Divine Sermon: Repent and Live

September 29, 2023 | Rv Fr John Damian Adizie | 1,710 Comments | 5:10 pm

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Divine Sermon

The Essence of Repentance

Remember your compassion, O Lord.

Indeed, our God is a Compassionate God. he is ever ready to forgive the repentant sinner!

What is repentance? Do I really need repentance? Why must I repent? What is special about repentance? What is the essence of Repentance? What am I supposed to repent from and what happens if I refuse to repent?

When our Lord Jesus Christ started His ministry, He preached the gospel of Repentance and of God’s kingdom, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance is therefore a prerequisite for God’s kingdom. For one to enter God’s kingdom he /she must repent.

Repent from what? Repentance has to do with the remorse and regret one feels after committing a crime. The essence of Repentance according to St. Peter is for baptism and for the Remission of sin. Peter told his fellow Jews, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

In Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus raised a parable, “What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ “ he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterwards he repented and went. “He went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.”

Jesus then asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterwards repent and believe him.” may God not allow tax collectors and harlots to overtake us in this heavenly race.

The wages of sin is death! Jesus once asked his followers, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-3) Child of God, if you don’t want to perish with sinners then you better repent.

Repentance is the only way forward! With Repentance there is hope for you. Even if you are from the most condemned family God will not hold any charge against you.

As the Lord God declares through the Prophet Ezekiel 18:25-28 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Child of God, the Lord will not hold the sin of your fathers against you. your family background will never bring your back to the ground! Every ancestral curses are hereby cancelled in Jesus name – Amen!

In a nutshell, Repentance means “change.” You need to change your faith in idolatry and materialism to faith in the Most High God. You need to change your immoral and sinful behavior to a moral and upright life. You need to change your life of drunkenness to a life that is Spirit filled. You need to change your pertain of living! In fact, you need total overhauling! Change your method of prayer from complaining to praise and worship. Change from your reliance on men of God to reliance to God of men. Change!

Above all, you need to change from pride and arrogancy to a life of humility.

As St. Paul declares in his letter to the Philippians 2:1-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Child of God, as you humble yourself in repentance, God will surely exalt you.

Through Repentance your lost glory will be restored. As St. Paul rightly declares, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Child of God, as long as you have made up your mind to repent through this message, you are a new creature! As you have made up your mind never to commit sin any more – you are a new creature! And you are ready to live righteously and uprightly – you are indeed a new creature! Old things have passed away! Your life will never remain the same and it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!

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