Is Repentance An Option?

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Hope you guys are doing well. The question for the day is this. Is repentance optional? In the Christian life? Is repentance optional in the Christian life?

We want your calls: 866-34TRUTH-866-348-7884.

Now, there are a variety of opinions on this whole issue, but one of the opinions that I believe is pretty positive. popular really in the United States, not so much around the world. Is not only the once saved always saved, but it also goes to a deeper extent with that, where many of those people believe that if you say a prayer when you're 12, 13, 14, 15 years old, You can be 60 years old and you can completely turn away from the Lord. You can say, I no longer believe in God or anything like that. And they say, You're still saved because you said that prayer.

Now, there are other people who say, Well, yes, I'm once saved. I believe in once saved, always saved. But what they'll also say is this: they'll say, If you were truly saved, then Jesus is going to change you in your life. And they'll say, if you say that prayer, or if you say you believe in Jesus and then you turn away from it. Then you were never really saved in the first place.

And then there's the third group of people who would be under the Arminian, or they would say you could actually lose your salvation. And I don't like that term lose your salvation because they wouldn't say you bump your knee one day and then you lost your salvation. But what they say is that you can willingly walk away from Jesus.

So, in other words, that Jesus gave you the gift of salvation. And yes, it is a gift. But they would say that you can give that gift back. And there are Bible verses on each side for this. And so as I start off, I'm going to look at some of the.

Bible verses for the once saved, always saved. And some of them are John 10, 28 through 29. And Jesus says, I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Well, the other side would say, You're right, nobody can snatch you out of Jesus's hand, but you can choose to walk away. Romans 8, 38 through 39, Paul asserts that nothing in creation can separate believers from the love of God and Jesus Christ. And so the other side would say, yes, nothing can separate you, but you can separate yourself, kind of like in that last verse. And then in 1 John 5, 13, the Apostle John assures believers. That they have eternal life, and the uh, the verse it goes like this: I have written these things unto you, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Now, the other side, these are some of the verses that the Arminians or the people who would say you could lose your salvation would say: Hebrews 6:4 through 6. And this passage describes the impossibility of restoring to repentance those who have once experienced. The heavenly gift, and then fall away, suggesting a loss of salvation. And some people would say, Well, he was speaking to the Jews, but it seems pretty clear in Hebrews 6, Hebrews 6 that he was speaking to Christians. What about this?

Hebrews 10, 26 through 31, where it talks about the fearful expectation of judgment for those who sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, having trampled the Son of God. And they're not talking about messing up, but we all mess up, but they're talking about consistently living in sin. Or 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 27, where Paul is using a sports analogy and he says that he disciplines his body, lest after preaching to others, he himself Should be disqualified.

So, in other words, if there was anybody who was saved at that time, if there was anybody who was on fire for Jesus, it would have been the Apostle Paul. But he says he keeps his body under subjection so that he too will not be cast away or thrown into hell. And it goes on and on and on. But we've got a Shane out of Mebben, North Carolina. Are you there, Shane?

Hey, Mike. You doing all right? Doing well. And Shane, we always like to support Christian businesses. You're in the Burlington-Mebben area, and you're kind of a fixer-upper handyman guy, and you love the Lord.

You go to our church. And so if people need something done in that area, how would they get in touch with you? Uh probably just call my number, but I'm not sure. put that on blast on the radio, but I can give it to you if it's all right. It's three thousand six two one four six six seven two.

Also fix computers for free. That's my ministry.

Now it's not free parts. I'm not rich, so you're going to have to buy your own part, but I do all the labor for that free. Businesses I do charge a little, but private citizens. Christians and people like that, I give them a break and do all the labor for free. It's just my ministry that I do.

That's awesome, man. And so you got his number. Shane, I know I told you about this a little bit before the show. What are your thoughts? And I don't know if you remember the question.

The question was this. Is repentance necessary for the Christian? Yeah. I've been listening. I've got about three or four scriptures.

I'm trying to rattle them off and go through them real quickly and kind of emphasize in the words. But the first one that comes to mind is: if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

So Confessing your sins is an ongoing process because you don't You don't just stop sinning because you're saved.

