Repentance

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Norman Oetker Protestant Christian Missionary Now Serving in Saint Charles Missouri U.S. September 2015

Many people believe that to be “saved” (born again), to be a Christian, all that is required is to say and ask the following,  “I believe in Jesus come into my heart, Lord Jesus. ”

This way of believing is based on the following Scriptures in the Protestant Christian Bible New Testament:

John 3:16 KJV – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 KJV – For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 KJV – He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 10:9 KJV – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 KJV – For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Every Word of God is true, but these Scriptures alone are not the complete truth’s about Spiritual Salvation through Jesus’ Atonement.

A person can live a decent, moral, law-abiding life, accepting and believing with their whole heart the above scriptural  passages  and still be spiritually lost.

The following Scriptures are from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth:

Matthew 4:17 KJV – From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:14 KJV – Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mark 1:15 KJV – And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus first command was REPENT!

TO REPENT MEANS TO TURN FROM YOUR IDEALS AND PLANS FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE.

REPENT MEANS TO TURN FROM YOUR LIFE OF WANTS AND NEEDS.

REPENT MEANS TO TURN TOO RECOGNIZING AND ADMITTING YOUR NEED FOR JESUS, AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR.

REPENTANCE MEANS TO TELL GOD THAT YOU ARE SORRY FOR NOT HAVING JESUS IN YOUR LIFE AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.

CONFESSING TO GOD OF YOUR  PERSONAL SORROW FOR LIVING YOUR LIFE YOUR OWN WAY.

REPENTANCE MEANS THE WILFUL SURRENDER OF YOUR HEART AND WILL TO GOD.

REPENTANCE IS COMMITTING YOUR LIFE TO GOD AND JESUS.

REPENTANCE MEANS STUDYING OR BEING READ TO, AND THEN OBEYING THE COMMANDS AND TEACHING OF JESUS, THE APOSTLES, AND EVANGELISTS IN THE PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN BIBLE NEW TESTAMENT ONLY!

JESUS ALONE IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO HEAVEN! I

IT’S BY THE GRACE WHICH IS GOD’S POWER, STRENGTH, LOVE, AND FAVOR. THAT ENABLES ALL TO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS AS THE FATHER’S  DIVINE SON AND SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF SALVATION, OF REPENTANCE, AND FAITH, ONE CAN BE SPIRITUALLY BORN AGAIN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS INITIATED BY GOD THE FATHER’S GRACE, BECOMING SPIRITUALLY BORN IS JUSTIFIED BY  JESUS AND UNDERSTANDING JESUS’ PURPOSE  FOR COMING TO THIS PLANET. UPON THESES UNDERSTANDINGS REPENTANCE IS REQUIRED AS STATED ABOVE.

ONE CANNOT BE BAPTIZED AS A CHRISTIAN, ONE CANNOT CONFESS TO BE A CHRISTIAN. A PRIEST OR MINISTER CANNOT PRAY YOU INTO HEAVEN.  YOU ARE NOT SELECTED BY GOD TO EITHER GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL.

AS JESUS STATED YOU MUST BE SPIRITUALLY BORN AGAIN, AND THIS NEW SPIRITUAL BIRTH CAN AND IS ONLY INITIATED BY THE FATHERS GRACE, JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS SON JESUS, FAITH IN JESUS’ ATONEMENT, AND REPENTANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

Now let us read some more Scriptures regarding what it means to be a follower (disciple) of Jesus:

Matthew 13:44-46 KJV – [44] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. [45] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matthew 16:24-26 KJV – [24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. [26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 3:31-35 KJV – [31] There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. [32] And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seeking for thee. [33] And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? [34] And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! [35] For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Luke 6:46-49 KJV – [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: [48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. [49] But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 14:26-27 KJV – [26] If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

John 8:31-32 KJV – [31] Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 12:25-26 KJV – [25] He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. [26] If any man serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serves me, him will my Father honor.

John 15:4-8 KJV – [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [6] If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

To be a Christian is to be a follower of Jesus. It is living an NEW life, according to all the teaching of Jesus, the Apostles, and Evangelists in the Protestant Christian Bible New Testament.