Repentance

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15

These are the words from the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself...

Following in the footsteps of his forerunner, John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus, like John, faithfully called for repentance from sin and a turning to God instead. This was their primary message. Repent!

I must say, however, that listening to many modern day preachers, the call to repentance from sin is not very popular. Many avoid it or merely hint at it. Yet both John and Jesus proclaimed it. "Repent, and turn from your sins!" There's no getting around it. Sin destroys lives. It damns souls to hell. Therefore it must be dealt with once and for all.

0nly by repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus is there true salvation. The good news of the gospel is not only that all our sins will be forgiven when we place our faith in Christ, but that we no longer have to practice sin. Through Christ, and by the indwelling presence and power of the HoIy Spirit, we can be free from the power and bondage of sin. Of course this does not mean the Christian will not sin, but that we no longer have to be a slave to sin. This is the essence of the gospel.
Amen!

D.B.