The Gospel Of Repentance

This is a podcast. Click on link to listen. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3u75cEvvAU6Ulk3aG4zdFlOTnc/view?usp=sharing  

How do you know if someone has really repented of sin? How do you know if you have really repented of sin? Can you say you have sincerely repented if you continue to commit the same sins over and over again? Repentance by definition means in Greek to change one’s mind. Regarding sin we are not only commanded to change our minds, we are to change our behavior as well. The best illustration in the New Testament would be that of King David. We all know the story of David and Bathsheba, and how he committed adultery with her (2 Sam 11:4). When David was confronted with his sin by the prophet Nathan, David immediately expressed contrition and repented (2 Sam 12:13). As a matter of fact, David said, “ I have sinned against the Lord”. Well, didn’t he sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah whom he arranged to have killed in battle too (2 Sam 11:17;12:9)? Yes, David sinned against all three, but he knew the ultimate and most gravest of his sins was against the Lord who’s laws he...

An Audio Podcast. Click on link to listen. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3u75cEvvAU6Ni1QWE9MRDcwUmc/view?usp=sharing

This is an audio podcast. Click on the link to listen. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3u75cEvvAU6a3JLYUM4U2hFRWc Originally recorded November 1, 2015.

There is warfare within my being the part I hate is prevailing  my steps are slippery I'm unsure ground my judgments are those of a fool Apprehension is laughing at me focus  has forsaken me long ago I cry   a loud   to God for I need him so for my indecision has me in derision Are there any faithful around someone who can instruct me now are all the sons of men unwise as I hear can anyone lend a hand I'm sick of myself and my trifling ways when will I ever change  for I'm engaged in struggles with the Angel like Jacob and my hip is out of joint When I intend to do well evil is present when will I ever break free can't lay hold of  righteousness once credited to my account for wickedness has me overdrawn For in confusion I scribe and by   faith   I pray for  ignorance is baptized in its pool for wisdom's a mirage and anguish an ocean as I struggle to keep afloat I'm on the edg...

When most people talk about being baptized, they strictly refer to water baptism. For many, this equates to salvation, but that is not true; water baptism never saved anyone. There is a baptism that saves, and that is the one I want to discuss. Baptize by definition means to immerse, submerge. It also means to dip. Baptism into death In Romans 6:3-11 we read, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death? We were buried with him by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Chris...

There are things that God promised us as Christians that we will never care to claim, such as tribulation (John 16:33).  Under that title umbrella, we discover suffering as a promise and believe it or not a gift of God. Two reasons I will give why we suffer as believers are 1) we are children of God and 2) because we identify with Christ. In John 15:18-21 Jesus says this, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word I said to you, a servant is not greater than his Master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know him who sent me.” So, because we are children of the Most High, we automatically have a target on our backs from the...