So, in order for those sins to be forgiven, you have to confess them. And if you don't recognize it as a sin, and as you're Grow in maturity with your with your walk with the Holy Spirit and God and Jesus Christ, you you learn to discover, well, that's a sin, I shouldn't do that, you know, and and and there'll be conviction laid on your heart. He also says, Whoever conceals their sin, this is Proverbs 2. 28:13, whoever conceals their sin does not prosper, but the one who confesses. And renounces Yeah, yeah.

He also says in Chronicles, Second Chronicles 30, that's 9b. For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face From you, if you return to him. That's encouragement for those that have stepped away, and many people are in that walk of life where they grew up in the church and were. Saved, and then they just kind of found themselves in.

you know, sinful lifestyles and and this is encouragement that there is There is a way to return back to the Lord. You know, we've heard the story, of course, of the prodigal son, and of course, that mentions that as well. One particular path, it's just real short, and it just kind of all the time I It's Matthew 3:8, and it says, produce fruit. in keeping with repentance.

So, if you truly have a repentant heart, it's more of a way of life and a mentality that you go about understanding that you are going to continue to sin, but you try your best not to. And if you do sin, repent from it, try to walk away from it, and it's very. least confess. those sins in order to be forgiven for them. That's kind of where I stand on the whole matter.

Yeah, yeah. And so I like what you said, Shane, about how if we do sin, if we mess up, and by the way, it's not an if, it's when, we all mess up. The Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But it also, the good news is, is that it says that the wages of sin is death, but. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. But there also is going to be a change once you do become a Christian. And how has Jesus changed your life, Shane?

Well, in a number of ways. It's just. Um It it's more of a mindset. Than anything, and it's a mindset of not letting myself get angered by the actions of others. That's probably my biggest struggle, just sheer confessing right here.

I allow others to get me angry and get enraged at their behavior and their actions, and especially in the times that we live, The natural reaction with what happened to Charlie Kirk is to get angry about it. But we have to understand that everybody has sinned and made mistakes, and that people deserve forgiveness. through Christ only. And that's the only way we're going to get forgiveness, and that's the only way that that we're going to get close to God because we're not worthy of that. And we we have to uh to To really subscribe to that in our hearts, you know, to try to.

Lessen, you know, be angry less and try to be more of a forgiving heart and follow the perfect model of Jesus Christ. And that everybody struggles with that. You know, nobody's perfect. We all struggle with it. Everybody has their their struggles in different avenues, and I just try to focus on that.

And And he's really worked on me in the last probably month or two with that. I'm sure we've all been going down the road and the highway.

Somebody's driving while texting and woof. Absolutely. And Shane, we're about to go to a break. I want to thank you for the call. We've got a James out of Roxboro, North Carolina, and we want to hear your stories.

What has Jesus saved you out of? But is repentance necessary for the Christian life? We'll be back. 866-34-TRUTH, 866-348-7884. This is Michael's WIP.

We'll be right back. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. All right, this is Michael Zwick. I am back, 866-34TRUTH 866-348-7884. Is repentance necessary in the Christian life?

We've got a James out of Roxboro, North Carolina. But I wanted to give you guys a little context for what I was talking about before. Colossians chapter 1, verse 22, it says, In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. If. You continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister.

So it says, If you continue in the faith, so I guess we do have to endure until the end, at least until that verse. But, James, out of Roxborough, what do you say about repentance being necessary for the Christian life? First of all, I want to um agree with Shane. We are still going to stand. when we become Christians.

But we have to acknowledge that then. And secondly, I want to go ahead and say: what is true repentance? True repentance is sincere remorse. For past actions leading to a fundamental change in one's mind, heart, and actions. to turn away from wrongdoing and toward God.

Now Ezekiel 3 21 Um Let us know that, nevertheless, if you warn a righteous man, Righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, then he shall surely live because he took the warning. Also, you will have delivered your soul. David also does in Psalm 51. Saying, God, have mercy on me, a true remorseful. Of his sin.

and speaking up for his sin. John and Luke Um chapter three, verse three. Is preaching baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

So, there has to be repentance in order to remit those sins. Jesus also says In Luke chapter 13, verse 3, I tell you, no. But unless you all repent, you will likewise perish. All right, and Jesus goes on and says, In Luke chapter 24. Verse 47, there is no forgiveness of sin.

