Isn't this a desirable future.  I must point out that even though passing over to heaven is a desirable event; it is only when God calls us.  God will call us when He is ready for us to join him in heaven.  He will not be ready for us until He feels that we are ready to join him or His plans call for us to leave this training and decision period.

If we should choose to leave this period on our own through suicide or some direct and/or planned action of ours, we are rejecting God and his plans for us.  With this rejection, we thereby choose to not be God's Child.  And being a "Evil" person (Earth's child) we would not have a bright future.

(Proverbs 24:19)
"Don't let evil people worry you; don't be envious of them.  A wicked person has no future - nothing to look forward to."

What does this 'future hope" depend upon?  To what extent are you sharing in that hope for yourself?  For others?

This is one time when gold is valuable.  if we wish to have anybody join us on this all important trip to the future;  we better get busy and see that they are on the right path.  Will they be here (along with you) tomorrow, in order for you to change their ticket.

(2 Esdras 8:1-3)
The angel replied, "God Most High made this world for many people, but the future world for only few.  Ezra, let me give you and illustration.  If you ask the earth, it will tell you that it produces a large amount of clay for pots but only a small amount of gold dust.  And that's the way it is with the present world; many have been created, but only a few will be saved."

Do I want an immortal future with God and Why?

Sickness, or any failure of the body will be done away with, in our heavenly future.  Our troubles will be replaced with much glory.  i would say, that is a good trade.  Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is - there is life after death!  Knowing this can help us live above the challenges we face in this life.

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
"For this reason we never become discouraged.  Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day.  And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble."

How do these verses help you cope?

I'm sure you join me in wanting the "new tent."

(2 Corinthians 5:1-10)
"For we know that when this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.  And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body.  While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life.  God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.

"So we are always full of courage.  We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home.  God our life is a matter of faith, not of sight.  We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.  More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there.  For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him.  Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life."

How can knowing the location of your ultimate "home" encourage you to be more hospitable to others now?

He offers to sinful mortals a free pardon for the sake of the perfect obedience of Christ, who identified himself with them that they, by identifying themselves with him, might grow into the same pattern of obedience (2 Corinthians 5:11-21).

(2 Esdras 8:51-54)
"But, Ezra, you should be thinking about the glory that is waiting for you and those like you.  For all of you, Paradise has been opened, the tree of life has been planted, the world has been opened, the tree of life has been planted, the world to come has been made ready, all your needs have been provided, the heavenly city has been built, full rest from your labors has been offered, goodness and wisdom have been perfected.  The source of evil has been sealed off, so that it cannot reach you; all sickness has been removed, death has been taken away, hell is gone, and corruption has disappeared.  All suffering has been taken away, and the treasure of immortality is at last revealed."

What am I going to look forward to after "graduation?"

A basic decision for us; do we want a immortal future with God or Not?  Now that i have a good understanding of the training plan God has provided me, how can I put it into action?

(Wisdom 3:2-9)
"it is a foolish mistake to think that righteous people die and their death is a terrible evil.  They leave us, but it is not a disaster.  In fact, the righteous are at peace.  It might appear that they have suffered punishment, but they have confident hope of immortality.  Their sufferings were minor compared with the blessings they will receive.  God has tested them, like gold in a furnace, and found them worthy to be with him.  he has accepted them, just as he accepts the sacrifices which his worshipers burn on the altar.

"When God comes to reward the righteous, they will blaze out against the wicked like fire in dry straw.  They will rule over nations and  peoples, and the Lord will be their king forever.  Those who have put their trust in God will come to understand the truth of his ways.  Those who have been faithful will live with him in his love, for he is kind and merciful to the ones whom he has chosen."

What is my plan to prepare for graduation?

We have learned about our relationship to God our Father. At this point I would like to address our relationship to Jesus Christ.  We are expected to die to ourselves before we taste physical death.  At this point, we will address this area in more detail.

The Lordship of Christ

I believe you can reject your salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 10, "You deny Me before men and I'll...what?...I'll deny you before My Father." Paul writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:12, says, "If you deny Him...same idea...He'll deny you." Salvation is forever, but only if you accept it.

If Jesus called you to participate in a ministry, what do you think he would say to you in light of your own personality and needs?



When it comes to living out your faith, what do you have in common with a soldier? An athlete? A farmer? What don't you have in common with them?



