Michael continues: A
diagnostic question for husbands and wives is, “if I could change anything
about myself that would meet your needs, what would it be?” One guy said, I
hate to ask my wife that question because she’ll tell me things that she’s
already told me to change. Repentance is the first requirement to salvation.
Repentance means to change my mind. It’s an “about face” or “u-turn” in our
life. It means to turn from my own way and unto the Lord Jesus Christ. The
world calls evil good and good evil. Turning to the Lord is the meaning of
repentance. The word “Lord” means owner. I’m no longer my own Lord, Jesus is.
Christianity is not who we are, but whose we are.
To approach our Heavenly
Father, we must be clothed in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is
our righteousness and our redemption. He is the perfect sacrifice for sin on
our behalf that we may be the righteousness of God in Him. There is therefore
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh but after the spirit. We’re forgiven not because of who we are but
because of who God made us through His Son Jesus Christ when we were “born
again” of God’s spirit.
The Pharisees and devout
Jews were called to the King’s Son’s wedding. However, they rejected the
invitation. The Gentiles were the ones in the highways and byways that were
called to the wedding feast when the Jews rejected the king’s invitation. Jesus
said, whosoever will may come. The bible says that all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Those whom
God has called are eager to forsake their own way and turn to God’s way when
they hear the truth of the Word of God. Godly correction means to return to an
upright position. Sin knocked us down; the Lord picked us up.
God is faithful to His Word.
Philippians 2 says that even though
we were saved by grace, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling … with awe, respect, and reverence for
God. Our responsibility is our response to His ability. Our ability is the Holy
Spirit … Christ in us the hope of glory that we received when we were “born
again” and saved. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, when we make his
delight our delight. and his will our will, then according to Philippians 2:13, it is God who works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.
His good pleasure is that we should be above reproach and without rebuke in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in a
world of darkness, holding forth the Word of Life.
God asks, “Despite the
troubles of this world, will you praise me anyway?” If the gospel is
everything, then our assurance is that He works all things for His own good and
for our own good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Our purpose is to share the gospel of Christ and to use words where necessary.
We are the only bible some people will ever read. He has called us as His
living epistles, His love letters known and read of all men and women. Jesus
said, whosoever will may come. Our Heavenly Father has given us an engraved
invitation. How we RSVP to His invitation will determine our eternal destiny.
May we ever live to the
praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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