TRUTH OR TRADITION? – Except Ye Repent #4 #170
Except Ye Repent #4
“A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first,
and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He
answered and said, I will not: but afterward
he repented, and went.” Matthew 21:28-29
A Transformation.
Repentance involves a transformation of the heart, a change in a person’s thinking. Regarding many folks in His day, Jesus said: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8) . A few verses later, He goes on to say: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the thing which defile a man…” (Matt. 15:19-20) . The heart must be changed…transformed.
A Renewal.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2) . Here Paul declares that that transformation involves a renewing of the mind…changing the way we think about a number of things: God becomes our Father, Jesus our Saviour and Lord, The Bible becomes our guide in life, the Church our family, the world becomes our challenge, and sin our enemy.
A Reformation.
Repentance begins with a transformation of the heart that results in a reformation of life. Repentance is not complete unless the life is changed. Paul writes: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation…” (2 Cor. 7:10) . Even godly sorrow (which involves the heart) is not repentance, but works (brings about) repentance. The Jews on the day of Pentecost were pricked in their hearts (Acts 2:37) , but they were still told to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38) , something they still needed to do.
Involves Action.
Repentance involves action: when the son (in our text) repented, he went; when the prodigal son repented, he returned home; when Saul of Tarsus repented, he began preaching Christ; when the jailer repented, he washed the stripes of Paul and Silas; when the Ephesians repented, they burned their books.
Involves A Return.
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord.” (Isa 55:7) . In this verse we have a description of true repentance. “Let the wicked forsake his way (change the way he lives), and the unrighteous man this thoughts (change the way he thinks), and let him return unto the Lord (come to the Lord). Repentance is not complete unless one returns to the Lord. Both Judas and Peter had a change of heart about what they had done (Judas betrayed, Peter denied), and both changed their action (Judas tried to return the money, Peter went out and wept bitterly), but only Peter returned to the Lord. Judas went out and hanged himself.
Steer Creek Church of Christ, 3466 Rosedale Road, Stumptown WV 25267
Minister: Gene H Miller, 3281 Rosedale Road, Shock WV 26638-8410.
Phone: 304.462.0384 E-Mail: “ghmiller@rtol.net” Web Site: steercreekchurchofchrist.org
Community • Gilmer County • Shock • Stumptown • Religion | G-MM™ •
Congratulations to Hunter Ashley for getting a 2nd place in the Discus throw. He may be a Freshman, but he can definately out throw a lot of sophmores, Juniors and seniors. Way to go Hunter. Practice always pays off. Proud of you.