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July 7, 2024 Sunday evening.

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The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel (good news).

(Mark 1:14-15)

Repent is a good word from God. He is offering us hope, the possibility of change for the better, the opportunity to become like Christ. Thank God for His command to repent. Jonah preached repentance to the wicked city of Nineveh and when they repented God saved the entire city. Repentance is a great word offering hope and change and salvation.

A Christian is a born leader. We are born-again leaders. You need to become a trained leader, but you were born a leader. The beginning of our leadership training is the call of God to repent. That’s why John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus preached at the very beginning of the New Covenant ministry, “Repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of heaven has come.” Like any baby you have an immediate influence on those you know. The maniac Jesus delivered was told the same day to go back to his family and friends and tell them what great things God had done for him. Paul describes the Thessalonians: “How you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” (1Thes.1:9) Repentance is a turning to God, an about face, and serving Him above all else.

Repentance is making a commitment to the kingdom of heaven. Technically, the King of heaven. It is so turning to God that you inevitably turn your back on sin and other gods in your life. Some imagine that repentance is simply halting the harmful habits in their lives. “I no longer smoke, chew, drink, cuss, steal and look at porn. Now I spend my time fishing, hunting, playing softball, and watching TV.” And they think that is repentance. It is not. You can reform your life by quitting nasty habits, but that is not repentance. Repentance is turning to God and serving Him.

Jesus preached, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mk.1:14-15) The kingdom has come, so it’s time to do two things, which are actually two sides of the same coin of salvation. And there are only two sides: Repent and Believe. Most don’t have a problem with believing; their biggest problem is with repenting which takes commitment to Christ and His kingdom.

There’s no such thing as an uncommitted Christian. That’s like saying, “I’m a baseball player but I am not on any baseball team.” I’m a “non-practicing Catholic” (like the majority of Catholics claim) but I’m a Catholic.” If you’re a non-practicing Catholic, you’re not a Catholic. It’s like calling a man an unmarried husband. Marriage requires a commitment. All contracts (borrow money, get a job) require commitment. Commitment is the essence of becoming a Christian.

“Follow Me” requires a commitment to put Christ first. “Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.’ (That’s putting the kingdom of God first.) Another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:59-62). Commitment to Jesus being first and Lord is the very meaning of repentance. There’s no such thing as a Christian who has not repented and made Jesus the Lord of his life. Jesus said, “Repent or perish.” (Lk.13:3) There is no salvation without repentance. And repentance means commitment.

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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024.