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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
Who needs repentance?
Just unbelievers only?
Those who feel that do not need any repentance are those who may need it most. Where is the cry for national repentance by God's true servants?
Do those who claim to be Christians just ignore their faults and weaknesses, and go on living according to the fleshly tendencies?This unspoken concept is amazing because of the irony of it. Are those who claim to be Christians, and embrace belief in Jesus Christ as their Savior, exempt from sin?
Yes, their sins - if truly repented of - are covered in the blood of Jesus. However the struggle to rid our minds and spirit goes on against the sin principle that still functions in us. If these habits and natural carnality are not fought against constantly, we will drift away from Christ, and will slowly become calloused and unreceptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
In reading countless comments and discussions about the conditions of what is occurring in the world and America over the last several years, this writer has not seen even the word "repentance" in print. Granted, I have now seen all that has been written. However, is seems ironic and sad to me that I have not seen a single reference to repentance. At the least one must say that surely time and chance would reveal the word repentance at least one time.
In the sample prayer Jesus spoke to the disciples Jesus included the words "forgive us our trespasses". If this is a sample prayer to followers of Jesus at that time, is it not also instruction to those in His church of today to go and do likewise?
Was his prayer for the twelve only? Asking for forgiveness presupposes that there will be trespasses by His believers, and that, as His disciples, should they not preach and admonish the same? Will the ungodly and unsaved repent unless they are told what it is and that is required? And will we as believers become perfect without reminders of our obligation to "grow in grace"?
We will grow more like the world rather than in righteousness. Is it any wonder that our world and society seems to be unraveling day by day? And this...by those who are called to be examples and leading others out of sin?
It remains an important question. How it is answered may determine the destiny of
many. The city of Nineveh was warned by Jonah, and it repented. One greater than Jonah has appeared. Will repentance be preached and practiced again?
I had written earlier and asked the question, "whatever happened to repentance?" If it cannot be found, and preached again, the future seems dark indeed.
"The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, Someone more and greater than Jonah is here!" - Matthew 12:41 (AMP)
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