Throughout human history, there has been a great, and grave misunderstanding of our enjoining to THE LORD *GOD*, and of our role in HIS WILL! Human understanding has created precepts which border on TRUTH, but do not fully comply with, or honour it! There is misunderstanding of HIS GIFT of LIFE TO the point that it is taken for granted while people continue in their ways, unaware of their togetherness IN THE COVENANT from which HIS GRACE, and MERCY flow forth!!!
Thus, TRUE repentance isn't SERIOUSLY taken to heart, if even understood, and onward in worldly ways do many go, all the while wondering why they yet feel distanced from THE LORD! Understanding THROUGH WISDOM, and knowledge HAVE to exist in order for one to not only become ONE WITH HIM, but to REMAIN IN HIM as the enemy(ies) of this world assault us day, and night! TRUE repentance involves conforming in conduct according TO HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS; and we DO KNOW that IF we are OF HIM, we are NOT of this world, therefore, we MUST no longer live as the world does, instead AS citizens of HEAVEN, which means we are being transformed, changed, Sanctified, Consecrated, and PURIFIED according to HOLINESS, albeit, still journeying this realm, and still confronted by it's ways!!!
DAILY study, and embracing THE WORD KEEPS us IN THE WAY, and satiates the being! We HAVE to KNOW HIS WILL, and THE TRUTH, THAT we ARE sure of our footing, and CAN stand firm regardless of what intends to take us down! And as we learn more, our relationship with THE LORD begins to blossom, begins to thrive, and thus, we begin to bear those fruits which HONOUR HIS SOVEREIGN GLORY! We CAN'T do ANY thing on our own, ONLY THROUGH THE LORD can we HOPE, and GROW, but we surely won't be invoking HIM IF we live away from HIS WILL, and WAYS! We CAN'T take time for granted because we DON'T know if we will survive the next second, and so, NOW IS THE TIME TO get real with THE LORD!!!
2 CHRONICLES 24: 20...
Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you.’”
JEREMIAH 2: 19...
"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
ROMANS 3: 9-18...
9+++What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10+++as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11+++THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12+++ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13+++“THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14+++“WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15+++“THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16+++DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17+++AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18+++“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
40+++But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?
41+++We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our actions. But this man has done nothing wrong.”…
42+++Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
43+++And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”…
As soon as Christ was fastened to the cross, he prayed for those who crucified him. The great thing he died to purchase and procure for us, is the forgiveness of sin. This he prays for.
We shall see the case to be singular, if we observe the uncommon effects of God's grace upon this man. He reproved the other for railing on Christ. He owned that he deserved what was done to him. He believed Jesus to have suffered wrongfully. Observe his faith in this prayer. Christ was in the depth of disgrace, suffering as a deceiver, and not delivered by his Father. He made this profession before the wonders were displayed which put honour on Christ's sufferings, and startled the centurion. He believed in a life to come, and desired to be happy in that life; not like the other thief, to be only saved from the cross. Observe his humility in this prayer. All his request is, Lord, remember me; quite referring it to Jesus in what way to remember him. Thus he was humbled in true repentance, and he brought forth all the fruits for repentance his circumstances would admit. Christ upon the cross, is gracious like Christ upon the throne. Though he was in the greatest struggle and agony, yet he had pity for a poor penitent. By this act of grace we are to understand that Jesus Christ died to open the kingdom of heaven to all penitent, obedient believers.
It is a single instance in Scripture; it should teach us to despair of none, and that none should despair of themselves; but lest it should be abused, it is contrasted with the awful state of the other thief, who died hardened in unbelief, though a crucified Saviour was so near him. Be sure that in general men die as they live.
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