Repent first

November 23, 2018 — kleinfrans

What was the first sermon that Jesus preached ? Mark 1:15 (and Matt 4:17) REPENT, for the kingdom of God is at hand. I am not going to even attempt an exegesis of the text; many fine theologians have done this for us. See thoughts by John Piper here on what repentance is.

What I would like to point out is the order of things. Repentance comes first. Nothing matters in the eyes of God without the repentance part happening first.

Nothing. 

Your good deeds / social justice marauding (yes, the grace offered is stolen by a burden of works)/ giving away all your possessions and “following” the prophet counts for nada in God’s eyes.  Your status remains unrepentant until you…Repent.

Repent first. Repent from what ? Your sins. You are a fallen creature. By nature you rebel against God. By nature you consider yourself to be above God. Stop it. Repent. Bare your soul before God and admit to your sins. Repent.

Repent first.

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