Reading this morning in Acts 13 I am reminded that Repentance is not just for me. Paul and Barnabas were in Pisidia at Antioch and were asked to speak to the Jews there. Paul stood and spoke of the gospel and in doing so, was so compelling that the Jews asked him to come back the next week and speak the same once again.

“⁴²As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. ⁴³And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.” — Acts 13:42-43 (ESV)

How is that for evangelism. You speak once and then are asked to come and speak the same again the following week. Paul and Barnabas were certainly accepted as the bringers of the gospel and it was well received.

And then the following Sabbath came.

“⁴⁴The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.” — Acts 13:44-45 (ESV)

Here we see that the Jews were only interested in receiving for themselves. They were not interested in giving to others, only receiving. And then Paul and Barnabas rebuked them.

“⁴⁶And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.’” — Acts 13:46 (ESV)

There is the lesson. God has provided for me, yes. He also provides for you, and you, and you, and you. It is my role to get that provision to you in the form of evangelism. I am to bring the gospel to you and make forgiveness available for your repentance. I am not the only one that is given forgiveness and I have to be willing to and take action to ensure that you are provided for with this in mind. Repentance and forgiveness are NOT just for me, but for thee as well.

What are you out there hording for yourself? Are you taking on things and celebrating them and denying others the same opportunity or offerings? What if you provided for others and allowed for their chance at forgiveness and repentance and remember that it is NOT just for you?

I am reading this morning in Acts 5 and find where the apostles of Jesus were arrested, charged, and jailed for their obedience to Him. They were out preaching the gospel, jailed, and then freed, and went right back to preaching the gospel. Their defense, they were following the will of God and would not apologize for it. They even brought forth the treatment of Jesus for doing the same and pointed out His elevation for His actions.

“²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.’” — Acts 5:27-32 (ESV)

What a testament for us as followers of Christ to hear how the apostles followed Him regardless of the consequences. They were outspoken and deliberate in their actions. They did not waver from the task of obeying Christ. They were not deterred by the prospect of negative worldly consequences. They were encouraged to and obeyed.

I have to remember that I have a larger purpose in this world than what people are able to see. I have to be willing to do that which is right in the name of Christ regardless of the worldly consequences. I must be repentant for the actions I take that are contrary to the will of God and for His glory. That repentance will lead to a cleared mind and heart for Christ and the work he has for me. In doing so I will be rewarded for the work I do for Him. I must obey.

What work have you done that you may need repentance for? Are you in concert with the will of God in your life for His glory? What if you were to repent for those things contrary to His will and obeyed His will in your life?

I have a job to do as a follower of Christ.

“⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” — Luke 24:45-47 (ESV)

And there I it is in verse 47 above. I am to proclaim “repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. I am to spread in the name of Jesus to all the world.

Before I am able to proclaim, I have to know and understand. I am to understand the scripture, not just read and recite, but truly understand. I am to study it and know my role and how to achieve it through the name of Jesus and proclaim to the rest of the world.

It is pretty simple for me to go into the world and proclaim that I am a follower of Jesus. It is something else to proclaim His glory, the gospel, and the repentance required for salvation. I have seen too many that put on that they are followers, only to live their lives and not be concerned with the fate of those around them. They are the “#Jesus” group that say all the right things, but when it comes time to do the work for Christ, they seem to be missing in action. I am not speaking of those that are not part of the non-profit group that seem to not be there when the non-profit needs something. I am speaking of those that when called on in everyday life to care for and demonstrate love for others, seem to be missing. I speak of those that are more concerned with themselves and what others think of their “#Jesus” postings. Those are the ones that seem to be lacking in the carrying out of the task Jesus gave to “Go therefore and…” (Mathew 28:19, ESV).

Where are you in the crowd of Christ followers? Are you one that claims but is missing in the doing area? What if you were to proclaim the Gospel, Repentance, and Forgiveness when the need arises?

“³¹And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³²I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’” — Luke 5:31-32 (ESV)

I read this passage in Luke this morning and was immediately reminded that it is me, a sinner, who should be seeking forgiveness through repentance. I am a sinner and will always be. Jesus came for me to give me the chance to be with Him.

I will say that I have looked at this passage in Luke from the perspective of I am to engage with sinners so that I have the opportunity to present the gospel to them so that they too can experience forgiveness through repentance. But this morning I see it from the perspective of Jesus came to be with me, the sinner. He came to offer up salvation to me. He did not come to spend His time with those that were righteous, they should be spending time with Him.

I need to repent daily for those thing I have done and those that I will do. I have to remember and acknowledge that I am a sinner and no better than anyone else. I have to be the example of accountability and responsibility for my sin. I have to demonstrate repentance and learning from those sins. I have to know and make known that I will make mistakes, however I also have a responsibility to not make the same mistakes again. I have to know that I will sin again, although it is my responsibility to avoid the same sins from occurring again as I have learned from them.

