King James Version
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins
that he hath committed,
and keep all my statutes,
and do that which is lawful and right,
he shall surely live,
he shall not die.
Now that we have an idea of what being born again means, what sin is, and how a born again looks at sin, we can look at repentance better.
Only Jesus can forgive sins.
As Jesus healed the sick in mind, or body, He was actually healing the sickness from sin -- the wounded, demonized spirits of men, as can be shown from this particular example:
Mark 2:4-12 (KJV)
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press,
they uncovered the roof where he was:
and when they had broken it up,
they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith,
he said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there,
and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?
who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit
that they so reasoned within themselves,
he said unto them,
Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,
Thy sins be forgiven thee;
or to say,
Arise,
and take up thy bed,
and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man
hath power on earth to forgive sins,
(he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11 I say unto thee,
Arise,
and take up thy bed,
and go thy way into thine house.
12 And immediately he arose,
took up the bed,
and went forth before them all;
insomuch that they were all amazed,
and glorified God, saying,
We never saw it on this fashion.
How amazing the Lord Jesus was!
How brave, humble, and faithful He was!
How confident He was, as He faced the unbelieving generation, who finally sought His blood, despite His many miracles and manifestations in the name of God.
All Jesus did, was to glorify God, and to teach us how to love God, and each other.
But the enemy of Christ would have none of that, and fulfilled his part in God's plan of salvation.
As Jesus fulfilled His part of the plan, too.
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
Hebrews 2:14 (KJV)
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might destroy him
that had the power of death,
that is, the devil;
Become born again now, and repent.
Let the blood of Christ, shed at the cross -- proof of God's love for us -- account for something.
Let it bring us life in Christ.
Let us be worthy of the Lord when He returns for His faithful.
Which can be at any time God sees fit.
Acts 3:19-21 (KJV)
19 Repent ye therefore,
and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ,
which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive
until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken
by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Image source: Clipart Library
Updated 25 January 2022
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