Matthew 13 where you have the parable of the soils the first few verses of 13 give the parable and starting at verse 18 He explains it. He explains soil number one which was the hard soil and the seed went on the ground and it was snatched away. The second soil was the rocky soil, verse 20, they heard the Word, received it, no root, temporary, affliction, persecution came, immediately he falls away. The one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, the weedy soil and hears the word, worry of the world, deceitfulness of riches, chokes the Word, becomes unfruitful.

What "crop" does Jesus want believers to yield? What can you do to increase your "crop productivity"?


First John 2:19 says, "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us , they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us." 

Where does love for the world compete with love for God in your life (money, time, priorities, relationships, ambition)?



In John 6:66 Jesus explains His very strong teaching that you have to eat My flesh and drink My blood, you have to be willing to accept My death, My sacrifice and those things which He called for in terms of their dedication, it says, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. And He separated them from the true ones when He said to the Twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you? And Simon Peter answered Him representative of the true believers, Lord to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life and we have believed and have come to know that You are the holy one of God." And Jesus says, Yeah, except for one of you who is a devil. So even in the midst of those who followed Jesus, there were some who momentarily believed and wanted to make Him a king. There were some who believed for a little while but when the talk became difficult, they left. 

When times are hard, what keeps you from junking your faith and going on to something else?



Look at chapter 12 and verse 42, "Nevertheless, many even of the rulers believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they were not confessing." They wouldn't publicly acknowledge Him. "Lest they would be unsynagogued for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." 

Where do you find it most difficult to live your faith: At home or work? Why?

In John 15, again Jesus points out the temporary believer, the temporary disciple. "Abide in Me and I in you as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, but apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, dries up, they gather them, cast them into the fire and they are burned." There are some who stay for a while and disappear 

Jesus repeats remain in me, love and bearing fruit. What is the "fruit that will last(16)?

In Colossians 1:23, "If indeed you continue in the faith..." Hebrews 2;1, "For this reason we pay much closer attention to what we've heard lest we drift away from it." In other words, the message here is, Look, we had better have a salvation from which we do not drift or we will not escape the judgement of God.

What before and after story do you see in your life?

When (if ever) did you drift away from the faith? Why? What "evidences for faith" helped you back?

Chapter 3 verse 14, this is so clear. "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance, ..." Four:14, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." Chapter 6 verse 11, "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises." Chapter 10 and verse 34, again same concept, "For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one, don'‘t throw away your confidence, you have need of endurance and you will receive what was promised," verse 36.

What was one of the most rebellious times in your spiritual life? What resulted from it? Who (or what) helped to bring you back?


What situations have made you wonder about turning away from Christ? At those times, of what advantage is it to you to remember him as your high priest?



When have you been spiritually lazy? What got you going again?

After such a dire warning necessary (10:32-39), how does the author appeal to previous testing, present action, and future events--all to encourage the Hebrews? Which appeal do you find persuasive?


Verse 37, He who is coming will come and not delay, and all the while my righteous one shall live by faith. And if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him but we are not of those who shrink back to destruction bout of those who have faith to the persevering of the soul, Hebrews 10:39. Hebrews 12:14, Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.".

What in Hebrews 12:14 comforts you? What makes you uneasy?

And then James 1:2 and following "Consider it all joy, my bretheren when you counter various trials knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance, let endurance have its perfect result that you may be perfect, complete lacking in nothing." And verse 12, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial once he has been approved, he receives the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who at one time in the past believed in Him." Is that what it says? "Those who love Him." Those who love him, those who obey Him, those who persevere in the faith, they're the true believers.

Concerning a trial you have experienced, what pressures did it bring on your faith? What wisdom did you gain through it?


Second Timothy 2:12 says if we endure, we shall also live with Him. We shall reign with Him if we endure to the end. The faithfulness of God is a blessing to loyal enduring believers. But look at 2 Timothy 2:13, well actually the second half of 12, "If we deny Him, He'll deny us." See, if we endure, we'll reign. If we deny/reject Him at any point, our faith dies. He'll deny us. Beloved, it is the nature of Loving faith that when God gives that faith, He sustains that faith. And if there comes a point in time when a person rejects that faith, God denies that soul.

