We approached the second sermon, The Holy Spirit gave us another sober reflecting sermon, and it indeed answered many questions in our mind as to why certain things remain unchanged. Stay blessed as you read.
Scriptures: Romans 2:1-5, Acts 2:22-38, 2Corinthians 7:9-10, Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17, Luke 5:32, Luke 13:1-5. Luke 15:11-20, Luke 15:4-7, Matthew 3:6-7
Repentance means to feel pain, sorrow or regret for what one has done that’s not right; to be sorry for sin as morally evil; to seek forgiveness and to cease from practicing the same evil.
Judging by the standard of the above definitions of repentance, one could conclude that many people are yet to know what it means to repent genuinely. It is worthy of note, also, that without genuine repentance, no man would receive the Holy Spirit. A man who has genuinely repented would, no doubt, not justify himself, rather, he would ask for mercy with a sober heart. This genuine repentance is borne out of regret and self condemnation for wrongs done or sins committed.
Repentance is personal, you are to repent for yourself and by yourself. Thus, there can’t be forgiveness if there’s no repentance. Please, note that fasting doesn’t bring forgiveness, repentance does.
Likewise, you can’t be diplomatic about repentance and expect to be forgiven. Don’t repent with sense, else you die -unrepented sin could lead to death; physically and/or spiritually, unless you’re not a child of God.
The first instruction for salvation and forgiveness that will make you a child of God is “repentance”. Repentance, however, doesn’t cost you money, it would only cost you humility and self conviction that what you’ve done is wrong. The only thing that delivered the people of Nineveh was repentance! When God saw genuine repentance in them, he couldn’t help but show them mercy.
A proud man cannot repent, thus, he cannot harness the glory of God. So, repentance has to come from agony. When you are penitent and feel sober for the wrongs you’ve done, you may not even need prayer before you would be forgiven. The prodigal son in the Bible, after he realised the evil he did, went back to his father with a sober mind and even before he apologised, his father merely seeing afar off had compassion on him, ran to him and embraced him. This is to tell you that God only needs you to repent, he will accept you back no matter how great your sins may be.
There’s a repentance that God accepts; it is such that you were not persuaded to do! Having Godly sorrow over your mistakes will work salvation and bring blessings to you.
Unrepentance, most times proves that you are deliberate about your sin. If you want to be accepted, repent, that is your road map to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Brethren, Jesus did not die smiling, likewise, you can’t get the free gift of salvation by dancing around, unrepentant. Nevertheless, repentance brings joy both to heaven and to the soul that repents, there is nothing as sweet as when a soul is connected back to his Creator.
If truly you repent, then bear fruits worthy of repentance; let people see the signs that you have truly repented.
God bless you all.