Tag: #repent

Regret, remorse & reconsiliation – Coming of the Kingdom of God and of Heaven – 3K1 of 4


Loneliness is most probably the worst phycological pain someone can go through. 

No wonder than is the worst punishment a person can experience; shown by putting someone in solitary confinement in prison. 

That saying: me, myself and I come to fruition. I am thinking of the movie “Shawshank Redemtion” with Tim Robins and Morgen Freemen. 

In the movie Andy Duframe was wrongly accused of murder and sentenced for two murders that he did not commit. After 19 years in prison he manages to escape. 

Talk about loneliness and being in a place that you do not want to be. 

I think that is why most people commit suicide; because they have no hope left.

These verses are truly a message of hope. 

Lets dig in. 

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” – Luk 24:44-49

Here Jesus give us the clues / prophesies of the Kingdom that was fulfilled:

  1. Jesus will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day – This has happened at this point. Jesus has been crusified and risen from the dead. This was in the 40 days after He has risen and before He ascended to heaven.
  2. Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached – Have you ever played “Monopoly” and get that “Get free out of jail” card. The yes feeling comes to mind. Jesus gives us hope here that no matter what you did in the past, that made you feel guilty and useless can be forgiven. You can start over with a clean slate. 
  3. To all nations – God is interested in all people, not just for the select few.
  4. Beginning at Jerusalem – We saw in the previous studies that the Kingdom did start in Jerusalem.
  5. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high – They were all filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day, just as Jesus promised. 

I want to focus on one in particular clue.

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38

What do we know about Peter? He has the keys to the Kingdom, as established in our previous study. He tells you to get baptised for the forgiveness of your sin. Then you receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. Wow, how awesome is that!!! A piece of God living in us!!! 

We were made holy by His blood, without wrinkle or stain. How is that “Get out of jail” card? 

You get to spend eternity with God. The best present you will ever receive in your life, if you haven’t already.

So, what are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized, calling on Jesus’ name!!! (Acts 22:16)

Prayer for Today:

Lord, truly you made a plan for us to leave this wicked earth and spend eternity with You. That is called mercy, nothing that we could have done to deserve it. Only being obedient to your word can we attain eternal life. I pray that I will grab hold of what you promised me; eternal life with You. Help to accept Your forgiveness and get baptised for the forgiveness of my sin !!! Amen.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ?

Contact me to discuss – +27 79 481 8989 – Francois

Other Studies in the Series that you might enjoy!!!

Keys to the Kingdom – Coming of the Kingdom of God and of Heaven – 3J1 of 4


Why use keys? 

We want to keep some things which is valuable to us in and others out; thereby safeguardin out things we consider precious. 

We inherited the key concept from Babilon and Egypt using wooden keys. Steel keys were designed by the Romans. 

Keys are also a gateway linking one dimesion / room to another.

Watching Smurfs with my daughter, Papa smurf created a wormhole / gateway between their world and ours to escape Gargamel the evil one.

Using the specific key opens the gateway to enter the other dimension.

The same here in the Bible.

19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” – Mat 16:19

So here Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom by Jesus. So, he is going to tell us how to get in. We need to pay attention to what Peter says.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.” – Acts 2:14

Here is Peter standing up on Pentecost when the Kingdom was ushered in. Here he explains to them what is happening in the Kingdom.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38

So what was Peters message to enter the Kingdom; when it was ushered in.

So the Keys is as follow:

  1. Repent – From our sin.
    1. Get Baptized

–

    Full immersion into water.

Why should you repent & get baptized:

  1. For the forgiveness of sin.
  2. And to receive the Holy Spirit.

Amazing that God does not leave us hanging; but direct you how to enter His Kingdom.

So now that you have the Keys to the Kingdom, what will you do with them?

Have you repented and got baptized for the forgiveness of your sin and received the Holy Spirit?

The real question is: Do you believe in the Kingdom of God?

Prayer for Today:

Wow God now I know what the keys to the Kingdom is. Help them to implement them in my life. Amen

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ?

Contact me to discuss – +27 79 481 8989 – Francois

Other Studies in the Series that you might enjoy!!!

Coming of the Kingdom of God and of Heaven? Change your Mind, receives Forgiveness – 2B8 of 4


Verse for Today:

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” – Luk 24:44-49

Have you ever had a enlightened experience that totally changed your mind? 

It is like falling in love, the world is never the same after that. When you fall in love you are willing to do anything to make that person happy. 

The word repentance come from the greek word “metanoia”, which means changing your mind. Wikipedia states it as: the process of experiencing a psychotic “breakdown” and subsequent, positive psychological re-building or “healing”. 

Well repentance is the exact representation of falling in love with God. You cannot see your way forward without cahanging and living for God. Then question is; have you fallen in love with God, that you are willing to change anyting and give up everything?

Clue no. 21 – Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached first in Jerusalem to all nations. 

Prayer for Today:

Lord you are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. You written your love letter to us in the form of the Bible. Why would we not change from the thinks that kill us spiritually? The only reason is we love the world more than you. Help us to keep our first love for you. Amen. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ?

Contact me to discuss – +27 79 481 8989 – Francois

Other Studies in the Series that you might enjoy!!!