“A Redeemer (Messiah) will come to Zion, and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression (sin),” declares the Lord.
Isaiah 59:20 AMP
John the Baptist came preaching repentance to prepare the way for the Lord. Our God is Savior and Lord. Salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Sanctification comes from trusting in Jesus Christ, day by day.
We need repentance to prepare the way for the Lordship of Christ in our lives. Repentance means turning away from living a life of sin or disobedience.
If we don’t repent, how can we be saved? Salvation is not giving lip service to who the Messiah is, it’s a radical relocation of your heart from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
Jesus saves those who turn to Him. He saves those who repent. The kindness of the Lord leads us to repentance. When we know, and fully understand, that Jesus paid the price for us to be forgiven of all our moral transgressions, free of charge, that elicits a change in behavior and lifestyle.
No one comes to the Father, through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, unless the Holy Spirit draws them. The Holy Spirit is the greatest evangelist in all Creation. We simply partner with Him in the work He is already doing. We’re just along for the ride.
Our role is obedience, being led by the Spirit to say what He is saying to us privately in the public arena. God’s Word cannot fail. If we’re inspired in our preaching, it will hit the target and plant the seed of the Gospel in human hearts. God makes it grow.
I was recently encouraging a friend with what it means to be a disciple: trust, listen and obey.
Trusting in Jesus means that He’s not only your Savior but He is also your Lord. I believe a true Christian will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and their lifestyle will bear the fruit of keeping with repentance. Dead works will fall away. Good works will remain. As we believe, and continue to believe in our Lord, we will bear fruit that remains.
Listening to the Holy Spirit should become standard practice in the Body of Christ. If the Body doesn’t obey the instructions from the Head, something’s disconnected, someone is in sin. Our job is to gently restore such people back into proper relationship with God. Do the will of your Father in Heaven.
Obeying God is not a religious endeavor of rule keeping. Our hearts should be transformed and we should so desire to remain in the presence of God that we follow Him anywhere and everywhere.
He is our Father, we are His beloved children. There is joy in His presence. He delights in us. Love defines us, not works. Works are a fruit of a life lived in humble submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Don’t charge ahead. Don’t fall behind. Stray neither to the left nor to the right. Follow the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Walk humbly with your Lord.
God is with us. He will not depart from us. We are one with Him. Abide in Him. Abide in love. That is the Way of Jesus.
Bless those who bless you. Bless those who curse you. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. There is nothing that He does not see. Be patient until His appearing. He loves you. He will not forsake you. If He corrects you, it’s because He loves you and knows that you’re better than the way you’ve been acting lately.
May the God of all glory reveal Himself to your heart today. And may you be changed, day by day, into the image and likeness of God, as you were created to be. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
For He [the Lord] put on righteousness like a coat of armor, and salvation like a helmet on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and covered Himself with zeal [and great love for His people] as a cloak. As their deeds deserve, so He will repay: Wrath to His adversaries, retribution to His enemies; To the islands and coastlands He will repay. So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. For He will come in like a narrow, rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives [overwhelming the enemy].
Isaiah 59:17-19 AMP