Um unless you repent. And actually he says there is forgiveness of sins all who repent. say that correctly. And Luke, um Also, in Acts.

So let me stop you there. I just want to make sure I understand what you're saying.

So you're saying if you're just going to openly live in sin, almost like a pig who just bathes in mud and you don't care, you said, well, hey, I said that prayer when I was 15 and I'm going to live like the devil. I'm going to treat people horribly and I'm not going to repent or turn away from my sins. What would you say to that person? I would say Respectfully And really wholeheartedly. I'm going to pray for you because you are on the pathway to hell.

Okay. And what do you say? True repentance means a sincere remorsement. of remorse. of past actions.

That means you have to turn away from that. You have to change your mind, your heart, and actions.

Now are you going to do it all at one time? No. Oh, you're still going to stand? Absolutely. But the difference is you're going to be convicted of your sin once you Yeah.

the mindset of Jesus Christ. But if you wallow in your sin and think it's okay and you're going to get by on it, I'm sorry, you're on a pathway to hell, and that's just the way it is. Yeah, yeah. And so I think sometimes we don't take sin seriously enough. And one of the things that I would say, James, is this: let's say the people who say, hey, Okay, I said a prayer when I was 17.

I'm living like the devil. I'm not repenting. I'm just, I'm, I'm living the exact opposite of the way of a Christian should live, and they believe they're okay. Let's say they're right.

Okay, if they're right and we're wrong, then we've lost nothing because the Bible tells us to repent, but then I guess we're all going to heaven. But If they're wrong. And you truly have to repent of your sins, then there's going to be a lot of people, I believe, who are going to be led to hell. And I fear for the teachers who are teaching that: hey, you said that little prayer when you're 12 or 13, and you can live like the devil no matter how you live. You're going to heaven.

You know, I think when they get to the judgment day, the Lord is going to hold them accountable as well.

Well I I want to respond to what you said, a feeling. does not substitute a fact.

Okay. Feelings don't facts don't care about feelings. The facts are You need to dive into your word. If you're diving into your word every day, you're understanding you have to die to yourself and live in Christ.

Okay. So Saying a prayer in front of a church is not going to save you. All right. If you tend to go back into the same sinful, dreadful ways and feel like there's no and there is no change in your life, not feel, there is no change in your life. There has to be some kind of change in your life in order for you to experience true forgiveness.

and true repentance. And that's the only way. Jesus said it, I did.

So if you have an argument with me, you have an argument with Jesus. There you go. There you go. And James, I want to thank you for the call. I know you're out there working hard, and I knew your dad, and your dad was a great guy, clear day, and we miss him.

But we enjoy. Look forward to seeing you again soon, okay? All right. Well, you have a great day, and God bless you. And I'll be praying for everybody that appears on your network today.

Thank you, sir. Have a good one. We got a Frank out of Burlington, North Carolina. Are you there, Frank? I'm here.

So is repentance necessary in the Christian life? Repentance. It's always been necessary, even in the Old Testament. God said through Ezekiel, Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But that the wicked turns from his way.

and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways to Quiet will you die, O house of Israel? applies to all. people who wish to go to Jesus and be saved. as well as physical descendants of Abraham.

For all of of sin that are worthy of the wages of sin. when she was dead. He dies physically. A given human condition since Adam's fall in the garden. But the system that's God is referring to in Ezekiel 34.

is condition to be trendled.

Well, the wages of sin is death.

Now, in Hebrew, the English word turn from, it's one word in Hebrew which is teshuva, and which literally means to return, and which is often translated in repentance. In biblical contexts, it means returning to God as one's innocent childhood self. This consists not only of regret, but it's a confession and a covenant with God to change one's behavior, to turn away from the sins we have wandered into. True repentance is not just a feeling sorry for our sins, but it's a commitment to turn away from them and then return to practicing them.

Now, notice that is practicing sin. We sin by nature because we're sinners.

So when we fall into sin, that's a forgiven thing because Christ is our advocate, but he will not be mocked.

So you can't just live in a state of sin practice, okay? Lifestyles of sin. And there's the difference. There are. Go ahead.

