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http://providencehn.com/2010/March_1_2010.pdf
March 1 2010 Repentance Michael Collum
Repentance is a word that seems to have a varied meaning to many people . Since Apostle Paul warned about arguing about words I will not go into the Greek definition at this time . Instead I will take its meaning from its use in scripture and relate from personal experience what works .
It is written that the kindness of God leads us to repentance . Then why do the memories recalled of sermons and teachings on repentance consist of angry men demanding accountability? Perhaps the initial approach is wrong . Anger begets more frustration . In my experience anyway . Perhaps your experience is different .
It is important in repenting to know not so much what we are repenting from but what we are repenting to . It is written the only thing that matters is trust expressing itself through love . It is written again, We love because God loved us first . And also, fear comes from fear of punishment but perfect love casts out all fear, one who fears is not made perfect in love . And we know from that same letter that God is Love .
Quite often it is said once the word love is brought up . The Jewish assertion that one must follow the law to love . But this is not written . What is written . Is obeying God is loving Him back . It is important in this case to distinguish from the commandments of Jesus when He was walking on Earth and the commandments of Moses . There are distinct differences . And it seems once Jesus died . He fulfilled the law . Otherwise feel free to tear the letter of Colossians out of your bible . If the law is still in effect according to a popular Matthew verse . it is preaching heresy that the written code is cancelled . but this is not heresy to me . It is called grace .
As it is written, the power of the devil is death and the power of death is sin and the power of sin is the law . When Jesus was nailed to the cross . The Law was nailed to the cross with Him . This opened up a new path: the law of freedom . This law is not written down like in the old covenant on tablets of stone . But is written on your heart . Yes . You who are born again and living in the new nature by the will of the Father and the revelation, Jesus is the Christ . The Son of the Living God . The covenant is written on your heart .
The written code takes a secondary role in this covenant . It can help you know what God is saying to you and have an idea of what the new life might be . But only God can reveal to you your unique purpose . In the same way Jesus way of interpreting the prophecies seems uncontextual to the passages He quoted . So it may seem you are prooftexting to explain what is written of you . If people do not understand . It doesnt matter . It matters that you and God have an understanding and that this purpose is carried out with trust in God expressing itself towards others in love .
Once you know your purpose and are living in it as the scripture says you have no need of a teacher . The reason why the kingdom Jesus spoke of is where thieves cannot break in and steal and moths cannot destroy because the whole process is dependent on God and not man . The whole church could miss the point of their generation . But Jesus is the vine . The Church is not the vine . So anything is still possible just as in His generation the religious establishment rejected what was written of Him also .
So usually this is the point when some smarty-pants comes along and quotes that Matthew verse and says but Jesus said, I do not come to destroy the law but to fulfill, until all is fulfilled not the least stroke of the pen will fall from the law . One thing here is context . When Jesus died on the cross . He fulfilled all that was written in the book of the law . It is fulfilled . Or as Jesus said as He bled to death It is finished . The statement from Matthew was spoken to those living in the transition period . But more substantially . Jesus speaks of fulfilling the law . This is contrasted with following the law .
Jesus speaks of loving God with everything that you are and to love your neighbour as you would like to be loved . And on this all laws rest . It is written all the commandments are summed up in this rule, love your neighbour as yourself; love does not harm their neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law . Therefore, love does not originate from the law . But the commandments originate from love . As it is written these commandments I give you today for your good .
In operating cross culturally, it is important to understand that love exists on two premises: Mutual respect and conduct and not harming . If causing harm cannot be established, then the opinion it is sin may only be a personal/cultural observation . God is Love to all people because God is Love . God does not show favoritism . God is Love regardless of who we are or what we have done .
There are many definitions of love out there but the good news is: one thing the bible is good for is to help us define what love is . Because this is the substance of our trust in Him . that God feasts on . and all hearts crave .
What is Love?
1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
8-10Love never dies.
13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
John 15:13 (New International Version)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:7-8 (New International Version)
7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:17 (New International Version)
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
1 John 4:16-19 (New International Version)
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19We love because he first loved us.
Conclusion
To love is repentance . It is true and trustworthy to say God is Love. So imitate God, as God loves you . Love others . Live in it . Revel in it . To the praise of His glory .
