REPENTANCE – PART 1
Have you ever had the experience of driving in a strange city and suddenly realizing you were going the wrong way on a one-way street? What you do next is very much like the biblical idea of repentance. You make a U-turn and change your direction as fast as you can. Repentance is motivated by the realization that you have taken the wrong way in life. Repentance is made complete when you admit your sin and make a commitment, with YHVH’s help, to change your life’s direction. Repentance is literally a change of mind, not about individual plans, intentions, or beliefs, but rather a change in one’s attitude about YHVH. Such repentance accompanies saving faith in Moshiach -- Acts 20:21. It is inconsistent and unintelligible to suppose that anyone could believe in Moshiach yet not repent. Repentance is such an important aspect of conversion that it is often stressed, as when Moshiach said that there is joy in heaven among the angels over one sinner who repents -- Luke 15:7. The apostles described the conversion of the Gentiles to Moshiach as YHVH granting them [repentance unto life] -- Acts 11:18. Repentance and faith in Moshiach are in fact inseparable, though a convert may be aware of one aspect more than another. Such penitence is not an isolated act but a disposition of the mind, providing a spur for behaviour that accords with YHVH’s declared will. Recognition of daily sins and shortcomings provides the occasion for renewed acts of penitence and for fresh exercises of faith in Moshiach. One of the deepest and most noteworthy expressions of such penitence is David’s account of his adultery with Bathsheba -- Psalm 51. Whole churches, gatherings and social media are, on occasion, called to repent -- Revelation 2:5. 2 Corinthians 7 contains an interesting and full description of such corporate repentance involving the elements of sorrow for sin and a determined resolve to forsake old sinful ways and to behave properly. While repentance is often accompanied by deep feelings, it is not equivalent to such feelings but is rooted in convictions about the sinner’s own need before a holy YHVH. Both John the Baptist -- Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:4 and Moshiach -- Mark 1:15 were preachers of repentance, calling not the righteous but sinners to repent. And in accordance with the Great Commission -- Luke 24:44-49, the apostles continued the same kind of preaching -- beginning with Peter’s preaching on ***Shavuot***. -- Acts 2.
{***In Hebrew, the day is called Shavuot [rhymes with -- a blue oat], meaning [weeks] -- and so it is known as the Feast of Weeks. Pentecost comes from the Greek word for [fifty] since it occurs fifty days after the preceding holiday, Passover.***}
Why Is Repentance Essential To A Spiritual Life?
Repentance Opens The Way For Relationship With YHVH Elohiym:
[Here is a sample of John’s preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: [You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee YHVH’s coming judgment? Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to YHVH. Do not just say: We are safe – we are the descendants of Abraham. That proves nothing. YHVH can change these stones here into children of Abraham.] -- Luke 3:7-8. Repentance has two sides-turning away from sins and turning toward YHVH. To be truly repentant, we must do both. We can’t just say that we believe and then live any way we choose; neither can we simply live a morally correct life without a personal relationship with YHVH, because that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of any sins YHVH points out, and put your trust in him alone to guide you.
Repentance Demonstrates Real Faith:
Confession of sins and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead -- James 2:14-26. Yeshua’ harshest Words were to the respectable religious leaders who lacked the desire for real change. They wanted to be known as religious authorities, but they did not want to change their hearts and minds. Thus, their lives were unproductive. Repentance must be tied to action, or it is not real. Following Yeshua means more than saying the right words; it means acting on what He says.
Repentance Makes Inward Change A Visible Reality:
[In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was: Turn from your sins and turn to YHVH, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.] -- Matthew 3:1-2. When you wash dirty hands, the results are immediately visible. But repentance happens inside with a cleansing that is not seen right away. So, John used a symbolic action that people could see: baptism. The Jews used baptism to initiate converts, so John’s audience was familiar with the rite. Here, baptism was used as a sign of repentance and forgiveness. Repent means [to turn,] implying a change in behaviour. It is turning from sin toward YHVH. Have you repented of sin in your life? Can others see the difference it makes in you? A changed life with new and different behaviour makes your repentance real and visible.
