This week we began by reiterating the importance of having a solid foundation when it comes to our faith. We were reminded of our necessity to feed on the scriptures given by God; and how equally important it is that we receive a revelation of the truth within scriptures by the Holy Spirit. If we are not engaged with both equally the foundation laid will have both cracks and holes. Therefore whatever we build, if built on a faulty foundation will eventually crumble.
As believers, we have to come to understand what it is that completes the foundation of our faith. We must come to know that there are multiple working parts that make up and complete the foundation Christ laid. With this understanding, we looked at the first fundamental truth implemented by Christ which is repentance from dead works.
Repentance from dead works is the turning away from all activities that produce nothing that is in accordance with God—then turning to God with enough humility to follow His heart’s desire over our own.
Jesus made it clear that there was a road paved that led to life which is narrow and difficult. For us to set our feet on that path and truly begin our journey we must first turn away from the path that we’ve taken before knowing Christ. So again, repentance is the initial step towards laying the foundation of our faith.
Through scripture, it is made obvious how vital this action is for every human being to receive true life. Prior to Jesus, the message John the baptist relayed was that we needed to repent. Afterward, Jesus Himself never failed to speak about our need for repentance. Just the same, those He sent afterward as witnesses proclaimed that repentance was a necessity in moving towards God.
If we see that repentance is imperative for finding the road leading to life. We should also comprehend how necessary the revealed truth and conviction of the Holy Spirit is. It is by the truth that we are made aware of our need to turn from particular things that lead us away from God. Whereas the conviction of the Holy Spirit is who convinces us of that truth. This is why we cannot become discouraged when the Spirit of God begins to correct us because the correction is designed to make straight what is crooked.
However, when truth is revealed and conviction is received personal responsibility must be taken. A heart full of pride is hard to convince but a heart full of humility is willing to make the necessary adjustments. Therefore, the necessity of repentance is only acted on by those who accept their need for change. When this need becomes a reality within the heart of any human being a true commitment is made. By free will, if we stick with the commitment made within a moment of conviction, evidence of our repentance will be seen by the changes made in our lives. This is what puts us in the position to be examples that when Christ laid the foundation of our faith, repentance was a requirement.
In wrapping this up we must understand in order to turn to Christ we must first turn away from whatever is in the opposite direction. Yet we must first be convinced that the direction we’ve been facing is completely wrong. If we can’t do that then we can’t find our need for change, and if we don’t find our need for change we will never turn to God for help nor find the road leading to life. Humility is the ignition switch to self-accountability, and self-accountability is the acceptance of truth and divine conviction. When we come to Christ just saying sorry is not enough, because if we are truly sorry we won’t continue to do the same things.
**Audio for this recap can be listened to here
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cEwpeGzY3cOkjhbB4jJ7N
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/repentance-from-dead-works/id1740279389?i=1000659567920
Scriptures from this week
John 4:19-24
John 5:39-40
John 14:6
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Matthew 7:13-14
Hebrews 6:1-3
John 3:22-35
Matthew 4:12-17
Acts 3:1-19
John 8:31-32
John 16:12-14
John 16:7-11
Hebrews 12:5-11
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
Romans 2:1-4
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Acts 26:12-20
Ezekiel 18:21-25
2 Peter 3:8-9
Acts 17:22-31
Revelation 2:1-5
