Title: Repent (Matthew 4:17)
Content br> If the period of life is divided into three parts, it can be divided into the first life of motherhood, the second life on earth, and the third life after death.
Those living on earth have already lived the period of their mother's life, and now they are living on earth, and when they finish their earthly life, they will live in the afterlife. These three kinds of life are closely related to each other. That is, the period of motherhood is the period of preparation for life on earth, and the period of life on earth is the period of preparation for life after death. The mortal life is linked to the mother's life, and the afterlife is immediately linked to the mortal life.
The earth life without the mother life is unthinkable, and the afterlife without the earth life is also unthinkable.
All life must prepare for life after death while on earth. The period of life on earth is a period of preparation for the afterlife that God has given to all human beings, whether they live long or short lives. This period is a special time, a special opportunity, and a special time of grace.
The world of the mother's life is the mother's mother's womb. The world of life on earth is the visible Earth now. The afterlife of the afterlife is heaven and hell, which are now invisible to the eye. When we lived in our mother's womb, we did not see the earth we were to live in the future. because I couldn't see it. After that life ended and a new dimension of life began, the earth where we would live our earthly life came into sight. However, while we live on this earth, we cannot see the afterlife in which we must live our afterlife.
Maternal life is less than a year. Life on earth varies from person to person, but almost all people live longer than their mother's life. After life on earth is over, life in the afterlife is eternity.
The world of life on earth is one. Everyone lives on this earth called Earth. However, there are two afterlife in the afterlife. Some live in heaven and some live in hell. The decisive and concrete words and practical examples of this fact are the words of Jesus recorded in Luke 16:19-31.
If it is clear that you have lived your mother's life and it is clear that you are living on earth, then your life after death is also clear. No one can avoid this.
God loves His chosen people who live in the world. Because of this, He wants everyone to live in “Heaven,” the dwelling place of God's glory, one of two places in the world after death.
“God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4)
Not only did he want it, but he also taught me specific ways to prepare for the afterlife.
The method God has taught us is “repentance.” This is the first voice when Jesus came to this earth and began His work.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
What does Jesus mean by these words?
First, it means that repentance and heaven are inseparable. Repentance and heaven go together. There can be no heaven without repentance, a glorious life after death. Also, repentance without heaven is unthinkable. What good is repentance without heaven?
Second, it is saying that if you repent, you will not be able to gain the spiritual privilege of living in heaven, that is, in hell among the two worlds after death.
Jesus said.
“Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice, and those who have done good will come out to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).
The good thing in this verse is repentance. There is nothing better than repentance.
Third, it is a message to repent because the kingdom of God is near.
Life after death is in contact with life on earth. In other words, physical death is not far away, but near. Our death is not outside of nine hundred thousand miles. It's less than ten miles away. How short is life itself? One life span is seventy, and if you are healthy, it is eighty, but there is no guarantee that all of them will live, and even if they all live, how long would that life be?
Our life is like a fog, and when the sun rises, it disappears like it used to be.
“You do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears” (James 4:14).
“Therefore, all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall” (1 Peter 1:24).
“O LORD, make known my end and the end of my years, so that I may know my weakness. You have made my days as wide as your hand, and my whole life is as nothing before you. ) Verily, every man walks like a shadow, he dwells on vanity, he accumulates wealth, but he does not know who gets it. What do I hope, Lord? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:4-7).
Why do people need to repent?
First, because there is an afterlife.
Without the afterlife, heaven and hell, there is no need to repent. However, if there is an afterlife to go to after death, we must repent.
Second, because everyone has sinned before God.
A sinner who has sinned does not deserve to live eternity in a glorious heaven with that sin. The Bible says that all humans are sinners. He said that he did not become a sinner after he was born, but that he was a sinner from the beginning. There is no need to repent unless you are a sinner. But if you are a sinner, you must repent.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God; all have turned aside, one thing has become useless; there is none who does good, not even one. Their throats are an open tomb, and with their tongue they practice deceit, and the poison of vipers is on their lips. and their mouths are full of curses and bitterness, and their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and trouble are in their way, and they have not known the way of peace, and there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans). 3:10-18)
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in the same way death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
Third, if we do not repent, God will punish us severely. Even though God has given us an opportunity to repent, He clearly said that if we turn our back on that opportunity and refuse to repent, there is only God's wrath. So you must repent.
“Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds” (Revelation 2:22).
“Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and forbearance, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? You are storing up wrath for you in the day when it is revealed” (Romans 2:4-5).
Fourth, we must repent because the Bible commands us to repent.
There is no time in any age when God has not told us to repent. In each age, God sent God's people and commanded them to repent, and eventually, He also sent these Jesus Christs to repent. Life must follow this harsh command of God. It must not be excluded.
“In that day the Lord, the LORD of hosts, commanded us to weep and to mourn, to pluck the hair of our heads, and to walk in sackcloth” (Isaiah 22:12).
“Put away all the iniquity that you have committed and renew your mind and spirit. Why do you want to die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31).
“Take the word and return to the LORD, and say, Take away all iniquity, and accept what is good, for with our lips we will offer to you in place of the bull” (Hosea 14:2).
“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, fasting and weeping and mourning” (Joel 2:12).
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).
“Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8).
“Peter said to him, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“Therefore, repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord, and he will forgive you of your heart’s desires” (Acts 8:22).
“The days of ignorance God did not fail, but now He has commanded all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
“Therefore remember where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; if you do not do so and do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5).
“Repent therefore, or I will come upon you quickly, and make war against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).
“Therefore remember how you received and how you heard, keep and repent, unless you awaken, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you” (Revelation 3:3).
“Anyone whom I love I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
Fifth, because repentance is the only way to prepare for life after death.
If a person repents, all the unclean sins of the soul and life are forgiven. Because there is no sin that Jesus cannot forgive. Original sin, sins in life, past sins, present sins, future sins, spiritual sins, serious sins, committed sins, utterances... be forgiven. A soul that is forgiven through repentance becomes a clean soul. The soul is all ready for the afterlife.
“Therefore, brethren, you know that it is through this man that the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38).
“In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
“I ?/td>