Yeah, Yahweh got his nuts. slack concerning his promise. as some men count slackness. But he's long suffering toward us, not willing that any Should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:19.

Jesus began his ministry by calling people to repenting, telling That the kingdom of heaven was at hand. That name is David. Demonstrated a person's repentant heart as having a broken and contrite spirit before. Oh God, broke that. Psalm fifty one.

Bottom line is If your heart is not broken, Okay, the same. Because of the love that God has. Demonstrated to us by sending it as one and only begotten son. Die that cruel death on the cross. He took our sins.

It won't be mocked out. You cannot put that death on him a second and third and fourth. Once you've repented, you must stay in repentance. That is to turn away from sin. That's it.

Yeah, and you know, one of the Bible verses that I think a lot of people don't like is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. And we talk about the grace of God and the love of God and the goodness of God, but a lot of people don't want to talk about the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of understanding. Frank, I want to thank you for the call. We've got a Gordon out of Dayton, Ohio coming up next, 866-34TRUTH, 866-348-7884. We will be right back on Truth Talk Live.

Truth Talk Live. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. All right, this is Michael Zwick. We are back on Truth Talk Live. 86634 TRUTH.

866-348 7884. We've got a Gordon and then a Rick Pearson up next. Are you there, Gordon? Yes, I am. You're welcome, out of Dayton, Ohio.

So let me ask you, Gordon: is repentance necessary in the Christian life? Absolutely, it is. And this I'm used to an old 70 year old. Ordinary man who to the grace of My Saviour Woke me up. Um and on April Fool's Day April 1st, 1970.

I accepted Christ as well. As my Savior. And unfortunately for the longest time Um I was among believers. and was taught that Once you were saved That No one could pluck you from the hands of the Lord. And Although I agree with that to somewhat.

I do know that while somebody may not be able to pluck you from the Lord. Satan has a way of getting people where you walk away on your own. I have to stand in agreement with you when you said those. that teaches That You don't need repair. Patents.

Um wow. I think there's going to be a little warmer place for them to spend eternity.

Okay. Um. Uh I want to tell you that uh again as as I grew In in faith. And it's kind of ironic that I accepted Christ on April 4th. Fool's Day 'cause I got teased about it for years.

But then as I got older, I began to understand just what a fool I really had been. Because the more That I Got into God's Word. Mm-hmm. And what I do. dealt with it personally.

Mm-hmm. I began to see things that I did not Z when I was first saved. And at age seventy, every time I open the truth, God's word. I'm shown something I need to know.

Okay. One of the things that Uh is unfortunate. is that So many people, you know, they talk about how good God is. Mm-hmm. And I try to tell people that I share my Christian walk with That God actually sent his son.

To save us. from the Father's wrath. And people that don't understand, you said just a few minutes ago. That the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Which is true.

And I never feared God. And I don't mean I'm scared to death of him. I have a reverent fear of the Lord. Knowing that Um w with with a s just a thought. He could annihilate every one of us.

And yet through Through his Son, my Savior Jesus Christ, He provided us a way. that we don't have to Uh deal. with his wrath. But at the same token, anybody that really reads the scripture. And I'm sorry I don't I'm driving I don't Have the scriptures in front of me.

But throughout scripture we're told that Uh God, our Father, cannot. look upon sin, he abhors it.

So For the longest time. I would go to the Lord. in prayer And realizing at one point in time You know what? Before I can go to him for anything. I have to repent and ask forgiveness.

And Uh and ask. forget before he'll even look at me. And I think Just want an easy fix, an easy way out. And I just think Thank God so much. That He personally dealt with me personally.

And I go back to when I first accepted Jesus Christ. It is. A personal relationship. And if you don't have that true personal relationship, With Jesus Christ. I'm not sure.

Yeah. people really understand and can personally experience His word. That's it. For that smack in the face, as I call it. that the Lord put in in in my life Uh in my late fifties.

And Um anyway, I guess I've rambled too much. No, no, no, it's good. I mean, it's good because you can have a false assurance of salvation. And I mean, you really can. And I was looking at James chapter 3, verse 1, and I thought a friend of mine texted me and he laughed.

