Most people likely don't realize the below facts when they receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour and are born again into the family of God, but this is what instantly occurred in your heart when you got saved. If not then please follow these verses and receive Jesus as your Saviour.
Repentance and faith go hand in hand and occur in an instant in the heart virtually simultaneously. No good deeds, righteous works or any such thing is involved whatsoever. It is a realization in one's heart that he is exceedingly sinful before the Almighty and unable to save himself from eternal damnation in Hell; but at the same time we realize that God loves us and sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place, and we RECEIVE the Lord Jesus through hearing the word of God. No sinner is to sinful to be pardoned by God. There is only one sin that can not be forgiven: It is NOT receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Mark 1:14-15: "... Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
REPENTANCE
Repentance begins with the fear of the Lord:
Proverbs 14:26-27: "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
Luke 12:4-5: "And I [Jesus] say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
Revelation 1:18: "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Proverbs 16:6: "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." (cf. Mercy and Truth: Psalms 57:10, 69:13, 86:15, 100:5, 108:4, 115:1. Mercy: Daniel 9:9; Psalms 86:5, 103:8. Truth: Psalm 138:2; John 17:17; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5)
Proverbs 1:24-33: "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." (Concerning Proverbs 1:28 above, "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer ..." see Revelation 20:11-15)
Note the above phrase, "no man regarded" and compare it with Matthew 18:3-4 which says, "... Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (cf. Mark 10:15; Luke 14:11, 18:17; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:10; Psalms 34:18, 51:17; Isaiah 57:15, 66:2; 2 Corinthians 7:10)
Proverbs 15:33: "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
Psalms 19:9: "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."
Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
Proverbs 8:13: "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
Proverbs 2:3-6: "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
Job 28:28: "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
Proverbs 10:27: "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."
Proverbs 19:23: "The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil."
Repentance Is A Change Of Heart In Recognition Of God's Holiness & Justice:
Ezekiel 33:11: "... As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die ...?"
Isaiah 6:3: "... Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."
Revelation 4:8: "... Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
Jeremiah 17:10: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (cf. Rev. 2:23; Jer. 11:20, 20:12)
Psalms 89:14: "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."
Jeremiah 23:5: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch [JESUS], and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."
Revelation 6:10: "... How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
Revelation 19:11: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."
Acts 10:38, 42: "... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power... And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead."
Repentance Comes When One Acknowledges His Sinfulness & Accepts God's Love & Mercy Which Produces Godly Sorrow In His Heart:
2 Corinthians 7:10: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Isaiah 57:15: "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones".
1 John 4:9-10, 19: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ... We love him, because he first loved us."
Luke 18:10-14: "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Ezekiel 18:27-28: "Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Habakkuk 2:4: "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
Don't Despise God's Goodness & Forbearance That Are Leading You To Repentance:
2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should COME TO REPENTANCE."
Romans 2:4-11: "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God."
FAITH
Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Believe What & How?:
We are to have faith in Jesus Christ, namely, who He is (The Almighty Creator & Judge of all), His personality (loving & merciful and at the same time holy & just), and what He did for all Mankind (Became a man to die, the just for the unjust).
1 John 1:7: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
John 1:1-3, 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ... 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Philippians 2:6-8: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Hebrews 1:1-3: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
Romans 5:8-10: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Luke 23:39-43: "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
What do we learn here in Luke 23:39-43 about salvation as Christ hung on the cross between two sinners, one repentant and the other not? Note the following:
1. The repentant malefactor feared God (v. 40).
2. The repentant malefactor knew that he was justly condemned (v. 41).
3. The repentant one knew that Jesus had done nothing amiss (v. 42).
4. The repentant one did not one good work to earn his salvation.
5. He knew that Jesus was Lord and King and could help him after death (v. 41).
6. The saved sinner trusted in Jesus and asked Him to remember him (v. 42).
7. Jesus promised the sinner that they would be together in paradise that very day (v.43)
The Faith Of God Is The Word Of God:
Galatians 3:2: "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
Romans 3:1-3: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?"
Galatians 2:16: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Philippians 3:9: "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."
Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Galatians 3:22: "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
Romans 3:19-26: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
1 John 5:10-12: "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Romans 1:17: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11: "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38: "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
REGENERATION
Repentance and faith is our part, regeneration and salvation is God's part! God freely gives salvation to all who receive it by repentance of their sin and faith in Jesus Christ to save them from hell. When God saves someone He regenerates the dead spirit of the believer and receives him or her as His Child.
Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-10: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
James 1:17-18, 21: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ... 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
John 3:5-8, 17:17: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. ... Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
Ephesians 5:25-26: "... Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."
CONCLUSION
God's word instructs us of God's love for us and His hatred of sin. Jesus died to keep us out of eternal hell! Don't make His death in vain in your life! If you do you will eternally regret it!
1 John 5:4-5, 7, 10: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ... For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ... He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." (Note: Making God a liar by not trusting in Jesus Christ is the only sin that can never be forgiven.)
Revelation 21:7-8: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (cf. The Fearful: Ps. 27:1, 56:4, 11, 118:6; Prov. 29:25; Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4-5. The fear of man prevents the trust of God.)
Revelation 20:11-15: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Matthew 25:41, 46: "Then shall he say also unto them ..., Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Psalms 16:11: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
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