Stop Resisting Start Repenting
Encouraging The Wicked
Part One
Time after time, the people talk out of their own spirit and their own hearts.
"In the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires."
2 Peter 3:3
People vainly speaking visions and dreams in the name of The Lord. They believe their words will conjure up the things they desire in the name of the Lord. They forget the Lord created all things through Jesus by his word. And by that same word he commands all creation to live and to perish. These things live because he commands it. It is his word and not subject to any other word. No culture, no social justice cause, no factions, or religious beliefs can move God's hand if it is not of his own hand thats directing it by his word.
"And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins."
Ezekiel 13:22b
Setting up idols beginning in your heart. Not on your church altars or tattooed on your body, but etched upon your hearts. There it begins and ultimately ends set up against the Lord as the idols begin to show themselves even in the congregations and upon the altars.
Jesus said of these people:
"For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
Matthew 15:19-21
What was that Jesus did when he said these things about these people?
Was it love? Was it grace? Was it mercy? Is it truth? Was it judgment?
Why would Jesus make these kinds of statements and judgments if today is meant to be about inclusion, equality, and love for one another? Why would Jesus call people out for their sins? Shouldn't we include all things without regard to their beliefs or values? Simply love the sinner and ignore the sin.
Maybe it's true. Maybe we should. After-all Jesus told us to allow the weeds to grow among the wheat. To leave it to him and his angels to gather them up and throw them into the fire at the resurrection. It makes good sense when you think about it. I mean of course the weeds won't poison the congregation with false teachers and heretical worship of pagan gods and magic charms. Of course generations of children won't be taught to worship false gods and be led astray from the Word of God in the interim. I'm sure there's no need to use good judgment about the teachers and preachers, and what's being said or thought. Just love them and affirm them at The Lord's table.
Jesus’s Demand To Repent
Part Two
What was the first thing Jesus did or say when he began his earthly ministry?
What did the tax collectors and prostitutes hear from him and hear of him before he dined at their tables and visited in their homes? Before the blind got their sight and the lame were walking again, or the religious fundamentalists were being chastised, what did Jesus say?
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) "The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here." (Matthew 12:41) "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3, 5)
His was a call for a radical inward change towards the people attitudes about God and about the relationship mankind was to have with him. His was not a message of extravagant grace and mercy without an expectation of repentance. The word had gone out, the people were coming to see the man-God, the Messiah who called the people to repentance. That was the message, the good news. The Messiah had come to bring his kingdom. And unexpectedly he was coming to preach about the internal change of mind and heart that comes with his kingdom. No more was the focus on a mere sorrow for their sins or a mere improvement of their behaviors. But a genuine and sincere love for God's kingdom that creates in them a new heart and reformed mind. A change indeed takes place. The old ways are indeed left behind. The scapegoats were no more. The excuses were over. The truth about their sins had come to town and the word of redemption was being spoken for those who love God.
The word repent (metanoeo) refers to the mind, its thoughts, perceptions, dispositions and its purposes moving in a new direction. It's about a new way of thinking, if we're trying to make it easier to understand. It's not the kingdom turning toward the worldly, it's the worldly being called to turn toward the kingdom. Being called, in love, to turn from everything we previously saw mentioned in Matthew 15:19-21.
After-all, what are they turning from when they repent?
Turning from unbelief? Yes, that's those evil thoughts mentioned in the word. Alongside that are mentioned all the terms of repentance. It's a contract of sorts. It's got to be received and accepted. And it's not going to be received if it's not being heard.
Q: What does it mean to receive it?
A: Faith.
Faith is the acceptance (belief) of the things previously unknown, made clear now, and held closely (taken to heart) in mind and spirit.
In order to receive it, you must have faith, and the word must be heard. For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And the results of that faith can be seen. For you will know them by their fruits that have been produced by repentance.
“Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” Luke 3:8
It's an inward change that leads to a new perception and expression. This means that repenting is what happens inside of us that leads to the fruits of new behavior. It leads to new desires. Desires that replace the old desires. Those old desires that have been left behind when you came to faith.
Jesus didn't demand this change in judgment of the person, but in judgment of the sin. The love for the person was and is always there. When I think about that I think about the prodigal son or the rich young ruler. Both approached Jesus sincerely, one repentant and the other too wrapped up into his own stuff to let go. One gave up everything to be with the Father, the other constantly trying to make his own way to that same Father. One surrendered, the other couldn't. Jesus wept for the young ruler, and the word tells us why, "he loved him".
Is it judgment to love the sinner and hate the sin? Maybe so. But I don't think it's judgment in the way so many caught up in social justice want us to believe it is. Ironically it's judgment that brings justice, the very thing they want. God's justice for mankind. It's Gods plan for the salvation of mankind. Justice came to town teaching the good news. The gospel that taught all need repentance (even those who thought themselves righteous). Just as all need to be born anew because “that which is born of the flesh is [merely] flesh” (John 3:6), so all must repent because all are sinners.
No one is excluded. Everyone is included. All are called sinners. So the command of Jesus to repent goes out to all the nations. It comes to us, whoever we are and wherever we are, and he lays claim on us. This is the demand of Jesus to every human person:
Repent.
Be changed from within.
Replace all your God-dishonoring, Word-belittling perceptions and antiChrist dispositions and purposes . And refill the now empty places (surrendered desires) within your spirit with God-treasuring, Christ-exalting, kingdom loving, word obeying desires.
Stop resisting...start repenting.