He thought it was funny when you said there's a warmer place for them. But this is what the word says: James 3:1, and I use the King James: it's my brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. Or another verse, or another version says, Let there not be many teachers among you. For you shall receive the greater condemnation. Everybody wants to be a teacher of the gospel now.

But you know what? Not a lot of people want to say, I want to have a harsher judgment. I just want to make sure that before you do, every time I get on the radio, Gordon, I know that it's a privilege, but I also know that there is a burden because if I'm teaching people a false doctrine, God is going to hold me accountable. And Gordon, I want to thank you for the very, very good call. We've got a Rick Pearson out of Canada there.

Are you there, Rick? Yes, Mike, how are you? I'm doing great. Rick is the host of Prophecy USA. And, Rick, your book has actually come out now, is that right?

Yes, it's called America's Josiah Moment, an end time reprieve of things to come. It came out on the sixteenth. and we're already a bestseller, Mike, in two categories on Amazon. Whew, man, that's awesome. That is awesome.

And I've been on your show several times. And, Rick, you are a student of. Of the Bible, but the question is: this: Is repentance optional? in the Christian life. Absolutely.

1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What if we don't confess our sins? Is he still faithful and just to forgive us if we don't confess them? Yeah, the word is no.

So, your relationship with Christ begins first with acknowledging that you're a sinner and He's not. And you need his blood to cleanse you. It says, if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

So even even Paul Who wrote Two-thirds of the New Testament said, I keep my body. and bring it under subjection. lest that by any means when I have preached to others I should myself become a castaway.

So it it's a daily thing walking with with Christ and Anyone that has been a Christian, I am 71 years old. And I constantly Say things I shouldn't say, and I say, sorry, Lord, I shouldn't have said that. You you live in a constant state Of just asking the Lord to help you not make any mistakes, and He's faithful and just. to forgive us of all our sins, As long as as we don't do it intentionally. And on a continued basis.

You know, you can give God lip service. And want him as your spiritual insurance policy, or you can have him as Lord of Lords when he's lord. Of Lords. That means you're walking, he's walking right along beside you. And as soon as you do something wrong, the Holy Spirit will say, hey, that's not right.

You gotta correct that. and we confess it and just move on.

So I think walking with Christ is Uh A daily walk of Getting a checkup from the NECUP. And confessing your sins, and if you say something to somebody that's wrong. The Holy Spirit will nudge you, and you go to that person and say, Hey, I shouldn't have said that, I shouldn't have done that, I want to apologize. And you confess your faults one to another, and pray ye one for another, that you might be healed. You walk in a continuous state.

Yeah. From the neck up In your mind and in your heart, and keep that relationship with Christ.

solid by confession. Yeah, and you know, one of the things that the folks say who say that you could actually lose your salvation or you could walk away. Or you have to endure until the end, they'll say, well, if you don't believe that, then you pretty much have to throw out Matthew chapter 5. This is what Jesus says, Matthew 5, 27. You have heard that it was said of them of old, that thou shalt not commit adultery.

But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. That was always a tough verse for me, Rick. And it says in verse 29, it says, And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee.

For it is profitable that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Well, if you don't have to live in a state of repentance, if you don't have to turn from your sins, why would Jesus even say that? That's exactly right. In fact, you know, Paul said that. That he would confess his sin, otherwise, he might be a castaway. That word castaway.

is odd odocomas. And when you look in the Dictionary of Bible themes, it means the deliberate and conscious act of turning away from someone or refusing to accept something, that's being offered. God is constantly offering His blood to be poured over your life. to walk under total forgiveness, but we must confess it. And it says here it's a deliberate and conscious act.

there's things in our lives that sometimes we can't see in ourselves. And I think God forgives those things. He is very, very gracious. But if you knowingly Actively. Reject His offer for forgiveness through confession.

You're walking in an atmosphere in disobedience to God, and it separates you from that still small voice that constantly keeps you walking with the Spirit. Yeah, I heard Billy Graham one time say he said if you continue to sin, eventually that voice or that conscience will start to go away. And if that happens, it's not a good thing at all. Rick, what is the name of the book again? It's America's Josiah Moment, an end time reprieve of things to come.

