REPENT!

REPENT!

Monday, 17, 2019

Romans [GW] 12:1-3 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect. Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.

  Repent, though a word seldom heard these days is called for throughout and by the Word. One contemporary translation (GW) correctly provides as “think and act” for younger readers. I herein furnish the GW verses:

Eze_14:6  "So tell the nation of Israel, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don't return to any of your disgusting things.

Eze_18:30, 32  "That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel," declares the Almighty LORD. "Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin. … I don't want anyone to die," declares the Almighty LORD. "Change the way you think and act!"

Eze_33:11  "Tell them, 'As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, I don't want wicked people to die. Rather, I want them to turn from their ways and live. Change the way you think and act! Turn from your wicked ways! Do you want to die, people of Israel?'

Mat_3:2, 8, 11  "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near." … Do those things that prove you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. … I baptize you with water so that you will change the way you think and act. But the one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mat_4:17  From then on, Jesus began to tell people, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!"

Mar_1:15  He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."

Mar_6:12  So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act.

Luk_3:8  Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. Don't say, 'Abraham is our ancestor.' I guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.

Luk_5:32  I've come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God's approval."

Luk_13:3, 5  No! I can guarantee that they weren't. But if you don't turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die. … No! I can guarantee that they weren't. But if you don't turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die."

Luk_16:30  "The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! If someone comes back to them from the dead, they will turn to God and change the way they think and act.'

Luk_24:47  Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.

Act_2:38  Peter answered them, "All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.

Act_3:19  So change the way you think and act, and turn to God to have your sins removed.

Act_5:31  God used his power to give Jesus the highest position as leader and savior. He did this to lead the people of Israel to him, to change the way they think and act, and to forgive their sins.

Act_11:18  When the others heard this, they had no further objections. They praised God by saying, "Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life."

Act_17:30  "God overlooked the times when people didn't know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

Act_20:21  I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.

Rom_2:4, 5  Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don't you realize that it is God's kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act? … Since you are stubborn and don't want to change the way you think and act, you are adding to the anger that God will have against you on that day when God vents his anger. At that time God will reveal that his decisions are fair.

2Co_7:9, 10  But I'm happy now, not because I made you uncomfortable, but because the distress I caused you has led you to change the way you think and act. You were distressed in a godly way, so we haven't done you any harm. … In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death.

2Co_12:21  I'm afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.

2Ti_2:25  He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

Rev_2:5, 16  Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don't change. … So return to me and change the way you think and act, or I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword from my mouth.

Rev_3:3, 19  So remember what you received and heard. Obey, and change the way you think and act. If you're not alert, I'll come like a thief. You don't know when I will come. … I correct and discipline everyone I love. Take this seriously, and change the way you think and act.

Rev_16:9  They were severely burned. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They would not change the way they think and act and give him glory.

  Repentance is a remarkable characteristic of John 3:3 born-again followers of Christ.

EBB4