REPENTANCE -- PART 1

Repentance is literally a change of mind, not about individual plans, intentions or beliefs, but rather a change in one’s attitude about Elohim. 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 Elohim granting them -- repentance unto life -- Acts 11:18. Evangelical 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 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 Elohim. Both John the Baptist -- Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:4 and Yeshua -- 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 the Day of Pentecost -- Acts 2. 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.

WHY IS REPENTANCE ESSENTIAL TO A SPIRITUAL LIFE?

REPENTANCE OPENS THE WAY FOR RELATIONSHIP WITH YHVH.
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 Elohim. Don’t just say, We’re safe - we’re 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 --- 1. turning away from sins and 2. turning toward Elohim. 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 Elohim, 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's 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 didn’t want to change their hearts and minds. Thus their lives were unproductive. Repentance must be tied to action or it isn’t 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 to 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 isn’t 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 Elohim. 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 Jesus. -- John 12:10-11. The chief priests’ blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink ever deeper into sin. They rejected our Moshiach 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 Elohim. 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! Take a look at our lesson we offer for Va'era. In lesson 14.1 called "Plagues, Plagues and More Plagues" we will witness the first seven plagues Yahweh is sending upon Mitsrayim.
You can find these lessons as well as all our lessons at: https://ymtoi.org/
We hope that Parsha Pearls blesses your home and remember to share any comments or photos with us on our YMTOI Facebook page or email us at: parshapearls@mtoi.org. We love to hear from our followers!
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#vaera #torah #yahweh #yeshua #elohim #messiah #messianic #torahobservant #mtoiworldwide #clevelandtn #ymtoi

Shalom! Take a look at our lesson we offer for Va'era. In lesson 14.1 called "Plagues, Plagues and More Plagues" we will witness the first seven plagues Yahweh is sending upon Mitsrayim.
You can find these lessons as well as all our lessons at: https://ymtoi.org/
We hope that Parsha Pearls blesses your home and remember to share any comments or photos with us on our YMTOI Facebook page or email us at: parshapearls@mtoi.org. We love to hear from our followers!
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#vaera #torah #yahweh #yeshua #elohim #messiah #messianic #torahobservant #mtoiworldwide #clevelandtn #ymtoi

Shalom Shalom family ?

Our Heavenly Father, our Amazing and Awesome Holy YHVH. Thank You for giving us a good rest, time to refresh and be revived this new day with You on our lips. Thank You for shielding us, protecting us throughout the night and giving us a refreshing start this day. You give us life and You fill it with joy. Thank You that we can take this joy and walk in it today. Thank You for the food on our tables, the clothing we can put on, the abilities to walk, talk, feel and see the Amazing things of Your creation. Thank you for every saving life, Yout Grace and Mercy. Thank You that we can open our Scriptures and find Your words overflowing into our Spirit. Thank You for blessing our day in abundance and filling it with Your direction. We are in gratitude for all that You do and everything we have. Please bless our family members, friends and ourselves. Thank You for Your forgiveness and the privileges we have kn Yeshua HaMashiach our light for Salvation. We Praise Your Name. Let Thy Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven. Amein

Be blessed and stay blessed ?

#readmethebiblegarth now includes a new recording of Micah 1-5 in Hebrew with translation, and in the Lawful Literal Version, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?l....ist=PLvpqSEOjm625MyT

The Hebrew for 2022 recordings demonstrate the Grenache tonal reading method for the Hebrew text which brings out the meaningful divisions of verses, according to semantic meaning of the cantillation marks found in the Masoretic text.

Thought for Today: Sunday December 26:

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. -- Psalm 23:2

Through bad choices and wrong thinking, the human personality can become as dry as a desert. But when the water of life; a personal relationship with Yeshua Moshiach; flows through the mind and heart, the soul is restored. It becomes a peaceful and green valley.

#readmethebiblegarth now includes a new recording of the whole book of Hosea 1-14 in Hebrew with translation, and in the Lawful Literal Version, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?l....ist=PLvpqSEOjm625MyT

The Hosea 3 Hebrew for 2022 recording points out that all are to fear YHWH, that this doesn't change, it is for the latter days and is taught in the Revelation also.

The Hebrew for 2022 recordings demonstrate the Grenache tonal reading method for the Hebrew text which brings out the meaningful divisions of verses, according to semantic meaning of the cantillation marks found in the Masoretic text.

#readmethebiblegarth now includes a new recording of Psalm 1-5 in Hebrew with translation, and in the Lawful Literal Version, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?l....ist=PLvpqSEOjm625MyT

The Hebrew for 2022 recordings demonstrate the Grenache tonal reading method for the Hebrew text which brings out the meaningful divisions of verses, according to semantic meaning of the cantillation marks found in the Masoretic text.