, and He lives through us. This is the “secret” of the Christian life of which many are unaware. God never expects people to live in their own strength. Those who believe and are born again have Christ’s Spirit living inside. The glorious unity between our spirits and God’s gives us the life, power, and inclination or desire to love and serve God effectively.
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB) 

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

We were identified with Adam in his sin. Now we are identified with Christ in his victory over sin, death, sickness, and Satan. Hallelujah!

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Why Apprenticeship Works Best for Making Disciples

 

 

 

 

 

Those who take seriously the need to produce disciples who can disciple others have come up with all sorts of strategies to get this done – everything from seminary to in house training by the local church. Any discussion about making disciples begs the question: “What exactly are we trying to accomplish?” I have heard ministers who went through seminary complain that they never learned the practical side of things that would have helped them navigate the “real world.” Do we really think that filling a person with biblical and theological truth is all they need? Should we not be preparing people to live out the teachings of Jesus, including the Great Commission, and teach others to do the same? Isn’t that what making disciples is all about?

The seminary route assumes that Christian leaders are formed primarily by consuming, digesting, and regurgitating significant amounts of prescribed information about theology, the Bible, ethics, counseling, and a variety of related topics in a location that is generally separate from the local church setting. It is a classic “Greek” methodology which treats knowledge as an abstract, divorced of action. The presupposition is that the highest good is right thinking about doctrine. Unsurprisingly, this is the surest route to produce self-righteous heresy hunters and anti-God Pharisees. It is also a proven way to convince people that the doing part of being a disciple is not that important. Attending multiple church services per week replaces evangelism in the priority list. I contend that using the classroom approach to making disciples actually produces good church goers and Bible students, not true disciples who take seriously the Great Commission.

Interestingly, the classroom approach was not the strategy Jesus used.

Jesus trained and equipped apprentices using a combination of oral teaching, ministry demonstration and inclusion, and sending out to do what was taught and demonstrated.

Jesus’ goal was to produce men and women who had a vision and understanding of how to “go” to the world carrying the words of the gospel in the power of the Spirit, and who were equipped and able to minister healing and deliverance, while standing up to the hostilities they would receive from the Jewish leaders and Roman state. Do we really have a better plan?

Jesus was criticized by the “seminarians” of his day (the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees) for not having been properly taught. His main men were considered to be ignorant fisherman. His sermons were simple affairs filled with stories and examples drawn from the lives of common people. There is no record that Jesus taught his apostles any sort of a “systematic” theology, used any written manuals of instruction, or developed a formal system for making disciples. He seemed to operate “by the seat of his pants” (doing what he saw his Father do – John 5:19) as he took his followers with him on ministry trips and used the opportunities that presented themselves to instruct them on a variety of topics as needed.

I believe a case can be made for the effectiveness of disciple development by using what seem to be “random” opportunities for teaching, demonstration, and discussions related to real life situations that we all face on a daily basis.

The classroom approach usually assigns a prescribed “course of study” that seeks to include all the basic things that a disciple should know. Once the student completes this course of study satisfactorily, he or she receives a certificate or diploma acknowledging the accomplishment. This in turn may become their “ticket” for being hired into the ministry. Jesus did not do this. How did he know when his disciples knew enough to survive and thrive as his ministry representatives? The answer is that he trusted the Holy Spirit to teach them what they needed to know as they went forward – a kind of on the job training.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26 (NLT)

Most people, especially new followers of Jesus, have enough “issues” going on in their lives that those of us who are engaged in discipleship development will never lack something to talk about when we get together with them. We gain traction in the transformation process when we apply Christ’s teaching to the real life issues they currently face.

Most of what we need to know in order to properly love and serve our Lord is fairly simple. It’s the application that is challenging. Most disciple development should consist of putting simple truths into practice, not perfecting deeper and deeper theological understanding. Of course there is a need for solid doctrinal training, but it is not the core of disciple development.

Putting Christ’s teachings, including the Great Commission, into practice in everyday life must be our focus.

A great plan for working with most individuals might be for them to be responsible for reading portions of Scripture on their own and making notes of anything they want to discuss. When a disciple maker meets with his or her developing disciples, the first thing to talk about might be what is going on in their lives that is a challenge. This should not be some formal or hurried endeavor; rather, it should be done perhaps over a cup of coffee in casual conversation. The disciple maker should be genuinely interested in the life of the person with whom he or she is working; otherwise, the whole process will be somewhat of a sham and never get below the surface. There is too much superficial Christianity already – people who know what the Bible teaches but do not put it into practice.

