Scripture References: Mark 1:14-15
Jesus makes it very clear in what he says here about repenting and believing the gospel, but most people has failed to understand exactly what all is involved in order to repent and believe the gospel. First of all we need to understand what repentance is and what it has to do with salvation.. The word “repent” means to be willing to forsake your way of life and begin to follow Christ. Are you aware of the fact that to follow Christ means to live the same kind of life that he did? Let the apostle Peter tell us what kind of life Christ lived in what he says in I Peter 1:21-22 that says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” To follow his steps simply means that we too must not sin as he did not sin. Now don’t get upset thinking that it’s ridiculous to believe that we can live without sin. You must realize that unless we follow Christ who did no sin, then of course we could not possibly live a life without sin, but consider what the apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13 that says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
To do all things through Christ means we can do everything that Gods word tells us to believe and do. Now we know that it’s totally impossible for a sinner to live a life without sin, so therefore what Gods word tells us what to do is not a command to the unconverted sinner, but rather a command to a member of the body of Christ, which is the church. This is why we hear Jesus saying these words in Revelation 3:22 that says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” What Gods word says and reveals are not instructions or commands to the sinner that does not possess Christ, but rather it’s the words and instructions for the members of the body of Christ that truly possesses Christ in their heart.
Jesus makes it crystal clear that without him we can do nothing. He tells us this in what he said in John 15:5 that says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” But call to remembrance again to what Paul said in Philippians 4:13 that says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If we don’t truly possess Christ in our heart, then it’s totally impossible to live without sin, but listen to what Gods word tells us in what the apostles has to say in regards to the subject of sin. Listen to what Paul says in I Corinthians 15:34 that says, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” Paul is saying this to the members of Christ’s body, which is the church at Corinth; not to the sinners outside the church. And listen to what Paul says again to Timothy as recorded in I Timothy 5:20 that says,. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” Can you not see that Gods word commands that we are not to sin, but he says this to those who truly possess the power of Christ in their heart and not to the sinners in the world? Why then do we hear multiplied millions of confessing Christians saying they are born again of God, but yet still live in and commit gross sins against God? Was not the apostle John inspired of God to say these words as stated in I John 3:9 saying, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” This verse of scripture as well as others quoted above is very much a part of the gospel of Christ, but millions of people who confess to be saved are not believing and obeying them. They cannot obey them simply because they are totally void of Christ being in their heart and life. To be void of Christ reveals that the person is still under the law and not under grace. Paul tells us these words in Romans 6:14 that says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” To be under the law means that the person is not under Gods grace where sin has no dominion over them. Sin has power over all who are under the law and this is why they still commit sin even though they confess to be born again. They are not born again, because Gods word says that whosoever is born of God they do not and further more they cannot commit sin. When confronted with these scriptures that condemns sin, they just simply ignore them and go right on their deceived way. To be under the law where sin has dominion over you means to be under the condemnation of the Commandment laws. Every sinner is under these laws proven to be sinners in Gods sight. Sin takes advantage of what those laws says and by them sin becomes exceedingly sinful to those who are under the law and not under grace.
To be under grace means you would be forgiven of your sins and Christ would abide in your heart giving you the power over sin. Having power over sin we are commanded not to sin as Paul tells is in Romans 6:15 that says, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” If we are under Gods grace, then we have power over sin and Paul tells us these words as stated in Romans 6:12 that says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.’ Ninety some percent of confessing Christians today are still in bondage to sin simply because they do not possess the power of Christ in their lives. And the reason why they don’t possess Christ in their life is simply because they don’t know how to truly receive him into their heart. They are told simply to ask Christ to come into their heart by inviting him to come in, but this is not what Gods word says about this. Listen to what John tells us in Revelation 3:20 that says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” It’s Christ that stands at the hearts door of the sinner desiring to come into their heart, but notice you must hear his voice and open your hearts door to his voice and then he will come into your heart to sup with you and you with him. The voice of Christ that we must hear is his word that is revealed in Gods holy word. Let the apostle Peter tell us what this voice is that we must hear and obey in order for Christ to come into our heart. In Acts 2:38, after Peter and the other apostles were asked by the many Jews on that day of Pentecost as to what they must do, notice Peter said these words to them that says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This receiving of the Holy Ghost is the receiving of the one Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter as well as the Holy Spirit. If you have not truly repented of sin and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as Peter said, then you are still in your sins and you are none of his, as Paul says in Romans 8:8-9 that says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” The only way that you can receive Christ into your heart is to obey the instructions of Acts 2:38, but if you refuse to believe and do this, then you will remain in your sin and if you die in your sins, then you will definitely suffer the terrible consequences of the second death in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Until you do exactly what Gods word says you will remain in your sin and be separated from God throughout eternity, as Paul tells us in !! Thessalonians 1:7-9 that says, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” “HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.” (Revelation 3:22)