Christians Today

The Gift of God

ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

gift_of_eternal_life“For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a gift of God through His son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In this statement, Jesus declares the reason for His birth, death, and resurrection—to provide the way to heaven for sinful mankind, who could never get there on their own.When God created Adam and Eve, they were perfect in every way and lived in a virtual paradise, the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). God created man in His image, meaning they also had the freedom to make decisions and choices of their own free will. Genesis 3 goes on to describe how Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptations and lies. In doing so, they disobeyed the will of God by eating of the tree of knowledge from which they were forbidden: “And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die’” (Genesis 2:16-17). This was the first sin committed by man, and, as a result, all mankind is subject to both physical and eternal death by virtue of our sinful nature inherited from Adam.God declared that all who sin will die, both physically and spiritually. This is the fate of all mankind. But God, in His grace and mercy, provided a way out of this dilemma, the shed blood of His perfect Son on the cross. God declared that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22), but through the shedding of blood, redemption is provided. The Law of Moses provided a way for the people to be considered “sinless” or “right” in God’s eyes—the offering of animals sacrificed for every sin they committed. These sacrifices were only temporary, though, and were really a foreshadowing of the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:10).

This is why Jesus came and why He died, to become the ultimate and final sacrifice, the perfect (without blemish) sacrifice for our sins (Colossians 1:22; 1 Peter 1:19). Through Him, the promise of life eternal with God becomes effective through faith to those who believe in Jesus. “So that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22). These two words, faith and believing, are critical to our salvation. It is through our believing in the shed blood of Christ for our sins that we receive eternal life. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Throughout the Bible people were told to repent. Today we are told that God “now commandeth all men (people) every where to repent[1]“. Repentance is a process which leads to a relationship with God.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.[2]

Repentance (metanoeo in the Greek) leads to metamorphosis. The grub’s decision to build a cocoon leads to the new miraculous creation of a butterfly. For people it’s just the same: the miraculous end result of repentance is becoming a new creation (2Corinthians5:17[3] )

How to repent.

1 Listen to the preachers: The first recorded words spoken by John the Baptist ([4](Matthew3:2) Jesus ([5]Matthew 4:17,[6] Mark 1:15) and the 12 when they were sent out was to repent ([7]Mark 6:12) and was echoed by Peter after Pentecost. ([8]Acts 2:38)
2 Find the meaning: Repent in the new testament always means to change your mind in the original Greek, never to merely feel sorry which is a modern non Biblical meaning.
3 Change: Repenting involves turning away from the old and toward the new. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Jesus). ([9]Matthew16:24)
4 Repenting leads to belief: Jesus said “repent ye, and believe the gospel.[10] Mark 1:15)
5 Recognise that you’ve fallen short: Whether you’re young or old or been a “good” person or a “bad” person, understand that no one matches up to the Glory of God. Like Job (in the old testament) we’ve missed the mark and need to recognise our shortcomings. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ([11]Romans 3:23)
6 Godly Sorrow: Sorrow can lead to repentance (Deciding to do things God’s way) or it can lead to disappointment. ([12]2Corinthians 7:10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Godly sorrow leads to repentance
7 Be humble: Repenting will involve admitting you are wrong about things concerning God. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ([13]James 4:6)
8 Don’t be passive: Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ([14]Jeremiah 29:12-13[15] )
9 Expect to be rewarded: 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. ([16]Hebrews11:6)
10 Prepare to be baptised: Baptism is an outward sign that a person is prepared to listen to God’s word and do it. Then they that gladly received (were repentant) his word were baptized ([17]Acts2:41) And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. (Luke 7:29-30[18])
11 Ask and Seek and Knock: This is God’s will. As we repent to what Jesus wants we do as He says. Particularly concerning asking for the Holy Spirit And I (Jesus) say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13[19])
12 Keep following Jesus: Once your repentance has been accepted by God then stay humble and keep following Jesus (1Peter 4:1-11[20])

Warnings

  • Not everyone who says that they are a Christian has repented, so trust in God not people. (Jeremiah 17:5-11[33])
  • If you believe you’ve repented but have no need to be baptised with the Holy Spirit, that is not repentance that is also arguing with God’s plan.(John 3:5[34]; John 6:63[35]; Romans 8:2[36]; Romans8:9[37]; 2 Corinthians 3:6[38]; Titus 3:5[39]).
  • If you believe you’ve repented but believe you have no need to be baptised in water, that is not repentance that is arguing with God’s plan. Repenting is agreeing with God’s plan (Luke7:29-30[40])
  • Repentance is not an option. Jesus said “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3[41])