The disciple developer will be amazed how many teaching opportunities there will be in the context of talking about everyday matters. Once that “stream” has dried up, if there is still time, discussion can center around what the disciple has been reading in the Bible. Of course, the entire thing should be “organic” and develop as led by the Spirit. You may end up praying or discussing theology. Who can say? That is what makes each encounter interesting.

If you are developing a potential leader and someone who likely will be teaching others, more attention should be given to teaching sound principles of doctrine. A book that lays out this sort of thing could be assigned for reading and discussed. Ultimately there should be a hunger in the disciple that will propel him or her to seek deeper understanding. You can lead a horse to water…

Lastly, but by no means least, developing disciples should participate in ministry, outreach, and developing the next generation of disciples.

If we produce Bible scholars who are not fishing for men and making disciples, we are teaching people to disobey Christ.

If we fail to develop men and women who in turn make their own disciples, we have failed in the Great Commission. Churches have been fairly successful at developing churchgoers, but our God given mandate is to focus on disciple development instead. The goal and strategy for the two are entirely different.

Disciple development has to be hands on, organic, Spirit-led, and Christ-focused. It must include following Christ’s teachings in everyday life and ministry to those around us.

It also must have a multi-generational approach to disciple development. If the church is going to grow and multiply as it should, this sort of development must be practiced by all followers of Christ. We cannot afford to spend years developing seminarians who may not even know how to reach and disciple the Jesus way. Jesus turned over the keys of his kingdom to “regular” people after a mere three years of apprenticeship. This is amazing and very challenging to those of us who prefer to develop ministry systems.

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Repentance: Being Honest with God

 

 

 

 

 

Repentance requires us to move from self-justification to admitting that God is right about our sin.

King David perfectly exemplified what it means to be on God’s side when it comes to sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3  For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Psalm 51:1-4 (NLT)

Opposed to this, after choosing to eat the fruit God had forbidden them on the pain of death, Adam and Eve chose to play the blame game instead of honesty acknowledging their sin.

Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10  He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11  “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” 12  The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13  Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Genesis 3:9-13 (NLT)

The only proper way to repent is to be straightforward about our sin and to side with God.

The minute we try to evade the truth, deny our responsibility, shift blame, minimize what we did, or otherwise be less than candid, we fail when it comes to repentance.

Paul said it very well in his Letter to the Romans.

...Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.” Romans 3:4 (NLT)

Since God knows all about us, even down to the hidden motivations of the heart, isn’t it reasonable and advisable to be absolutely honest about our sin?

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)

When we chose to repent, the Bible says that we come “into the light.” The act of exposing our sin to the light is part of what is necessary for us to experience God’s freeing forgiveness.

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:7-10 (NLT)

It is shocking to consider that refusing to admit the truth about our sinfulness is the same as calling God a liar, but that is what it says! The natural propensity of our human nature is to do just that, however. Jesus said it this way.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20  All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:19-21 (NLT)

Our refusal to be honest about our sins is based on fear.

We are afraid to admit how evil we are because it is so disconcerting to us. We usually imagine that we are far better than we really are. It is also based on the fear that God will reject us because of our sin, but that cannot be true. God chose us in Christ before he created the world. (Ephesians 1:4) He chose us in advance, knowing full well all our faults, weaknesses, and future sins. When Jesus died on the cross, the forgiveness he provided extended back through time to include those who died in faith before his resurrection and forward in time to include all future children of God.

Knowing that God chose us despite everything should give us great confidence to be honest with him. Do we believe he loves us or not?

Being honest about our sins and taking God’s side are marks of genuine repentance and a gateway into freedom. (John 8:31-32)

Prayer

Lord, I am tired of hiding from you and refusing to be honest about my sin. I choose now to admit that I am guilty of (state your particular sins). Thank you loving me and forgiving me. Help me to live “in the light.” Let me experience freedom in this area of my life. Amen.

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Repentance: Mind, Heart, Will, and Faith

 

 

 

 

A Matter of the Heart

Have you ever had someone apologize to you under duress, but you knew they did not mean it? It usually goes something like this: if I hurt you, I am sorry. This sort of thing is forced upon little children by well-meaning parents. We repent because we know we are supposed to do it, but our hearts are not in it.

Repentance that does not come from the heart is fairly worthless.

