What does revival without repentance look like?
I'm forgiven so I can continue in sin.
Romans 6:1-4 undoubtedly refutes the false notion.
Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10:5-7 (NKJV) "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
The word "repent" is the Greek word "g3340. μετανοέω metanoeō; from 3326 and 3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction): — repent.
AV (34) - repent 34;
to change one's mind, i.e. to repent to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins."
Most false preachers would use this definition but they will not use the entire definition.
You see. False teachers refuse to give the entire definition because it destroys their concise limited definition.
The use of the word "repent" offends sinners. Most sinners know that when a true preacher preaches repentance from sin, and then lists the sin, just like when Adam and Eve hid themselves from the Lord God, Who was walking in the garden and calling out for Adam, immediately shame comes.
In order to repent, something must be said to me to bring an awareness of my sin in order to compel me to repent.
When you're driving down the street, you make a turn down a one way street. You're headed in the wrong direction. Out of no where, a police officer steps into the street and puts the hand up. A uniform, badge, and firearm. Once that hand goes up, you slam on the brakes.
The one act of a police offer compelled you to stop what you were doing.
When it comes to sin, the preaching of the Word of God and the command to repent or you will go to hell should compel you to repent. And when you do repent, this is what happens.
You change your mind and "heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins."
The commission of sin offended God and you abhor what you've done, and you amend or turn from committing that sin or sins ever again so as not to offend God.
To "abhor" means "to regard with disgust and hatred," or be disgusted with hatred of the sin committed.
You can't trust a revival without repentance of sin. If there's no compelling of a person to come to Christ without repentance, you can't trust it. The purpose of the preaching of the gospel (good news) is to get people to understand the bad news.
The bad news is that everybody has to die.
Which leads to "Who said we have to die and why?"
Sin is the reason why we die.
In order to repent, something must be said to me to bring an awareness of my sin in order to compel me to repent.
Too often, we see in the Christian newspaper headlines REVIVAL BREAKING OUT.
Then we get excited. GOD IS DOING SOMETHING!
Some of us get on a plane to go and see.
When we get there, what do we see?
We see a large or moderate size group of possible believers in Christ, singing songs, and lifting their hands. We see people off to the side or at the front of the "altar", on bended knees. We may see charismatics casting out demons, and laying hands on people. People falling out all over the place and call it a "Move of God."
Could something of God come out of this?
These days, we have to let it play out and then judge the evidence.
But rarely do we see them leave and evangelize.
It doesn't mean that some people don't. It only mean that it's rarely seen.
Biblical evangelism is the unashamed sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to sinners that leave an undeniable fruit. A completely born again believer.
The compelling of sinners to repent comes after the convicting power of the Holy Spirit comes after the preaching of the Word.
Sinners will not repent if they're not compelled to repent because of identifying sin in their life.
You see. To the sinner, sin is just as good as righteousness so they'll never see themselves as wicked, evil, and exceedingly sinful. They all believe that they're "good" and "innocent."
John 16:8 (NKJV) "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"
The 10 Commandments is the law.
Romans 3:20 (NKJV) "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
1 John 3:4 (NKJV) "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."
If we don't believe that we've broken the law, it's easy to declare self righteousness.
It amazes me when a preacher calls himself an evangelist but primarily preaches to church folk. Don't get me totally wrong. There's some people that aren't saved that attend church but rarely do you see "evangelists" out on the street where the majority of unsaved people are.
Another thing that's missing is that the penalty for sin and non repentance is never mentioned.
HELL! GOD'S WRATH!!!
Just like criminals, the criminal knows that when the police officer comes to arrest them, they go to trial, and when they're convicted of the crime, they know that the judge must pass sentence.
Criminals fear the police. Criminals fear the judge. Criminals fear prison.
Preaching about the penalty of sin is missing from "revivals."
Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 (NKJV) "Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity.
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God."
Proverbs 23:18 (NKJV) "For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off."
Just like in the natural, when a man commits a crime and isn't immediately apprehended, a false sense of security enters the mind. You didn't get caught the last time, so go ahead.
But ultimately, their fortunes run out.
"But it will not be well with the wicked."
Death catches up with everyone.
I've come to realize that it's not going to change. The lack of preaching these two things to compel sinners to repent will deepen as the days get darker. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 warned us that these days were coming.
A complete departure from the faith.
Including a departure from preaching the true and authentic gospel that convicts and compels people to repent.
It will mean that many more will die in their sins and end up in hell, and they will not have an excuse because the Bible is available to every man, at least in America.
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