“Repent and Believe!”

 “Repent and Believe!”

 

The time promised by God has come at last He announced.  “The Kingdom of God is near!  Repent of your sins, and believe the Good News!”   Mark 1:15

 

After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the GOOD NEWS of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  He told the people that:  “The time PROMISED by God has come at last!”  Now the “time” He was referring to, was not in counting the hours, minutes or even days or weeks.  But it was referring to God’s appointed time of PREPARATION and EXPECTATION, the Old Testament era was FULFILLED in agreement with GOD’S PLAN.

 

The RIGHT TIME came and God sent His Son, born of a woman, and subject to the law.  God sent Him to buy FREEDOM for those who were subject to the law, so that He could adopt them as His very OWN Children.  (Gal. 4:4)  Jesus went on to tell the people that:  “The Kingdom of God is NEAR!”  The word “KINGDOM” means “KINGSHIP”or ROYAL RULE.  The KINGDOM of GOD is a powerful concept that refers to GOD’S SOVEREIGN RULE over His Creation.  

 

This CONCEPT was familiar to those of JESUS’ day, because of the Old Testament prophecy.  But they were expecting a MESSIANIC KINGDOM, one that would be set up on the EARTH.  They are still looking for more of a WARRIOR KING, than the son of a lowly carpenter.  However, Jesus was and is the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS.  And one day He will set up His KINGDOM on Earth.  

 

Jesus gave His audience a command to REPENT or TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, and to BELIEVE with ALL their HEARTS, the GOOD NEWS, which was to BELIEVE in JESUS, as the MESSIAH, He is the GOOD NEWS for ALL of MANKIND.  

 

REPENTANCE and FAITH or BELIEF are linked together as one piece.  When you come to JESUS with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and you BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that He has taken ALL your SINS away, when He SUFFERED, BLED, and DIED, then was RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE, to SECURE for YOU an ETERNITY in HEAVEN. And for you to be able to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  And you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION by REPENTING and BELIEVING and then you will be ADOPTED into GOD’S FAMILY as one of His very OWN CHILDREN.  So, DON’T put it off, any longer! Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!