Repentance Breaks Our Bondage To Sin:
[The leading priests decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Yeshua.] -- John 12:10-11. The chief priests’ blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink ever deeper into sin. They rejected the Messiah and planned to kill Him, and then plotted to murder Lazarus as well. One sin leads to another. From the Jewish leaders’ point of view, they could accuse Yeshua of blasphemy because He claimed equality with YHVH. But Lazarus had done nothing of the kind. They wanted Lazarus dead simply because he was a living witness to Yeshua’ Power. This is a warning to us to avoid sin. Sin leads to more sin, and this downward spiral can be stopped only by repentance and the Power of Ruach HaKodesh to change behaviour.
Shalom Mishpocha … I’m not a songwriter but I love to sing and play my AutoHarp and 12 String Guitar. My hubby plays lead guitar and backup vocals. We try to go Live Chat on YouTube every Shabbath afternoon at around 3:00 pm PST (sometimes a little later) … we usually carry on singing for about 3 hours or so. So, you are welcome to the Live Chat which is unmoderated but so far so good. Shalom Shalom
God said to rejoice during Sukkot, but nobody said the wilderness was supposed to be fun.
https://soilfromstone.blogspot.....com/2022/10/black-w
It's time to start the Torah reading cycle all over again!
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? יהוה is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding." Isaiah 40:28
October 22, 2022
PARASHAH: “BERESHET”
TORAH PORTION: IN THE BEGINNING
Genesis 1:1-- Genesis 6:8
HAFTORAH PORTION
Isaiah 42:5 -- 43:10
BRIT HADASHAH PORTION
Revelation 22:6--21
Watch the Story of the Creation beautifully expressed in ASL!
Chapter 1
https://www.deafmissions.com/a....slv?sapurl=LysyOGQxL
Chapter 2
https://www.deafmissions.com/a....slv?sapurl=LysyOGQxL
Image Credit: from Answers in Genesis
https://assets.answersingenesi....s.org/img/cms/conten
This coming week, October 16-22 (21-27 Tishrei 5783), the Bible reading plan covers the portions Sukkot II and B’Reisheet (In The Beginning).
16 Oct Numbers 29:26-34 Malachi 1:1-4:6 Rev 19:11-20:15 Song of Songs 5:1-16
17 Oct Numbers 29:35-40 1 Kings 8:54-66 Rev 21:1-27 Song of Songs 6:1-13
Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17
18 Oct Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 Joshua 1:1-2:24 Rev 22:1-21 Song of Songs 7:1-13
19 Oct Genesis 1:1-2:19 Joshua 3:1-4:24 Matthew 1:1-25 Song of Songs 8:1-14
20 Oct Genesis 2:20-3:21 Joshua 5:1-6:27 Matthew 2:1-23 Psalm 1:1-6
21 Oct Genesis 3:22-5:24 Joshua 7:1-8:22 Matthew 3:1-17 Psalm 2:1-12
22 Oct Genesis 5:25-6:8 Isaiah 42:5-43:10 Matthew 4:1-25 Psalm 3:1-8
The complete annual Bible reading plan for 2022-23 (Hebrew year 5783) is available at this link:
https://thebarkingfox.wordpres....s.com/2022/10/14/wee
It could be said that the story of redemption is the story of Israel. We who have come into redemption from the nations often miss this because we are so grateful for the personal salvation we have received through Yeshua, Israel’s Messiah-King. If we look closer at the story, though, we begin to see how our individual redemption is part of the national redemption our Creator is accomplishing in His plan to redeem all the nations.
https://thebarkingfox.com/2022..../10/14/on-the-horns-
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28
Be fruitful and multiply. Is this a command or a blessing? Perhaps it is both.
Subdue the earth and have dominion over it. Perhaps this too is both command and blessing.
“Just Believe” has become a slogan of some denominations, maybe they should read James 2;19. “ You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too! And they shake with fear.”
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