It's on Amazon, or you can get it at our website at rickpearson dot com. And people, if they want to follow you, they just go to Prophecy USA. They can subscribe to your channel. You're on over 120 different channels across the country. And the other thing that I wanted to say is that didn't you say you had a conversation with about how many, what was the guy's name, Earl Roberts?

And he gave you a number of people, a percentage of people that he thought would actually go to heaven or be raptured? About thirty years ago, a friend of mine asked Brother Roberts. If the rapture took place, what percentage of the body of Christ would go up? And he said, well, maybe, maybe 5%. Wow.

He said a lot of people aren't walking with God.

Now, that was his personal opinion. Um You know, all the Two out of seven churches. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. All right, this is Michael Zwick. This is our last 12-minute segment.

I've got a Matthew 10, 32 through 33. It says, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father, which is in heaven. And Rick, you were saying something about two out of the seven churches. Yeah, Mike, when you're talking about end times, Jesus talks about seven churches, which are seven types of believers.

in the end times. And some of them are money oriented, some of them are still involved in sexual activity, some of them are even into bail worship. Uh When you look at Ephesus and Sardis and Pergamus and Tyatira, but two of them. Um Philadelphia? and the Church of Smyrna are two churches that are walking clean before God in their heart.

And Jesus said, Pray that you might be found worthy to escape the tribulation that comes during the last seven years of Earth's existence. before Jesus comes.

So When the virgins in Matthew 25, it says only half the virgins went up and the other half stayed down. They couldn't get through the open door. to the Mary Supper of the Lamb.

So this is this is a statement to me to make sure you're walking clean before God. Make sure what you're watching on television, that you're keeping your thoughts clean, that you're listening for his voice. And be ready for the rapture.

Now, that doesn't mean we have to walk around scared to death, worrying all the time. None of us are worthy. But if we stay under his blood, we walk in his righteousness, not in ours. That's right. And Revelation 3, 5 says, that he that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.

And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. And if he says, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, it says, if you don't overcome, well, I'll leave the judgment to God, but I know how it sounds to me. Rick, the name of the book is America's Josiah Moment. Is that right? Yes, it's an end-time reprieve of things to come.

It's America's. Role in Bible prophecy, and we believe that the United States of America. is not an experiment in democracy. It's a fulfillment of divine proclamation. America is in the Bible.

Well, Rick, I want to thank you for the call. I'll be watching your show and I'm sure reading your book soon. But we've got a Doug out of Greensboro, North Carolina. Are you there, Doug? Yeah, I'm here.

Well, good. Yeah. Is repentance optional in the Christian life? No, um, you know, it of course it's not, um I was listening to the other guys speak and I was I was really uh impressed. with what they were saying.

I think one of the big issues that we think about sometimes in regard to repentance is You know, there are kind of two types of people. You have people on a football team that are playing. And then you have guys who are sitting on the bench. Waiting to get in. Right.

If you're playing um every single play doesn't go exactly right. But you're continually invested mentally, spiritually. Physically, you're invested in what the team is doing. And I think if you're in that regard, if you're in that investment in the kingdom of God, and you're. you're involved in what the Spirit of God is doing.

There's going to be a lot of times where things aren't perfect. In a football game, there are times when one guard is trying to guard another guy and he gets by.

Well, other team members pick him up. And so the issue of repentance there being an issue is that's not really the issue. The issue is I'm going to change quickly with his repentance to fulfill the needs of the kingdom of God. Whereas people who just sit on the bench and they just kind of have fire insurance. that may be an issue because They don't really understand what repentance is for.

if you're not living the life and you're just trying to make it into heaven, Um you know, you don't have enough understanding to even To even get in there and play. And so I would recommend, you know, with people who are concerned about the issues, first of all, really try to develop a relationship with Jesus and And If you have a relationship with him, the Spirit of God will speak to you.

So if the Spirit of God is not speaking to you at all, that's where I would first check. And Certainly if the Spirit of God is not or you're not hearing the Spirit of God, y repentance should be the very first thing you think of. Yeah, absolutely. And Philippians 2:12 says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. There's another verse, Doug, and it says that we love him because he first loved us.

