What is Repent?

                                                         

Repent means, “to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). It is from the Hebrew word "shuv" which means "to turn."

We can change our mind, deciding to live right, in a moment. When we have repented, we not only have a changed mind about sin; the change can be seen in our actions.

We regret our sinful life, and tell Jesus through prayer that we are sorry for our sins.

As we praise and thank Jesus for His mercy and His love, He can fill us with His Spirit. When we totally surrender to Him, He can change our words of praise and adoration into another language, speaking through us.

This is the sign that we have given Jesus full control, putting aside our pride and trusting Him totally. Tongues is another word for languages.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

When we have repented, we can get baptized in the name of Jesus so that His blood can wash away our sins. By the name of Jesus in water baptism, we have remission [forgiveness] of sins. We can be water baptized before or after we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [Acts 10:44-48].

"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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

When we have been baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with His Spirit, we have a new life and a clean slate!

There is only one God - Jesus is His name

                                                         

Our Heavenly Father manifested (robed) Himself in flesh to pay the price of death for our sins. It took a man without sin to pay this price, which only God, who is without sin, could pay. (Luke 1:35, Hebrews 2:14-15, Hebrews 9:22, Acts 20:28).

God did this so that we could be reconciled to Him, having our sins washed away by water baptism in His name Jesus. (Colossians 1:19-23).

The flesh/body that our Heavenly Father manifested (robed) Himself in is called the Son of God. God came in His name of salvation, which is Jesus.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV

All the fullness of God is within this human body. (Colossians 2:8-9, Isaiah 9:6). At the same time, God fills the universe. (2 Chronicles 6:18).

Jesus told His disciples,

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:16-18

The Comforter is the Holy Ghost, which Jesus poured out on the Day of Pentecost. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive the Spirit of Jesus in us.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26

Jesus promises the gift of His Spirit to all those that obey the gospel. This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost.

"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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

We must guard our hearts

                                                        

We must guard our hearts to be sure nothing creeps in to distract us from our relationship with God. Pleasures of sin can consume our heart, mind, time, and money. We must continually make right choices.

Moses made the right choice.

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." - Hebrews 11:24-26 KJV

Give me children, or else I die

"And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die." - Genesis 30:1

To Rachel, to give birth to a child meant everything to her.

It is by the gospel that souls are born into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38).

Paul the Apostle travailed in prayer for souls to be born. (Galatians 4:19).

With the same attitude and deep desire for children that Rachel had, our travailing prayers can affect the birth process of souls into the kingdom of God.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - Psalm 126:5-6

"And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: and she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son." - Genesis 30:22-24

Rachel’s first-born son Joseph is a type of Christ. The name Joseph means “adding.” While Christ is the only begotten Son of God (born the Son of God from birth), we become sons of God when we are born again of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Romans 8:29).

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 (Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1-2, Galatians 4:4-7, Hebrews 2:10).

"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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41

"…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:47 

Church!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." - Psalm 122:1 KJV

"To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." - Psalm 63:2-4 KJV

Jesus' Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem

                                                             

The week before Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, as Jesus and His disciples were nearing Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples to a nearby village to bring Him a donkey and her colt. The disciples put their garments on them and Jesus sat on them.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road for Jesus as He entered the city. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The people before Him and following Him were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:1-9).

When people called Jesus, “Son of David,” they were recognizing that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the offspring of King David, that would sit on his throne forever.

"And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David." - 2 Samuel 7:16-17.

The word Hosanna is of Hebrew origin meaning, 'save, I pray.'

This day is called “Palm Sunday” because it is recorded in John 12:13 that they "Took branches of palm trees…”

This triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." - Zechariah 9:9 KJV

Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem was also fulfillment of a type and shadow.

Solomon, the son of David, was chosen by God to be the next king after David. (1Chronicles 28:5).

When Adonijah, another son of David, attempted to crown himself king instead of Solomon, David revealed Solomon to be the chosen king of Israel by having him ride into Jerusalem on his personal mule. By this all Israel knew Solomon was the chosen king.

This account sheds light on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on the donkey. His entry is a revealing that Jesus is the Son of David, the chosen King Messiah. [See 1Kings 1:1-48 for the complete account].

Jesus the King of the Universe and Son of David, God manifest in flesh and Savior of the world. His throne and His kingdom are forever.

It's not about, Is that a heaven or hell issue?

 

It’s not about, “Is that a heaven or hell issue?”

If we love Jesus, our actions will not be based on, “I don’t think doing this will take me to hell.” If we love Jesus, our actions will be based on our desire to please Him in all that we do, say, and think.

It’s about wanting to please Jesus because I love Him.

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." - Ephesians 2:1-3

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" - Ephesians 2:4-6

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." - 1 John 2:5 KJV

(“But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.” - 1 John 2:5 NLT)