The Call To Repentance

[Brother Price]

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. {2Peter 3:9}

Repentance is a 10-letter word which is hardly ever spoken of in the Western Church. Just as God has called us to walk in holiness before Him, so has He called us to repent of our sins and turn to Him.

For a while now, I have staggered away from holiness, due to the hurt I suffered while in that movement. But, as time has passed and the wounds have begun to heal, I have begun as well to see the need for a walk of holiness before the Lord. One brother said it like this, that the Gospel is a scandal to the world, calling us to modesty and separation unto the Lord. The Gospel call is to repent and be converted, and after this to walk in holiness before the Lord.

We are not to be like the world. We are not to dress like Brittany Spears, talk like Axel Rose, or watch that which glorifies what God calls an abomination. When we are saved, it is not through some prayer, but through our faith by His grace. This should cause us to leave the rudiments of the world behind, and turn back our faces towards the Cross. True faith should lead a soul to repentance!

I know some would say I am returning back to the “holiness movement”, but that is not the case at all. I am coming full circle to see what the Bible is saying about all of this. I am seeing how we, as believers, should walk in holiness, because such is a fruit of repentance. And holiness is not something taught in the pulpit, but is something birthed in the heart, produced in the life. It is not the preacher going back to the Old Testament commanding how a believer should live, but is about a life repentant and holy before the Lord, and turned towards the Cross.

Holiness is about showing forth the spirit of repentance. The ‘holiness movement’ does not have holiness, because it does not have repentance. The majority of westernized churches do not live holy because they no longer preach repentance. In truth, a majority of people in many churches will end up in Hell from the westernized churches, because they have been led down a road that is absent of repentance, and that is a true highway to hell if there ever was one.

I have said it before, and I will say it again, that religion is the most dangerous of all drug addictions because it leads one to believe they are right in God’s eyes, when in fact they are dead wrong. This is where I witness a lack of holiness, a lack of repentance, in our churches.

This posting has got to be the most I have written about holiness in an awful long time. But, as the Lord has been working in me, and I have been seeing men of God stand, and I mean stand, for Gospel truth and preaching, my eyes are opening more and more to this desperate need for repentance in the church.

Repentance = Holiness
Holiness = Repentance

When one turns from sin, one turns unto the Lord. This produces holiness in their life.


*Posted on my blog, "Reaching Thoughts".

[Michael The Disciple]

The preaching of repentance if not backed by the preaching of perfection will accomplish nothing in the long run. I hear lots of Preachers talk about the need for repenting.

Repenting is to turn to God and doing his will. Without THAT aspect we have what we have now. People going on in sin. Im for preaching repentance to get people seeking after God. But if the awesome truth that THEN we are required to be obedient in all things is neglected it wont be long before the same people will be needing the message of repentance again.

[Praxeas]

I don't think repentance = holiness

[Michael The Disciple]

If holiness is not a result of repentance then what good is it?

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I don't think repentance = holiness

It leads to holiness is my point. Note what John Baptist said to the Pharisees:


7: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8: Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matt. 3:7-8

[iquitos]

I greet you in the wonderful name of Jesus: We are told: Put the trumpet to thy mouth, and sound the alarm.
This year 2011 is a year of great revelation of that which has been hidden both in the scriptures and in personal lives. The revelation of the word will result in a more powerful and dynamic preaching of the word with miracles following. The revelation of personal lives will uncover even the secret thoughts of those who have held the truth in unrighteousness. Cleanse your vessels, carry forth the filthiness out of the Holy Place. Confess and forsake that which has had you bound these many years. The Lord is faithful and He delights in restoration.

[qzcoach]

True repentance should lead to holiness in this regard: If you were walking toward sin, you should be walking away from sin after you "turn around." Repentance is not the end, though: it is one thing indeed to leave behind your past, but it is another thing entirely to acquire a new nature, to be a new man. This requires the "whole package." You must have your sins washed away by water baptism, have your nature engulfed in his Spirit by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. (Holy Spirit for you young people) But the truth of the matter is only God's grace provides salvation. It is He who has saved us, and not we ourselves. Although we must repent, be baptized, and be a vessel willing to be filled, without God's grace, all are lost. I heard a preacher say the UPC ignores the book of Romans because it talks of grace, but Romans 6 explains the "whole package" of salvation very well. It so happens he made his comment the year we quizzed on the book of Romans. I hope we do it again sometime soon.

[Dedicated Mind]

bro. price I honestly feel that you should stick to the, "I'm a sinner saved by grace message" like I do. leave the broad generalizations, self righteousness, condemnation and new revelations to the wackos. many don't turn out to be the world changing, generation influencers we thought we would be in our new convert mindsets.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

The preaching of repentance if not backed by the preaching of perfection will accomplish nothing in the long run. I hear lots of Preachers talk about the need for repenting.

Repenting is to turn to God and doing his will. Without THAT aspect we have what we have now. People going on in sin. Im for preaching repentance to get people seeking after God. But if the awesome truth that THEN we are required to be obedient in all things is neglected it wont be long before the same people will be needing the message of repentance again.

mtd, i like the teaching of perfection, but even bickle said that once you think you reach it, the magnifier is turned up and god shows you more room for growth. paul said i pursue after and i have not yet attained. biblical perfection is a relative term. like a baby is a perfect human, a teenager and a grandfather are perfect humans, but they all are in different stages of growth. we never reach absolute perfection or there would be no need for the grace of god and the sacrifice of christ. i'm sure you understand this, but it doesn't come across in your comments.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

bro. price I honestly feel that you should stick to the, "I'm a sinner saved by grace message" like I do. leave the broad generalizations, self righteousness, condemnation and new revelations to the wackos. many don't turn out to be the world changing, generation influencers we thought we would be in our new convert mindsets.

I like this DM. Not just for Price but me too!

You said a mouthful there.