Why We Do What We Do - Repentance

REPENTANCE

Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING:- Last week I taught on Matthew 28:19 & Acts 2:38. I explained the command that Jesus gave and how Peter on the Day of Pentecost along with the rest of the disciples fulfilled that command and revealed the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost as Jesus Christ. I then went to 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.

I explained how Jesus Christ is the propitiation (appeasement - The word propitiation carries the basic idea of appeasement, or satisfaction, specifically towards God. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to him) for our sins 1 John 2:2 says “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”. 1 John 4:10 says “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”. Romans 3:25 says “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”. Jesus took our place on Calvary’s cross. He paid a debt he did not owe and we owe a debt we could not pay.

This was done not because we love God, not because we have done some great work, not because we deserve it at all, but because He loves us. Romans 5:8 says “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. 1 John 4:9 says “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him”. John 3:16 says “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”.

Because what Jesus did for us that is why we do what we do!!!!!

Sadly many people today are confused about repentance and how to be saved. It seems two of the most common verses of Scripture used in these latter days on how to be saved are the following. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved”. Some preachers, regardless of their denomination and theological stance, seem to indicate that nothing else is necessary other than saying a little unbiblical prayer. They indicate this by saying nothing about the one thing that is an absolute necessity for salvation. That absolute is "repentance." Another verse many people stand on for salvation is Acts 16:31 “Believe on the lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. Again, many seem to stand on this verse alone for salvation without mentioning the necessity of repenting of sin.

Some Preachers today are saying, you don’t have to do nothing to be saved except believe and say a sinner's prayer. This is not true. Two absolutes you must do are: repent of your sins and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, as the only hope you have of being saved. Yes, we are to call on the name of the Lord in prayer. Yes, we are to believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, God in the flesh. Yes, we are to believe that He died for our sins, and rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Yes, we are to believe that Jesus Christ is the Living Word and that He came to earth to redeem men from their sins. But to say that all we are to do is call on the name of the Lord and believe on Him is not all that God’s Word requires. We must repent of our sins, turn from our wicked ways, and we must never be ashamed of Jesus. We are to be willing to stand up for Jesus and be willing to confess Him.

Romans 10:9-10 “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. for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. This is true but when you understand the context of this scripture you understand that Paul is writing to people that have been born again and is making a declaration to them and not a statement of salvation.

In Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. This is the foundation of the Apostolic Church. Remember we are not called Apostolic because it sounds good but because we follow after the Apostles Doctrine and the teaching of Jesus Christ.