30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 24 36-49 COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES 19 05May2022 Luke 24 47 Repent and be converted
📖 Luke 24:36-49
19 – 05May2022 – Repent and be converted - Luke 24:36-49 - COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES - Bible reading: Matthew 18:3-4
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are calling us to have a total turnaround to enter Your kingdom. We are to submit to Your authority over us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
Here we see the specific instructions given by the Lord Jesus to His disciples, as He commissions them to be His witnesses.
Luke 24:46-49 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Repentance leads to conversion.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
To repent is to turn our back to the kingdom of satan and come into the kingdom of Jesus. If we have not refused and rejected the previous kingdom of evil we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This is the understanding and application of repentance.
When we come into the kingdom of Jesus, we surrender and submit to His rule and authority over us. This is where repentance is complete.
There is no area of privacy for ourselves anymore in the kingdom of Jesus. When we come into the kingdom of Jesus, He owns us completely. We become a Doulos of Jesus.
Some have struggled to accept this relationship with Jesus, of being His Doulos. This is the reason why they become hindrances to the gospel of Jesus.
Acts 26:18-20 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' (19) "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, (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.
Doing the works that are befitting repentance is when there is conversion. This requires submission to the authority of Jesus over our lives. If we are not willing to submit to the authority of Jesus over us, then conversion is questionable.
This is what John the Baptist, told the religious leaders, who came to him for baptism.
Matthew 3:8-10 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, (9) and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (10) And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire .
Repentance leading to conversion is where we submit our everyday life choices to God. This is the result or the fruit of repentance. If this fruit of repentance is not evidenced in us, then the tree has no reason to exist, but must be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Do we see, friends, the seriousness of this matter of repentance leading to conversion?
This entire matter of repentance and conversion can be learnt from children.
Matthew 18:3-4 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (4) Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is making it very clear that if we do not go through repentance leading to conversion, then we do not have a place in the kingdom of heaven.
We can learn trust and obedience from children. Yes, children are, at times, disobedient and rebellious, but it is not difficult to train a child.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Children have the quality of humility that allows them to trust and obey the things that are told to them. This is the quality that we must have, to be converted. If we have not surrendered our ‘self’ to God and are not willing to trust and obey Him, then we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Christian life follows this fundamental premise that we surrender and submit to the authority of God over our lives. This is why we must call people to repent and be converted. It is only then that they are in the kingdom of God. This is the commission that is given to us.
Thought to ponder
Many are called but few are chosen. Matthew 20:16