What Does The Bible Say?
Repentance 2
Some believe repentance is the act of being sorry for your sins.
What Does The Bible Say?
Hebrews 12:16-17 says... "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears."
II Cor. 7:19 says... "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
From these scriptures, we learn:
•1. Esau was a sinner.
•2. Esau received the consequences of his sin.
•3. Esau was sorry. (He had tears.)
•4. Esau did not repent.
•5. Paul tells us in II Cor. 7, there are two kinds of grief. Godly grief and worldly grief.
•6. Only Godly grief leads to repentance.
•7. All sinners are sorry...some for their situation, some for the consequences of their sins, but some are sorry they sinned and change. The act of changing is REPENTANCE.
HAVE YOU REPENTED?
If you have a Bible question, send it in.
Repentence 1
A question that needs to be asked is ‘what is repentence?' Many don't know. Some think it means being sorry.
What Does The Bible Say?
Matthew 21:28-32 says... "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' ‘I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."
From these words of Jesus, we learn:
•1. This man gave his sons the same commandment...Go work.
•2. One son said he would not go.
•3. Then he repented (or changed his mind).
•4. We assume he was sorry about his first statement.
•5. We know he changed. This change is called repentance.
•6. If you are disobeying God and you change direction and obey Him, you are repenting.
HAVE YOU REPENTED?
If you have a Bible question, send it in.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
My Own Business
Maybe you have heard someone say, "What I do with my body is no one's business but mine." And even though we could argue about the damage we might do to others (mate, children, parents) by our selfishness, it would be good for us to ask "What Does The Bible Say?"
What Does The Bible Say?
I Corinthians 6:18-20 says... Shun immorality. Every other sin, which a man commits, is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So Glorify God in your body.
In this passage we learn...
1. That immorality is a sin against our body.
2. A Christian's body is a temple of God. (Where God lives on Earth.)
3. God already owns your body.
4. He bought us.
5. Our duty is to glorify God in our bodies.
So it makes a big difference what we do with our bodies.
DOESN'T IT?
Christ's Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is such an important event that it has always been surrounded with controversy. Some reject the resurrection story completely and insist that it is possible to be a Christian in every way without the resurrection.
What Does The Bible Say?
I Corinthians 15:3-8 says... ‘For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.'
I Corinthians 15:12-20 says... ‘Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.'
In this passage the Bible teaches us:
1. If Christ was not raised then no one is raised from the dead. Verse 13
2. If Christ has not been raised then the apostles' preaching is empty. Verse 14
3. If Christ has not been raised then our faith is vain. Verse 14
4. If Christ has not been raised then the apostles are liars. Verse 15
5. If Christ has not been raised then our faith is futile. Verse 17
6. If Christ has not been raised then Christians who have died have perished. Verse 18
7. If Christ has not been raised then we are a pitiful bunch. Verse 19
But read verse 20 of I Corinthians 15... ‘But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.'
This means in Christ we face resurrection from the dead...the promises of the apostles are true...our faith is sure...and those in Christ are the Blessed of the Universe.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED
Who should be baptized? Some say infants; some say saved people, others say believers who have repented but are not yet saved.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Mark 16:15-16 says... And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
Those who are believers are baptized. Salvation is the result of God's grace and man's faith (believe and be baptized).
Acts 2:38 says... "And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Here, when these people discovered the truth that Jesus is God's son and that they had rejected him, they were convicted (cut to the heart). They cried out, "Men and Brothers, what shall we do?" They were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. Salvation came after these believers repented and were baptized. Many years later, Peter would say, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities and powers subject to Him." (I Peter 3:21) So since infants cannot repent or believe, they are not candidates for baptism. And since salvation immediately follows Christian baptism, it is not possible to be saved prior to baptism. The proper candidate for baptism is a sinner who knows the word of God, believes in Jesus and has repented of his sins.