And so if we realize the grace and the goodness of God and all that he's done for us, that he died on the cross, he suffered, he was made to look like a fool in front of everybody, and he did that all for our, all for us. And I've heard it said that he would do it if you were the only person on earth. If we realize how much he's already done for us and how much he loved us, then our lives would change because we love him because he first loved us. Yeah, and and and this may sound crazy, but The Christian life. It's not going to make you change.

But knowing a living God is alive and fellowshipping with him Uh it it Just it causes change. Everybody that came into contact with Jesus they were affected. And when you have a relationship with him, you're affected, and you're affected forever. I have experiences that happened to me forty-five years ago that I still remember. because they were so holy.

You know, and they still affect my life, and I know that there's more, you know. Um I don't worry so much about uh going to heaven. Um as much as I enjoy being with Jesus and and the kingdom of God and and the people of God. the whole life and and I can look and see How much pain he's kept me from by I see in people who are in my situation. 50 years ago, who are still there.

And what they're living in. You know, and and uh So, I look at it in a different context. It's not an issue of. Do I have to repent? I don't care what I have to do to get to know more about Jesus and and the Father.

I'm going to do it. I want to do that. I'm ready to do that. And so If you want to call that repayment have at it but But to me it's It's living with someone that is hard. Holy and still wants to have Fellowship with me.

Yeah, yeah. And um what is that? He we love him because he first loved us. And uh there's this there was an old song, Jeff, and it said, Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me And Jeff, you're actually, you're going to be doing a series pretty soon, but one of the things that you talk about is knowing your identity in Christ.

And so I guess what I kind of hear from you, or as I've gotten to know you, as I've gotten to know you, Doug, that what you've done is that you say when you really get. Intimacy with the Father. And when you really get to know Him, yes, you'll repent, but also you'll feel better about yourself once you realize how Jesus sees you. Yeah, well, see, he he made us. And living when you're living without a spirit, when you're not born of the spirit, you're just a ball of flesh and behavioral situations that you've been conditioned with.

And so you're always reacting. When you're born of the spirit, all of a sudden now you don't have to react to life. you can act. And so the manifestation of the sons of God, I believe, is when the fullness of what Jesus is imparted. In someone has full freedom to manifest That's You think about Jesus, did he react to anything?

He was always acting. He was ministering the gospel. He knew. he knew what was happening when, you know, and it's It's such a better life. to manifest rather than to react all of your life.

You know, it's it's painful to react and it can be Um You know, and it can produce when you think about a life of reaction. It produces sphere. Uh negativity. self-doubt, low self-worth. Because if you're reacting, then your value is going to come from somebody else.

Rather than what God put in you. That's good. And I know that you walk in the prophetic, Doug. You go to Just Like Jesus Ministries every Sunday. You can catch us.

That's where I go as well. It's Just Like Jesus Ministries, 2420 Corporation Parkway, Burlington, North Carolina. I'm going to be speaking this Sunday. The worship starts at 10, and I'll be speaking at 11. And, Doug, I want to thank you for the call.

Also, I wanted to tell you guys that tomorrow at noon, my show will be on If Not For God with Mike Zwick: Stories of Hopelessness. Turned into hope. If you want to make sure to follow Truth Talk Live, you can follow the show or the podcast. If you, anywhere podcasts are available, you can follow me on, I think it's on TikTok, Michaels Wick 4007, Facebook. You can follow me, Michaels Wick as well.

But the main thing is, what are you doing to follow Jesus? Get serious about Jesus. Start reading your Bible. Start praying. Start, you know, repent.

Ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins. It says in his word. It says in his word, if we ask him to forgive us of our sins, he is faithful and he will forgive us of our sins. We have been forgiven. And in the last 30 or 45 seconds, Doug, what do you have to say?

I don't know. I'm so thankful for Jesus and And if anyone's listening. Just call out to him and just ask him to reveal himself to you. He will do it. He absolutely will.

Doug, I hope you have a great weekend. And the listeners of the show, I want to thank you guys for listening today. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is King. And as you hear the music going out, why don't you spend some time praising the Lord this weekend? When praises go up, blessings go down.

When praises go up, blessings come down. And I called you Jeff one time, Doug. But thank you guys. Have a great weekend.