The basic definition of repentance is a change of mind, but that does not mean it is mere intellectual assent. If it does not extend all the way to the heart, it is not real. It may start with mental comprehension of a wrong done, but it should impact the emotions, too. Paul wrote about the emotional side of repentance when he addressed a sin issue in the church in Corinth. Before his letter, the church members were not sorry for what was happening in the church. They had not chosen to deal with a man who was having sexual relations with his step-mother, a serious offense that even the pagans thought was heinous. Paul rebuked the church by letter, and thankfully they dealt with the situation, expelling the unrepentant sinner. Later he repented and was restored, which was the hope all along. Here is what Paul wrote in the aftermath.

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 11  Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)

Engaging the Will

Most of us have encountered people who have some besetting sin to which they have succumbed, such as alcoholism, for example. Plenty of alcoholics, if they are not in denial, will sorrowfully acknowledge they have a problem, while making little or no effort to overcome their addiction. This happens all the time when drunk panhandlers ask people for money. They are sorrowful, but unrepentant. They have not changed their mind about sinning: they simply admit they have a problem.

This is not repentance. It is not from the heart, and it is not a true change of mind because the will has never been engaged.

Real repentance was demonstrated by many people in the Bible. King David was a good example. He sinned against God and one of his most loyal friends when he committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, got her pregnant, and deliberately arranged to have Uriah killed in battle to cover it up. He concealed this sin for at least nine months, the opposite of repentance. After the baby was born, Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin. It was at this point that David broke, repented from the heart, and changed his ways. He chose to make things right as best he could. Here is the psalm he wrote at the time. This was heartfelt repentance that engaged the will.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3  For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Psalm 51:1-4 (NLT)

Combining Repentance with Faith

David revealed that, despite his sin, he had faith that he still could turn to God.

True repentance has a faith component.

The apostle Peter is another example of real repentance. After he denied the Lord, he wept, exhibiting a strong emotional component. But would he change his ways, too, or simply slink away in shame, never to be heard from again? After Jesus’ resurrection, when Peter saw the Lord, he ran to him to seek forgiveness and be reconciled. Peter’s repentance combined a change of mind, emotional sorrow, a choice to make things right, and it was accompanied by faith, making it real.

Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders, also felt remorse, but he had no faith that he could be forgiven. Instead of running to the Lord, he hung himself. Faith makes the difference. It’s one thing to be sorry for something, but quite another thing to actively seek forgiveness, try to make things right, and turn to God in the belief that we can be forgiven.

Biblical repentance combined with faith leads to forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration.

Perhaps this meditation has made you realize that you need to repent in some area. Don’t delay. Strike while the iron is hot. It is easy to put things off… forever. Tell God you are sorry. Seek to make things right. Ask for and receive forgiveness. Choose to stop sinning, as you rely on the Spirit’s help. We cannot change on our own, but God will transform us from the inside out.

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Repentance Is Loving the Truth

 

 

 

 

 

In his Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul teaches us that societies degenerate when they deliberately suppress the truth about God.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19  They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21  Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22  Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. Romans 1:18-22 (NLT)

What we believe about God affects everything.

Since we were designed by God to live in a vital life-giving dependence upon his Spirit, when we deny this relationship, everything breaks down, even our ability to think.

Today we see this all around us. Those of us who accept the Bible’s testimony look at some of our government leaders, media figures, and even our neighbors and scratch our heads, wondering how they could be so blind and foolish. The answer is simple, they suppressed the truth about God and have become utter fools.

When Jesus walked the earth, the Bible says that “the Word became human.” (John 1:14 NLT) In other words, he was God’s truth in human form. Jesus confirmed this.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

Satan stands in complete opposition to the truth. He brought down all of humanity and the creation by enticing us to believe a lie about God. Jesus called the Devil the “father of lies,” (John 8:44) who came to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10)

Lies have been the basis of Satan’s attack upon the human race since the Garden of Eden. Believing lies, therefore, is a sinful rejection of God.

Rejecting truth is a form of idolatry that permeates humanity. It is only as we come back into the orbit of God’s truth that we can be saved. Repentance is the process through which God helps us to do this.

Those who humbly embrace the Bible’s true testimony about Jesus will be saved.

Those who refuse pave their own road to hell. The apostle Paul wrote about this, with a specific reference to the end times.

This man [the antichrist] will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NLT)

None of us knows precisely where we are in the end times, but we do know that each day brings us closer to Christ’s Second Coming. We also plainly see that deception is increasing all around us. The mainstream media has been engaged in mass deception and propaganda for years. Our schools teach little children that humans evolved, thus suppressing the truth about God the Creator. Our government and Hollywood seeks to normalize homosexuality.

