https://youtu.be/sctbLGFCfgI

Matt 3:1-12 Bear Fruits

I talk about repentance a lot because I believe its central to the Gospel- I want you to be able to understand it and explain itThis is what happens when you go through a book of the Bible and if its repetitive- good- we should be able to articulate it, appreciate it and defend it.Some of the greatest problems in the church are because there are tons of people who have never repented- they have just agreed to a set of beliefs.People think that joining a church or getting baptized is what makes someone saved- its not- Jesus saves through repentance. No repentance- no salvation.What is repentanceHebrew word nacham which means to turn around or change the mind and sub which return, seek, restoreMetanio- to change the mind to think differently about something- changing your mind. Thinking one way then thinking the other way- I hate vegetables to I like vegetablesRepent simply means to turn around- to change your direction- you are going one way- and you go a different wayAway from God towards God- direction change- this is tied to belief- You didn’t believe in Christ- and then you did believe in Christ- you have repented- you have turned- from no to YesFrom in sin- to forgiveness- turnaroundYou need to change direction in your mind and actions- belief and repent are sides of the same coin you cant have one without the other- you cant believe without turning and you can’t turn unless you believeRepenting is not cleaning yourself up. Its not changing your habits, improving yourself, it’s a simultaneous change of belief and direction at the same time

Repentance is central to the GospelIf you don’t understand the repentance- you don’t understand the Gospel because repentance is central to the Gospel- You must turn towards God. You must turn from your sinYou can’t be in New York and say you are on your way to LA. It doesn’t work that wayYou can’t be living in your sin- and consider it repentance- (Guy at JCNW saved by TV)He repented- he took a life change- He did something different.The first word of John the Baptist was Repent Matt 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”The first word of Jesus Gospel was Repent  Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”The first word of the Disciples was Repent Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.The first word of instruction that jesus gave after his resurrection Luke 24: 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations,The first word of the first Christian sermon was repent Acts 2:38  Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The first word of the Apostle paul  was repent Acts 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.To repent is simply to change your mind towards the things of God- Turn from Sin to GraceAnd its central to our faith- When you talk to people who say they are “good” or say “I’m a Christian” or “I was raised in the church” that’s often code for “I never repented”The gift of repentance is that you know there has been a direction change- you knowDon’t be prideful- repentance is a way of living- I repent on the daily. Keep on the path

Repentance has fruitREAD v 4- 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,We know that based on the Bible and our own experience- that you can see fruitAnd when you see no fruit- you got to check the root- because the root of fruit is repentanceActs 26:20  but declared first to...