How to grow in Faith, Repent

Repentance 

How do you overcome the world, and how can a newborn child of God grow in faith, knowledge, and wisdom? This is what we are discussing. We already talked about the obvious. 

1- Having the right mind.
2- Praying and talking to God.

Today, we will discuss step three: repent.

3- Turning away from the world's ways.

Let us pray.

Father, we come before You today with thanksgiving in our hearts for all You have given us, from life itself to eternal life. We pray for the newly adopted children of Yours, asking that they may grow in faith and wisdom according to You and Your Word. Please grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to understand Your Word. We thank you and give you all the praise we can. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Repent. Now there is a word that is;

A- Misunderstood.
B- Misused.
C- Ignored. Sadly, even by some of these “new churches” that are popping up.

Let’s start with A- Misunderstood. 

The Hebrew word we translate as ‘repentance’ is teshuva (‎תשובה, pronounced “teh-shoo-vah”). This means a whole lot more than “I’m sorry.” True repentance means a change of attitude and action regarding sin. Hatred of sin turns the repentant person away from their sin to God. Paul wrote this in his 2nd letter to the churches in Corinth.

“For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it--though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting.”

Again. What does it mean to truly repent?

“For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

I love this quote. Theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel puts it this way: “A change in man’s conduct brings about a change in God’s judgment.” True repentance leads to a radical and persistent pursuit of holy living, characterized by walking with God in obedience to His commands. Turn to 2 Timothy 2:19-22.

“But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’ Now, in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.”

Would you not want to be used as an “honorable vessel”?

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

You cannot claim to be a child of God and live for the world. You are either or.

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

We read this in 1 Peter 1:16.

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.’"

Now, of course, without God, this is impossible. However, with God? Say it with me, “All things are possible.”

B- Misused. 

You cannot do this without God. The teaching of such is wrong and is referred to as legalism. Making yourself good enough for God to save you. Working your way to salvation.

You see, while you are a sinner. While you are unworthy. While you are a wretch. God called out of the world, Jesus came and died for you, and God saved you. NOW, and only now, do you have the ability to “be holy, for I am holy."

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“ Romans 5:6-8

Peter was fishing, Matthew was at the table of customs, and Paul was in the middle of trying to kill the church when what? Yeshua, or Jesus, came to them. He did not say Do this and that, and then you can be my disciple. No, he said, “Follow me.” True repentance has nothing to do with salvation. That is through Jesus. There is no other way.

The focus of Jesus Christ’s mission was to call sinners to repentance: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). His call of absolute surrender goes out to all people: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:5).

Repentance in the Bible is a profound transformation of heart and mind that results in different actions. It acknowledges that our sins are offensive to God. To truly repent means to turn away from ourselves and turn towards God. This process sets us on a new path—one guided by God’s commands. Repentance also recognizes that the Lord is sovereign over our lives.

C- Ignored

Why do we have people who choose to ignore this? Think Joel Olstein. Think all these new “churches" popping up all over the place. There are three reasons for this.

1- False Compassion.
2- Lack of understanding of the seriousness of sin.
3- Purposeful omission for self-gain. Think Joel Olstein.

We will start with the worst one first. Purposeful omission for self-gain. You know them, you love them. These are those Preachers who preach to “itchy ears.”

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Why? No convictions. Allow people to live however they will and be called good and holy. No hell, then no sin. No sin, then no reason to change. You are important. You are good. Just be you. Give me money and come to hear my messages, and you will be good. Don’t listen to those negative people. They are wrong. Just be you. You are perfect the way you are. Jesus already paid the price for you. Therefore, you are already forgiven. Just live the way you feel is best.

This is a lie straight from the evil one himself. Do not believe it. Lack of understanding and false compassion go like this. Jesus came to you while you were in the middle of your sin. He died for you while you were a sinner. He went straight to the sinners and preached that they could be saved. This means that we must have compassion for all. We must love and accept all. We all sin. Your sin is not greater nor lesser than the sin you do not like, so do not be judgmental. Jesus would accept all as He did back then.

Well? Kinda true. But they leave out repent. They do not want to offend anyone. Jesus did go to the sinners. Jesus did forgive the sinners, yet what did He say? Repent. Remember the story of the Woman caught in the middle of adultery?

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst, they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"

This, they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more, he bent down and wrote on the ground.

But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord."

And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:3-11

"Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more," Jesus said that her sin was forgiven. But He commanded her to truly repent. "Go, and sin no more." He was not telling her, "I love you. I forgive you. Now, go and do as you will." No. He said to her to repent, to turn away from. To not do it again. Another clear example, this one with an explanation. John 5:1-15

"Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him." John 5:14-15

Remember this story?

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." Matthew 12:43-45

If you choose to live your life in sin, I would question whether you are even saved. However, we all sin; the difference is, are you looking to repent? Are you trying to repent? We will all sin. We will all fail from time to time. However, this is vastly different than willfully living in sin, knowing the Bible calls it sin, regardless of what man says or how you feel about it, because you choose that sin over God and His Word, and way.

If you want to grow as a child of God? Repent. Turn away from the world, turn toward God. Do whatever you can, read this (holding up the Bible). Pray and ask God to help you remain true to not willfully sinning. And repent.

One of the ways you can get a good start? Keeping the right company. More on this next time. If you want to contact me for whatever reason, the email is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!