In a nutshell I'm noone, and don't really wish to be. In my former life I considered myself the man of all men, then I met the MAN of all men; The Son Of Man. I've since died to self, you could say I'm a walking "dead" man. Everyday I strive to "die", so I can really live!Sounds weird right?!? I know, it's foolishness to those who are perishing! But that's not the way it's meant to be.II Peter 3:9 says:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.God does not want ANYONE to perish, rather that EVERYONE would come to repentance.Repentance + Faith = SalvationRepentance is primarily an after-thought, different from the former thought; a change of mind accompanied by regret and change of conduct, "change of mind and heart", or, "change of consciousness". One of the key descriptions of repentance is the parable of the prodigal son found in the Gospel of Luke 15 beginning at verse 11One very important thing to note is this:Salvation comes by God's grace or "unmerited favor" only not as something merited by the sinner. This means that salvation is an unearned gift from God for Jesus' sake. This doctrine is the opposite of "works' righteousness". Grace is truly and always a gift of God. God as sole actor in grace (in other words, grace is always efficacious without any cooperation by man), and man cannot by any action of his own, acting under the influence of grace, cooperate with grace to "merit" greater graces for himself. This doctrine asserts divine monergism in salvation: God acts alone to save the sinner. The responsibility for salvation does not rest on the sinner to any degree.Repentance is a by-product of God's plan of Salvation. The act of repenting daily flows naturally from the individual who truly appreciates and hence appropriates the cure.EXAMPLE: You wash your hair in the winter time, go directly outside in 20 degree weather and catch pneumonia. You get hospitalized and are near death. Then a doctor prescries antibiotics and you begin to recover. What would be your PROPER response? Probably this:1. Take the medication as often as prescribed..MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE MORE.
2. Follow any directions the doctor gives you.
3. Do your best not to go outside under those sickening conditions again.And so with the individual.You're born into sin. Live a life full of God hating self worship and are ultimately headed for death/hell. Then God, Rich in Mercy-Abundant in Grace, lays down His own life for yours as THE one and only cure to the sickness you were born with. What IS the proper response?1. Take the medication (Repentance and Faith) as often as prescribed (daily) and usually even more (24/7).2. Follow the directions given you. (Keep the commandments). Ecclesiastes 12:13
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Jesus put it this way
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:213. Do your best not to go outside under those sickening conditions again. STOP SINNING! 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