The assault on truth is so pervasive that it is hard to know what to believe any more, unless we have the Bible as our anchor.

Truth suppression is the devil’s strategy to take as many people with him into the lake of fire as possible. Repentance and embracing the truth is our only hope.

Prayer

Perhaps you have never surrendered to Jesus, the Truth, or accepted God’s revealed truth in the Bible, but now you want to do that. Here is a sample prayer you might use to take care of business with God right now.

Jesus, I am worn out by trying to live apart from you. I admit that I need you. Today I surrender my life to you. Jesus, I acknowledge and receive you as the Truth, the Lord, and my Savior. I give you my life, my all. Please forgive my many sins. Spirit of God, help me to embrace your truth found in the Bible and help me to yield to your leading in my life from this time forward. Amen!

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What Is Repentance?

 

 

 

 

 

When Jesus started his public ministry, his first message was to repent.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

The Greek word for repentance” is metanoia, which means a change of mind or thinking.

Simply put, to repent is to alter our way of thinking so that it conforms to God’s truth and his will.

Repentance has a broad application. Whenever the Holy Spirit and God’s Word convict us that our thinking or behavior is out of step with God’s plan and purpose for our lives, we must turn away from our old way of thinking and acting and toward God’s new way. This means that we agree with God and stop insisting on going our own way.

A change of thinking, if heart felt, will always eventually lead to a change of behavior; otherwise, repentance is not real.

The most fundamental type of repentance necessary for a person to become a follower of Christ is to recognize who Jesus is and act accordingly. Notice how Peter called his hearers to surrender to Jesus the Lord.

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:36-39 (ESV)

True repentance does not merely focus on some specific sin or behavior: it addresses our determination to live independently from God.

Repentance calls us to lay down our pride and admit that we have a serious problem: we are fatally flawed at the core of our being and hostilely oriented toward God. Our fatal flaw is an inherited sin nature, which is the source of our hostility.

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Colossians 1:21 (NLT)

Admitting we have a sin nature requires us to admit we need a Savior and cannot save ourselves. We do not have the inherent goodness or moral fortitude to live a life of perfect obedience and submission to God. If we did, Jesus died needlessly. Although the admission of our sinfulness and need for a Savior is difficult for us because of our pride, it is easier than the next aspect of repentance, which focuses on Jesus’ Lordship.

It is one thing to admit we need forgiveness and saving, but it is something else to relinquish the “right” to our lives to Jesus. There are plenty of so called Christians who have opted for eternal security from hell’s flames but who have never bowed the knee to Jesus as the Lord of their lives. This is a complete contradiction of the meaning of repentance.

The source of our desire to be independent goes back to the garden of Eden. Our insistence of doing life on our own is a fundamental rejection of God, who is our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. He never intended for us to go it alone. He wants us to live in a joyful and fulfilling partnership with his Spirit. Repentance opens the door into our experiencing through Christ what alone brings eternal life and happiness.

The most fundamental and necessary form of repentance is surrender to Jesus in every aspect of life.

If we fail to do this, it is doubtful that we are his disciples. If we fail to repent of our independent orientation, we remain essentially hostile toward God. It is rebellion all dressed up in Christian clothes.

Repentance, then, is the everyday act of surrendering ourselves to Jesus.

As we read the Scriptures and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will be tested in this area on a daily basis. Repentance is not a one time event. We are born again once and for all, but we must repent daily. It is vital that we  maintain a heart that is open and pliable in regard to repentance. Otherwise we run the risk of becoming hardened in sin and deceived.

Application

  • If you have never consciously and intentionally surrendered everything to Jesus the Lord, now is the time.

Here is a sample prayer. Jesus, I recognize that you are the Messiah King of Israel and the Lord of my life. I surrender ownership of my life and all I have, including my dreams, relationships, money, hopes, family, friends, ministry, job, health, and everything else to you. I recognize your right to my life, since you are my Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. You can ask me to do anything, and I trust you with my life. With the help of your Spirit, I will obey you. Amen.

  • Each day as we spend time reading and meditating on the Scriptures and in prayer, we should listen attentively to the promptings of God’s Spirit and seek to obey them. This will include turning from sin and embracing areas of obedience that are difficult for us.

Here is another sample prayer. Jesus, open my heart to hear your voice as I read the Bible, pray, and go through my day. Thank you for grace to always obey you in every area of my life. Forgive me when I fail and help me to truly repent day by day as my life is transformed by the Spirit to be more and more like yours. Amen.

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