How can repentance not be necessary? The Greek word for repent means to think differently or afterward, that is to reconsider. Repentance is a (1) acknowledgment/ recognition of your state of sin, (2) a declaration/ commitment to turn from sin, and (3) a focus to turn to God in righteous conduct according to His standard. It is part of the process leading toward the forgiveness of sins as identified in Acts 2:38.
After presenting his offering to the Lord, Cain was angry over the Lord’s disapproval (Genesis 3:3-5). In His interactions with Cain, the Lord provided four things that we often experience in our lives as well: Opportunity, Warnings, Punishment, and Grace.
1. There are times when we will not accept God’s will because it is not inline with what we want to do or believe is right at the time. In reading the story of Jonah, he was called of God to go to Ninevah to cry against it. Jonah therefore arose and fled from the presence of God in the opposite direction of Ninevah (Jonah 1:1-3). After he spoke against the city, it is discovered that He didn’t want to see the people of Ninevah repent of their evil (Jonah 4:1-3). He knew God would forgive them if they repented of their evil.
There are many things God will call us to do. Many times they will come without notice and may even challenge the way we believe or feel toward the intended audience…and we may not want to do what He asked us.
The hardest part for many people is to accept His will for them.
May 9, 2009
John 3:1-7 – There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
As Nicodemus conversed with Jesus, He explains that a man cannot see the kingdom of God unless is he born again. Though Nicodemus considered the physical aspect of being born again (enter the second time into his mother’s womb), Jesus had another meaning altogether…
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