What are some pressures on you that shake your faith? What encouragements do you find in this passage as you face those pressures? How can you respond with the spirit of power, love, and self-control God has given you?



Jesus says: "I have not come to call the righteous but...what?...sinners to repentance. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost." 

First Peter 2:7 says, "To those who believe, He is precious." Have you ever thought about that verse? I'll tell you whether a person's a Christian, is Christ precious? To those who believe, He's what? He's precious...He's very precious. What does that mean? Valuable, costly, highly prized, that's His Lordship. He's precious to the true believer.

How does it make you feel to be chosen, royalty, and God's possession? When is it most difficult to remember what God has made you?

Jesus said: "The gate is narrow and...what?...few thereby that find it." Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 rather, "Do you not know the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, do not be deceived, neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effemitate, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, swindles shall inherit the Kingdom of God." In Galatians 5, it says, "The deeds of the flesh are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, things like this, the people who do those things, practicing them, will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

What attitudes do you see in yourself: (a) Insistence on "my rights"? (b) Desire for revenge? (c) Desire to make things right? (d) Willingness to "bend the rules"? (e) Preferring my old way of life rather than following Christ?

What is wrong with indulging our sinful nature once in a while?

Jesus put out this invitation: "Follow Me...forsake all...lay down your life...submit to My authority...turn from your sin...repent...obey."

Let us look at Mark chapter 8. Verse 34, "He summoned the multitude with His disciples, said to them, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me, for whosoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel shall save it. What does it profit a man to gain to the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
What's a man going to give in exchange for his soul? "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him." If you have shame toward Christ He'll have shame toward you.

Where does "Jesus' way" still conflict with "your way"? What is the cost-benefit ratio of each course?

In Matthew, chapter 13, verse 44, the parable is very simple. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found and hid...from joy over he goes and sells all he has and buy the field. Another parable, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. On finding the one pearl of great value, he went and sold all he had and bought it. Very simple parable. A man found something of value.. sold everything he had, took it. Both men sold all they had to have the treasure. It's a picture of the exchange, I give up all I am for all He is.

Compared to the man and the merchant, how valuable is the kingdom to you and why: (a) It's worth more than anything else? (B) I think I'd miss too many of the other things? (C) I'm not ready to carry all this so far? What dose it mean to "sell everything" for the kingdom?

When you gave your heart and soul to Christ and submitted and bowed the knee before Him in submissive salvation and yielded your life to Him all under the power of the Spirit of God, you began a life in which He is Lord and progressively your life should be evidencing that obedience to His Lordship. He is called Lord no less than seven hundred and forty-seven times in the New Testament. In the book of Acts you have the preaching pattern for the rest of the centuries of the church's life, 92 times in the book of Acts, Jesus is called Lord. Lordship was at the veery heart of gospel preaching in the early church. The very heart of it was affirming His Lordship. Peter says in Acts 2, "It shall be that salvation comes to everyone who calls on the name of the...what?...the Lord."

To repent and be baptized in Jesus' name meant to turn away from all other loyalties and affirm allegiance to Jesus. In what ways does this call still present a challenge to you?

In Romans chapter 10, verse 9, "If you confess with you mouth Jesus as...what?...Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." Verse 12, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord is Lord of all. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord." verse 13, "shall be save." And Lordship implies that He is sovereign. It implies that He is in charge. You go back through the gospels and the whole New Testament and you have affirmation after affirmation of the Lordship. Chapter 14 of Romans, verse 9, "For to this end Christ died and lived again that He might be...what?...Lord." 

Who (or what) are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?

How weak or strong are you in the faith; Like a lion in a zoo, who looks strong but has never been tested? Or a palm tree, not very strong but having a solid root structure?

The first evangelism outside of Israel, chapter 10 of Acts, verse 36. "The word which he sent to the sons of Israel--Peter--said preaching peace through Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all." We have covered a couple of the 747 times.

Thomas acknowledge it. What did Thomas say when he saw Jesus Christ after the resurrection? "My Lord and my..." what do you think he meant?



The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:3 is pretty clear. "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus is accursed and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by thee Holy Spirit." Repentance is not a human work. It's a work that God does. When God saves someone, He grants them repentance. He grants them the affirmation by His Spirit that Jesus is Lord.