March 1 2010 Repentance Michael Collum
Repentance is a word that seems to have a varied meaning to many people . Since Apostle Paul warned about arguing about words I will not go into the Greek definition at this time . Instead I will take its meaning from its use in scripture and relate from personal experience what works .
It is written that the kindness of God leads us to repentance . Then why do the memories recalled of sermons and teachings on repentance consist of angry men demanding accountability? Perhaps the initial approach is wrong . Anger begets more frustration . In my experience anyway . Perhaps your experience is different .
It is important in repenting to know not so much what we are repenting from but what we are repenting to . It is written the only thing that matters is trust expressing itself through love . It is written again, We love because God loved us first . And also, fear comes from fear of punishment but perfect love casts out all fear, one who fears is not made perfect in love . And we know from that same letter that God is Love .
Quite often it is said once the word love is brought up . The Jewish assertion that one must follow the law to love . But this is not written . What is written . Is obeying God is loving Him back . It is important in this case to distinguish from the commandments of Jesus when He was walking on Earth and the commandments of Moses . There are distinct differences . And it seems once Jesus died . He fulfilled the law . Otherwise feel free to tear the letter of Colossians out of your bible . If the law is still in effect according to a popular Matthew verse . it is preaching heresy that the written code is cancelled . but this is not heresy to me . It is called grace .
As it is written, the power of the devil is death and the power of death is sin and the power of sin is the law . When Jesus was nailed to the cross . The Law was nailed to the cross with Him . This opened up a new path: the law of freedom . This law is not written down like in the old covenant on tablets of stone . But is written on your heart . Yes . You who are born again and living in the new nature by the will of the Father and the revelation, Jesus is the Christ . The Son of the Living God . The covenant is written on your heart .
The written code takes a secondary role in this covenant . It can help you know what God is saying to you and have an idea of what the new life might be . But only God can reveal to you your unique purpose . In the same way Jesus way of interpreting the prophecies seems uncontextual to the passages He quoted . So it may seem you are prooftexting to explain what is written of you . If people do not understand . It doesnt matter . It matters that you and God have an understanding and that this purpose is carried out with trust in God expressing itself towards others in love .
Once you know your purpose and are living in it as the scripture says you have no need of a teacher . The reason why the kingdom Jesus spoke of is where thieves cannot break in and steal and moths cannot destroy because the whole process is dependent on God and not man . The whole church could miss the point of their generation . But Jesus is the vine . The Church is not the vine . So anything is still possible just as in His generation the religious establishment rejected what was written of Him also .
So usually this is the point when some smarty-pants comes along and quotes that Matthew verse and says but Jesus said, I do not come to destroy the law but to fulfill, until all is fulfilled not the least stroke of the pen will fall from the law . One thing here is context . When Jesus died on the cross . He fulfilled all that was written in the book of the law . It is fulfilled . Or as Jesus said as He bled to death It is finished . The statement from Matthew was spoken to those living in the transition period . But more substantially . Jesus speaks of fulfilling the law . This is contrasted with following the law .
Jesus speaks of loving God with everything that you are and to love your neighbour as you would like to be loved . And on this all laws rest . It is written all the commandments are summed up in this rule, love your neighbour as yourself; love does not harm their neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law . Therefore, love does not originate from the law . But the commandments originate from love . As it is written these commandments I give you today for your good .
In operating cross culturally, it is important to understand that love exists on two premises: Mutual respect and conduct and not harming . If causing harm cannot be established, then the opinion it is sin may only be a personal/cultural observation . God is Love to all people because God is Love . God does not show favoritism . God is Love regardless of who we are or what we have done .
There are many definitions of love out there but the good news is: one thing the bible is good for is to help us define what love is . Because this is the substance of our trust in Him . that God feasts on . and all hearts crave .
What is Love?
1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
8-10Love never dies.
13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
John 15:13 (New International Version)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:7-8 (New International Version)
7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:17 (New International Version)
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
1 John 4:16-19 (New International Version)
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19We love because he first loved us.
Conclusion
To love is repentance . It is true and trustworthy to say God is Love. So imitate God, as God loves you . Love others . Live in it . Revel in it . To the praise of His glory .
