Message from Scripture: 8/18/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Acts 2:38. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The baptism preached in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost had been preceded by the immersion preached by John earlier, that people would know a change was taking place in covenants. Being part of this new relationship with God was conditioned, not by one’s genealogy, but one’s contrition and submission to the will of God. Because of this, both John and the apostles preached not only immersion, but the need of repentance to precede it (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38).

Repentance, then, is as integral to forgiveness as is being immersed. Repentance is to have a change of mind, which brings a change of heart, which issues in a change of life. It is what brings about dying to sin so we might live for Christ instead. It is part of a change that is brought about by believing Christ is the Son of God and can accomplish our salvation. It is part of a change that enables us to confidently say Jesus is Lord, and determining to put sin in the past, we are washed clean by Christ’s blood, now having a new life in Christ.

Repentance is an important part of God’s plan, as we are to live for what is godly, not sinful. It’s our commitment to allow the blood of Christ to keep on cleansing us of our sins. And if we fall back into sin, it’s our way, along with confession, to return back to the cleansing of Christ. May we seek to have a repentant spirit each day, drawing closer to Christ, and further away from sin. Live for Jesus, and know what all He does for us, now and forever. Have a great day. God bless.

Robert