In Matthew 19:16, it says, "One came to Him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life, how do I get eternal life?" That's the question. How do I get eternal life? Jesus said, "Why are you asking Me about what's good? There's only one who's good. If you want to enter life, do...what?..keep the commandments," Jesus also said to him, "All right," verse 21, "if you want to be complete, perfect, want to get into God's heaven, go sell your possessions, give to the poor, you'll have treasure in heaven and come and do...what?...follow Me." First test, will you admit your sin? Second test, will you submit to My Lordship?

What have you given up to follow Jesus? How is your life different as a result?

Jesus wanted the two things to come clear to that young man. When you want into the Kingdom, when you want eternal life, it is not as simple as just a decision, believing some facts. There must be an acknowledgement and turning from sin and there must be a willingness to submit to My authority even if I ask you to do the most difficult thing in your life...to give up that which you love the most. Let's establish, number one, the depth of your sinfulness and, number two, the height of My sovereignty, that's the issue.

When you come to Christ and are truly saved, the Spirit of God will move on your spirit and you will call Jesus...what?...Lord.

Loving Faith

In the preface of Martin Luther's Commentary on Romans, he wrote this "Faith is not something dreamed, a human illusion although this is what many people understand by the term. Whenever they see that it is not followed either by an improvement in morals or by good works, while much is still being said about faith, they fall into the error of declaring that faith is not enough, that we must do works if we are to become upright and attain salvation. The reason is that when they hear the gospel they miss the point. In their hearts and out of their own resources they conjure up an idea which they call belief which they treat as genuine faith. All the same, it is but a human fabrication, an idea without a corresponding experience in the depths of the heart. It is therefore ineffective and not followed by a better kind of life," end quote.

Luther goes on to write in the commentary on Romans, "Faith, however, is something that God effects in us. It changes us and we are reborn from God. Faith puts the old Adam to death and makes us quite different men in heart, in mind and in all our powers. And it is accompanied by the Holy Spirit. Oh, when it comes to faith, what a living creative active powerful thing it is. It cannot do other than good at all times. It never waits to ask whether there is some good work to do, rather before the question is raised, it has done the deed and keeps on doing it. A man not active in this way is a man without faith. He is groping about for faith and searching for good works but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Nevertheless he keeps on talking nonsense about faith and good works. It is impossible indeed to separate works from faith just as it is impossible to separate heat and light from fire," end quote. 

Where are you now in your response to the gospel? Why?

In 1937, A. W. Pink said: "Salvation is by grace, by grace alone. Nevertheless, divine grace is not exercised at the expense of holiness for it never compromises with sin. It is also true that salvation is a free gift. But an empty hand must receive it and not a hand which still tightly grasps the world. Something more than believing is necessary to salvation. A heart that is steeled in rebellion against God cannot savingly believe. It must first be broken. And only those who are spiritually blind would declare that Christ will save any who despise His authority and refuse His yoke."

(Luke14:25) "Great multitudes were going along with Him and He turned and said to them. If anyone comes to Me and doesn't hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Verse 27: "Whoever doesn't carry his own cross and come after Me, can't be My disciple." In other words, willing to die. "...So therefore no one of you can be My disciple who doesn't give up all his possessions."
When God in His grace is working a true salvation it has these kind of ingredients. Genuine salvation requires true faith. 

When did you realize that following Jesus was costly? How so? Ever wonder since then if the cost was worth it? What keeps you going??

In John 6:14 when therefore the people saw the sign which He had performed they said, "This is of a truth," and that, of course, was the miracle of the loaves and fish, "This is of a truth the prophet...the one promised in the Old Testament, the Messiah who is to come into the world. Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone." He wanted nothing to do with their kind of faith. The believed He was the Messiah. The wanted to force him into their plans. He wanted nothing to do with it.

When have you seen God stretch your limited resources (physically or emotionally) far beyond what you could have imagined? In what way do you need to trust him to do so now?



You see, salvation and loving faith is more than wanting forgiveness, it's more than wanting heaven, it's being willing to turn from sin and submit to Christ.

Loving faith is demonstrated by Peter, verse 17 of Matthew 16, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father who is in heaven." That is a confession. That is a loving statement. And Jesus says to him, you didn't get that from flesh and blood, My Father gave you that faith, My Father gave you that revelation. It is the Father God who enables anyone to believe.

