The Divine Command and Invitation

“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God (repentance); for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” Hosea 14:1-4

Returning to the LORD is synonymous with repenting.

“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3, 5

Repentance is not just a one-time fix all. No, we must return to the LORD if we at all wane from Him. We must abide in intimate union with Him (John 15:1-6; Revelation 3:20). He wants to dine and to sup with His children (John 21:12; Revelation 3:20).

Throughout Israel’s history, through which we are to learn, the LORD called them back to Himself from their sin (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Even in their vile, hard-hearted rebellion, God called His people to repent – to “return” to Him. He has not changed (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Today the LORD still beckons and beseeches us to present our bodies a living sacrifice to Him (Romans 12:1).

When we remain in close fellowship with Christ, our hearts remain soft and pliable. This is the divine intention for His children.

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:24-27

The reason God unites us with Him in the new birth is to take us from among the lost and bring us to His land, sprinkling clean and cleansing water upon us, delivering us from all idolatry, granting us a new heart, putting His Spirit in us, taking away those hardened places, and giving us an heart of flesh so that we walk in His Words and do them.

If we don’t confess any sin we may have committed, our hearts will become hardened against the LORD.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:12-15

This invitation to return to Him is a divine invitation that our LORD delights to see come to pass. Yet first we must realize that we are separated from Him. There are so few who lead and who write books today in Christ’s name who preach on the sins listed in Scripture or repentance. So, most churchgoers have no conviction of sin much less the quickening to repent.

Jesus Christ says:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Why remain in our sins since they are dealt with at the cross? Why not be honest and admit, confess, and receive divine grace to overcome?

There’s no reason to carry the heavy burden of sin and the associated guilt it brings. Returning to the LORD and relinquishing any sin that may have been committed is essential to resting in Christ our LORD.

Did the Father not establish His holy “throne of grace” where we freely receive His mercy (undeserved forgiveness) and grace (overcoming power; divine enablement)? Because of Christ’s precious blood, does the LORD not beckon and invite His children to “come boldly”?

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

As seen in this Hebrews passage, due to the “finished,” perfect work of Christ, our sin debt is “paid in full” and therefore the only reason a child of God would retain any sin is due to not taking God up on His “benefits,” including the forgiveness of sins (John 19:30; Psalms 103:2-3, 11).

The obedience of faith, repentance, confession of sin, and abiding in Christ are essential (Luke 13:3, 5; John 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 1:9, etc.). God has conditions for the application (applying) of the blood of Jesus. One must meet those requirements.

The LORD tells us in His Word that He is not willing that even one of His children perish (2 Peter 3:9).

Fellowship and Fullness of Joy

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2:1  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:3-2:2

It’s not really that difficult and boils down to who we truly love the most – the LORD or ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). What excuse shall we have on that Day? We simply must lay down our lives afresh, bringing our words of confession before Him – drawing nigh to Him and He promises to draw close to us as we do (James 4:7-11).

To the remnant who remain, who “abide” with and in Christ, all our sins are washed away in the blood of the Lamb! (John 15) They truly fear the LORD and therefore will confess all sin and receive His mercies.

“3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies … For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:3-4, 11-12

Honesty Goes a Long Way with God

As it was when John the Baptist preached to the false religionists of his day, lame moral coward counterfeits hate when they are called to man-up and render real repentance and the fruit of good works to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10).

Recently I was blessed to serve with a brother in Christ who just got out of prison. He had murdered someone and was in jail since 1988. He’s a vibrant brother who loves Jesus. God is “Holy, holy, holy,” and so those who hate someone are just as guilty as if they had literally killed someone (1 John 3:14-15). Those who look on someone else in order to lust have already committed adultery in their hearts and are just as guilty before the Almighty as if they had done such (Matthew 5:28). This begs the question:

What stone have you and I to throw? (John 8:7-11)

Jesus scattered the religionists with what He said to the crowd of Pharisees who had thrown the adulterous woman at His feet. The Son of God said: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7) They were gone. Those who unduly condemn others will be separate from Christ who came to forgive all men. Self-righteousness is sure damnation (Matthew 21:31). Those who vainly believe they are in and of themselves righteous and therefore condemn others, will be scattered into eternal damnation (Luke 18:9-14; Romans 2:1-7; James 2:13). All those condemning men who were religious leaders fled the scene. Only the humbled woman whose sin was revealed realized her great need of the Savior’s mercy. She was the only one left there with Christ. In eternity, the only people who are with Christ will be those willing to admit their sin and fall upon the mercy of the LORD in repentance and returning. Jesus taught that honesty goes a long way with God (Luke 8:15; Proverbs 28:13). They come boldly before His throne of grace and mercy as needed.

“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” John 8:7-11

We should answer His call today to lay down our lives afresh (repentance). This is so we can meet and know Him now as merciful Savior and LORD and not later as our Judge. Each one of us has this choice to make. None of this (having a real relationship with Christ) requires or pertains to the church attendance or other religious activities so many pastors today have made important. Fellowshipping with Him and His beloved body is to be “daily” not weekly – it’s to be perpetual (Acts 2:42-47).

WHAT’S the Difference?

See if you can discern this truth …. “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” (2 Corinthians 12:21) …

There’s no mystery to the fact that we have all sinned even after He found and saved us. Yet, only some choose to repent – return to the LORD and thereby be delivered from sin (Hosea 14:1-2). “Have not repented” is the telling difference. Those who truly repent – turn back to the LORD and amend their ways – are promised forgiveness, fulness, and eternal glory with Christ.

Have you repented – returned to Christ’s feet in brokenness and humility? (Matthew 5:3; 18:3-4)

To Cover or to Confess

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

There’s a Time Limit on His Invitation

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Prayer: Holy Father in Heaven, thank You so much for sending Your only begotten Son for the whole world and for my sins. This moment, I choose to return to You. I lay it all down and give my life into Your holy hands. Into Your hands I submit my spirit – the whole of who I am that You made me to be. Jesus please still me. Please help me to slow down this life You have given me and to sit before You to commune with You. I love You my LORD Jesus and thank You for Your unspeakable gift of salvation! In Jesus’ name, amen!

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