Sinners will sin and there is nothing that can be done about it. I am one and will always be. Jesus came to me in spite of my sin, in fact He came because of it. He came to be with me and provide the opportunity for my repentance and forgiveness and salvation. I have a responsibility to accountability to those sins and the overcoming of them to be with Him in glory.

What sins are you committing over again? Are you pretending that you are somehow above others and that Jesus should be spending time with you thanks to your righteousness? What if you admitted daily that you are a sinner and take responsibility to accountability for those sins to demonstrate your need and reliance on Jesus?

We do not put the cart before the horse and nor should we place baptism before repentance. My ESV commentary states the following about the verse I am studying this morning: “Repentance had to precede baptism, and thus baptism was not the means by which sins were forgiven but rather was a sign indicating that one had truly repented.”

“⁴John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” — Mark 1:4 (ESV)

As I review this verse and the passage, I am reminded that baptism is not that which saves. It is the repentance of and the forgiveness of sin from God and our acceptance of His salvation that does it. Baptism is just an outward sign to all that the other has taken place.

Baptism is a very personal and public thing and it should be taken seriously. It is personal in that it is a representation of the new relationship with Christ and it is public in that it shows the world that relationship exists. Before baptism, the repentance must take place and that is why I am very much a proponent of a discussion with a brother or sister in Christ before the act of baptism. This is not to find a reason to stop baptism, but more to confirm that the order of things are correct for the individual. They need to be fully aware that there are no powers in the water and that the act of baptism is not what gets it done. It is a demonstration of the repentance that has occurred and the relationship that has been cultivated.

What reasons are you aware of for baptism? Are/did you get baptized in hopes that something in you would change? What if you worked to be repentant and developed a relationship with Christ and simply allowed your baptism to show it?

“¹⁰Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹’I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” — Matthew 3:10-11 (ESV)

John the Baptist is carrying out the baptism of those coming to him. He is very open and transparent with his actions in that it is no secret that he is baptizing in the name of Christ who is coming after him. John is carrying out the work he has been tasked with by God and makes sure that everyone knows there is more to this than just the baptism with water.

Jesus is to come and in his work will wash away all of the sins of the world. He will provide something that the waters of baptism cannot, the Holy Spirit. When baptized and taking on repentance as an ongoing action, the Holy Spirit will walk with me in any and all situations. I have a guide and a protector with me and that guide is there in the name of Christ.

Now there are those that repent in words only and then are baptized for the world to “see” and then they enter back into the deceptive world from which they came. For these, there is no ongoing action of repentance and therefore what they receive in return is fire and devastation.

“¹²His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” — Matthew 3:12 (ESV)

Jesus knows who is with Him in their heart and who is only there on the surface. At first glance the numbers are great and the bounty is overflowing, but with the threshing of the wheat, the outer husk is cast away and burned up and that which is on the inside is cared for and harvested for the good of all and the glory of God.

I have to remember to do the search of my heart each day and repent for all that I have done and all that I will do. Yes, all that I will do, for as I know, I am human and will continue to make the mistakes humans make. No matter how hard I try, I will still fail and will sin for that is what I am, a sinner. I seek repentance at every turn to be sure that I am in line with the tasks that God has for me and that I will have the Holy Spirit walking with me all the way.

What does your repentance get you? Are you repenting on the surface only to have that surface destroyed, leaving you wondering what is next? What if you truly repented to have the Holy Spirit walk with you in any and all circumstances?

I have seen too many times where someone has asked for forgiveness or professed to being “sorry” for something only shortly thereafter commit a similar if not the same act they had before. This diminishes the action of repentance or the profession of apology.

“⁸Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” — Matthew 3:8 (ESV)

This account from John the Baptist’s baptisms is so telling. Here the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming to be baptized for the “world” to see. They were coming to “outwardly show” that they were “men of God”. John, called them out. He made sure everyone could and would hear that they were there. They were being baptized and that they would be accountable to what the baptism represented.

The reality was that this act of baptism for the Pharisees and Sadducees was just that, an act. It was to be a public display to cover all of the covert actions that they truly engaged in.

“⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” — Matthew 3:7 (ESV)

The “viper” was cunning and slithery and seemed always to be working in the shadows. The was the representation of the Pharisees and Sadducees that John was referring. They always had an angle and the bulk of the time it was they who were truly up to no good although outward appearances “showed” a different picture.

Repentance is an outward demonstration of an inward change. The change was to bring glory to God in any and all situations. Not meant for the one time, or only when the “public” was watching. Repentance was an ongoing action based on the inward change in the life of the individual. That ongoing action was first outwardly demonstrated to the public by being baptized and having the past washed away to show the clean start moving forward.

I have to remember that just repenting is not the end of the action, but the beginning and that beginning is each and every day. Repentance is something that happens at all times and in all situations. I am bearing fruit as an outward example of the inward change to follow Jesus.