W.E. Vine said regarding faith, "It is a firm conviction, it is a personal surrender and conduct inspired by such surrender." He says when a man obeys God, he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. Romans 7, Paul says I don't do what I want to do and I do what I don't want to do and I fight the battle of my flesh. To say you believe and don't obey is to say you don't believe, because if you'll believe, you'd do what you believe. What you believe to be true is what governs what you do. Paul says in Romans 6, it's so wonderful that when you were saved you took yourselves from being servants to sin and by God's grace you have now become the servants of righteousness, obedience. 

If you had seen yourself as God's willing servant this past week, what would have changed in your attitudes and actions? Where do you particularly want to work on this in the coming week?

And finally, another element of loving faith, it's humble. For this you need to only look at the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." It goes on to talk about poverty of spirit, brokenness, repentance, sorrow, meekness, hunger, thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake. You see, true faith begins in humility and in brokenness and in sorrow and in repentance and in poverty in spirit and it ends in obedience and endurance. Loving faith is like that of the little child, if you don't come to Me, Jesus said in Matthew 18:4, as a little child, you can't enter My Kingdom. It's humble, obedient, and it's a gift from God.

I remind you of that tremendously haunting verse, 1 Peter 2:7, "To those who believe, He is precious." When you love Jesus you don't have to try to submit to Christ, he's precious to you. You long to submit and change your life.

The Call to a ‘Changed Life'

In Matthew chapter 3, we are introduced to the first New Testament evangel, none other than John the Baptist. In verse 1 of chapter 3 it says, "Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Then in verse 8, further John said, "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance."

How is repentance linked to your experience of salvation: In the Past? Now?


Then in chapter 4 verse 17, following John the Baptist came the ministry of Jesus. "And from that time, that is the beginning of His ministry, Jesus began to preach and say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Chapter 9 and verse 13, "Jesus said, But go and learn what this means. I desire compassion and not sacrifice...that is I desire a heart attitude not external religion...for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

How has coming to know Jesus been like moving from darkness to light for you?

Chapter 6 verse 12 of Mark, and here we find that the ministry has gone beyond John the Baptist, beyond Jesus to the Apostles, the disciples, and it says in verse 12, "And they went out and preached that men should repent."

Let's go to Luke chapter 15 verse 7, "I tell you Jesus says after describing the man who lost the sheep and went to find the sheep, when he comes home, he rejoices," and so forth. "I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Coming to the conclusion of Luke's gospel and bringing it very close to home, chapter 24 verse 46, Jesus sums up the gospel. "Thus it is written," Luke 24:46, "that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem."

Now let's see what the early church did. Acts 2:38. Peter stands up on the day of Pentecost, this is the first sermon in the new era, the church is about to be founded and born after the resurrection. And what is the message that in fact is the invitation which gives birth to the church? "Repent." Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 of Acts, verse 19, "Repent therefore and return in order that you sins may be wiped away." Chapter 11 verse 18 says, "When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God saying, Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."

How would you use Peter's answer (vv. 38-40) to explain to someone what it means to become a Christian? What is required? What is promised?



How has repentance and turning to God brought "times of refreshing"(v19) to you? How can that be used as a means of encouraging others to come to Christ?




In Acts 17:30 Paul "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, ." And in chapter 26 verse 19 "...and even to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God performing deeds appropriate to repentance."

And even the work of God is geared to produce repentance. Why? Because it says in 2 Peter, again chapter 3 verse 9, "The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." So this is a call to turn from a self-directed life, a self-indulgent life, a sinful life to follow Christ. It is a turning, it's a turning from your own life, your own will, your own way, your own sin to follow at all cost. It is a change of mind. It is a change of heart. It is a new life of denying self and sin and seeing the Savior as Lord and King in self's place. How important is this? Luke 13:3 and 5, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

What "fruit" do you want to be producing by this time next year?

The Second Epistle of Clement in 150 A.D., says, "Let us not merely call Him Lord for that will not save us, for He says, ‘Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will be saved, but he who does what is right.' Thus brothers, let us acknowledge Him by our actions, this would end the world to come...this world, rather, and the world to come are two enemies, this one means adultery, corruption, avarice and deceit while the other gives them up. We cannot then be friends of both. To get the one we must give up the other."

