REMOVE FROM THY PLACE III -     

                                    WHEN A SINNER COMES TO REPENTANCE

By: Tony Mel

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost" (Luke 15:4-6)

When a lost sinner repents, this means, he recognizes that he is on his way to hell and he needs a Saviour, there is great rejoicing in Heaven, because that sheep that was once lost was found. When a sinner comes to repentance, he turns from his wicked ways completely. Imagine that you're driving to church, because you thought there was a 4:00 PM service, but you remember that the pastor said that it was going to be postponed to 7:00 PM, you repent and go back to your house. When a sinner comes to repentance, he turns back from his bad ways and come to God by Christ Jesus.

A person can't really be saved if he really don't turn from his ways. There is only One way to God, His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Any other way is a way to hell, there are many, many ways to hell, but only one way to Heaven. "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Some may say, 'I follow Jesus, but that doesn't mean I have to stop gambling' or 'I'm Saved, but I have to buy lottery tickets'. That's not being saved, that's deceit. Satan is a liar, the father of lies and liars. A man that has truly repented can NOT love the world, if he does love the world, the Love of the Father is NOT in him. James 4:4 says: "...whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God"

When a sinner comes to repentance, he hates the world and wants to glorify God with his life. He wants his life to be a living sacrifice unto God. He don't serve two masters, God and the world (or Satan?), he worships and praises God in Jesus' Name. He is not the same, Jesus changed his ways, that includes: his behavior, his clothes, his speech, what he does with his idle time, even his hair style). When he is changed, and is willing to be used by God, he turns into a true disciple. But, if he  isn't willing to be compromised with God, he is not used by God and he won't have many rewards in Heaven.

Let the Bible conclude this, "...I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17) The will of God is that everyone may come unto him in repentance. The will of God is that everyone forsake the world and follow him. The will of God is that all may be saved by the Blood of Jesus. Many are called, but few are chosen.