What is your example of repentance showing to the world? Are making a visual demonstration for the sake of everyone to “see” and then backing away into the shadows for covert actions? What if you changed, and stayed in the light for all to see every move and made those moves about glorifying God at every turn?

I have been chosen by God. I have been adopted by Him. I am an heir to heaven. I have the opportunity to be given authority by God. I only need accept, and use His authority for His glory. And that may mean I am treated unfairly and poorly here in this world. But:

“⁴Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” — Revelation 20:4 (ESV)

Here I see that the martyrdom has been and will continue. And that it is not and was not just me that was impacted, there were many before and many that will come after me, and therefore a precedent and an example. I have to remember that I am not and was not alone. I am loved by God and chosen by Him. I am His and He will protect and care for me in all. I will reign regardless of what goes on in this world.

Jesus came to die for me so that I may have eternal life. And what am I to do with that life, honor and glorify Him through the spreading of His word regardless of the situation or circumstance and know that He will care for my all in all. I have been given the authority to do so and therefore I should be using that authority.

I may be persecuted for even knowing God and more so for exercising the authority given to me, and I should look to have that heaped on me knowing that I am doing right and will be protected and rewarded. Regardless of the consequences faced here in this world, it is not here that I am looking to find reward, it is in heaven seated with Jesus.

What reign are you looking for? Are you looking to be more here in this world? What if you were to simply do the work of God and realize your reign in heaven after exercising the authority given by God?

Today I find myself in a position where I feel that I am simply in this world to do as I am told, and even when pointed out as incorrect, I am still treated as though I do not have a say. I feel as though I have no voice and even when I do have the opportunity to speak, those words are falling on deaf ears or as I mentioned just yesterday “I feel like I am speaking to a wall”.

The thing is, I am looking at the idea that I don’t even really exist except to do what others tell me, even when what they tell me is wrong. I should be looking at things in such a manner that I listen to God and God only. I may not have authority here in in this world, but I do in the name of God as I do His work for His glory.

“²⁶The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, ²⁷and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” — Revelation 2:25-26 (ESV)

Above are the words of Jesus in writing to the Church in Thyatira. Although, I look at them as more of a rallying cry for me in my struggle with the position I am in today. I have to remember that my authority does not come from man. It does not come from doing the will and work of man in this world. I gain authority through my works done in the name of and for the glory of God. I am my father’s son, and there is where I get my authority. I am given authority from my Father, God.

I am in this world to do the work of God. I have work to do as man in man’s world, but whether anyone accepts me or my existence is of no consequence. I will sleep just fine when I know that I have offered my recommendations and provided feedback and given it my all, even when others don’t seem to be receptive. I have to remember that I may simply be planting a seed that will need several days, months, or even years to germinate and grow and flower. I may be long gone and yet someone may finally remember that they heard somewhere an idea that just might work. For that I have to be satisfied and know that when I have done in the name of God, I have done the work in route to authority in His name.

What authority are you seeking that cannot be given by man? Are you looking to be heard in the world of man? What if you simply sought to bring glory to God and do His works and allowed Him to provide authority to you in His name?

I have been given authority by God and I have the duty to maintain that authority for the glory of God in all that I encounter. I have to be diligent not to fall into the trap of giving up that authority for the consequence is dire.

“⁶And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day — ⁷just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” — Jude 1:6-7 (ESV)

There other examples in God’s Word of the giving up of the authority given by God; the Israelites worshiping the golden calf and cast into the chasm and all those other than Noah destroyed by the flood. These all had the idea that they knew better and could hold their own if they gave into their desires and abandoned the authority given to them by God.

I see every day similar things happening in this world. Maybe not to first glance are they demonstrating that abandoning, but look closer. The rioting in the streets in the name of rights, the destruction of property to protest someone’s good fortune, and the refusal to own up to mistakes and taking responsibility for actions. All of these demonstrate a look to self and self interest as opposed to the glory of God in all things. This abandoning of the movement to the glory of God is the giving up of the authority given by God and will end in punishment from God.

I have been entrusted to use the authority give me by God for His glory. I have a duty to do so and take that very seriously. I find myself in positions where I hold the line for what is right for others only to be treated as though I have somehow abandoned my rights and deserve to be treated as a lowly less that authority. I know that it is only those that are insecure in their own authority that put down others, but the sting is still pretty gruesome when it happens to me.

I must remain in God and in His authority to demonstrate the authority given to me. I have to remember that authority, take it seriously, know it is given for His glory, and use it accordingly or lose it. If I am not careful, I will lose that authority give and then I am accountable for the consequences of my inaction to embrace and use that authority for the glory of God.

What authority are you aware of that has been given to you? Are you looking to self and self interest as opposed to bringing glory to God? What if you were to embrace the authority given by God and used it accordingly so as to avoid losing it and reaping the consequences of abandoning that authority?