Martin Luther made repentance as his number one principal posted on the door: "Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in saying ‘Repent ye,' meant the whole life of the faithful to be an act of repentance."

Westminster Shorter Catechism put it this way. Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ doth with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it unto God with full purpose of and endeavor after new obedience. Turning from sin which is a part of true repentance doth consist in two things. One, in turning from all gross sins in regard of our course and conversation. Two, in a turning from all other sins in regard of our hearts and affections. Three, such as have truly repented of sin do never return unto the practice of it so as to live in a course of sin as they did before.

Spurgeon said: "There must be a true and actual abandonment of sin and a turning unto righteousness in real act and deed in every day life. Repentance, to be sure, must be entire. If thou dost harbor one of those accursed vipers in thy heart and dost give up every other, that one lust like one leak in a ship will sink thy soul. All transgressions must be renounced or else the gates of heaven must be barred against you. True repentance is a turning of the heart as well as of the life. It is the giving up of the whole soul to God to be His forever and ever."

What is biblically defined repentance? The term demands radical conversion, demands a transformation of nature, a definitive turning from evil, a resolut turning to God in total obedience. There can be no going back, only advance and responsible movement along the way not taken. It effects the whole man. First and basically the center of personal life, then logically his conduct at all times and in all situations, his thoughts, words and acts.

It starts out, you see that sin is sinful, you see that you are guilty, you see that Christ has provided intellectually and then it touches your emotions and there's a brokenness and a sorrow and a shame and a guilt that pours out and out of that sorrow comes the third element, and that is the volitional. Finally, repentance enacts the will and brings a change of direction, a new determination to abandon stubborn disobedience and surrender your life to Christ.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way: "You renounce the world whatever the cost, the world in its mind and outlook as well as its practices, and you deny yourself and take up the cross and go after Christ. Your nearest and dearest and the whole world may call you a fool or say you have religious mania, you may have to suffer financially, but it makes no difference. That is repentance."

It becomes an ongoing way of life. The active continuous attitude of repentance produces the poverty of spirit, the mourning, the meekness that characterizes true believers in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. Repentance produces a new way of life. 

What are the fruits of repentance? Simply righteous deeds, holy deeds, godly deeds, transformed life. Luke 3 says: "Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none, let him who has food do likewise. Be content with what your wages are."

What one action will you take this week to "produce fruit in keeping with your repentance"?

You want to know where true repentance shows up? In the character of your daily living. Do you make sure you don't take anything from anyone that you don't deserve? You don't force people. You don't accuse people falsely. 

Loving Discipleship

What is a disciple? It is used 262 times in the New Testament. Lexicons tell us that it means "one who shares a close and intimate relationship with a person." "The disciple is one who at Jesus' call follows after Him. He must observe the will of God and even binding upon himself unreservedly to the person of Jesus, go as far as death and the gift of his life out of love," 

In John 8;31, Jesus said, "If you continue in My Word, then you're My real disciple." John 15:8, Jesus says, "My true disciples bear fruit." Disciple are people who believe the gospel, people who have turned from their sin to embrace the forgiveness of God, people who have had a transformed life so that they are motivated to obey what the Lord has commanded them.

Puritan William Perkins wrote these words, "The true Christian is of this disposition of mind that if there were no conscience to accuse, no devil to terrify, no judge to arraign or condemn, no hell to torment, yet he would be humbled and brought to his knees for his sins because he has offended a loving merciful and long suffering God," Sometimes we love veery imperfectly and disobey, but the pattern of life is obedience and love for the Lord. And even when we fail to love Him, we feel the guilt, we fail to obey Him, we feel the guilt because we do belong to Him. We have that intimate relationship which God has in His grace given to us.

The heart of discipleship, beloved, is a commitment to Jesus Christ. That means that you're willing to publicly identified with Him no matter what that cost. That means you're willing to face a hostile world boldly to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and master. All of us have times of failure, but it's not our purpose, it's not our desire to keep our relationship to Christ hidden, it's our desire to pronounce it, to proclaim it. He gives us a heart to love Him, a heart to want to proclaim Him, a heart to want to announce that we belong to Him.

Are you a disciple who has repented (changed your life), made Jesus Lord of your life and love him with your whole heart, mind, soul, and spirit. 



If not Why?

If not, How can you?