“IF CHRIST IS IN YOU…the Spirit is life (we are born again) because of righteousness. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, THESE ARE SONS (not grandsons) OF GOD. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION by whom we cry out, “ABBA (daddy, not granddaddy), FATHER.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST…” (Romans 8:10, 14-17)
There are many who go to church because grandma, grandpa, dad, and mom go to church, but that does not put them in a right relationship with Jesus. We must be “born again, saved” SET FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN. Why, because “ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) No matter how “cute” you may be, how many “scriptures” you may have memorized, how many “kind deeds” you may have done or how many “sermons” you may have preached! “the wages of sin is DEATH (eternal separation from God)…” (Romans 6:23) Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins IS A SLAVE TO SIN.” (John 8:34) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU. AWAY FROM ME, YOU EVILDOERS!‘” (Matthew 7:21-23) We must be a child of God…
So, how DO WE KNOW the WILL of the Father? “God our Savior, wants (that’s His will) ALL PEOPLE TO BE SAVED and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) What do I have to do? REPENT! In the New Testament, metanoeo, or “repent,” means a decision to completely change or to entirely turn around in the way one is thinking, believing, or living. This word “repent” gives the image of a person changing from top to bottom — a total transformation wholly affecting every part of a person’s life. “Repent therefore and BE CONVERTED (epistrephō: to cause to return to the love and obedience of God), that your sins may be BLOTTED OUT, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19)
We do not want to be just remorseful we want to be changed. There is an enormous difference between repentance and remorse. A perfect New Testament example of remorse is found in Matthew 27:3-5, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and HANGED HIMSELF.”
Notice the Bible says that Judas “repented” himself. This particular word for “repent” is the Greek word metamelomai, which shows a person who is COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS. This word expresses sorrow, mourning, or grief. Not someone moved to change their sinful ways. To desire to obey God once again.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham