Day 8/2 – Repentance

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
Repentance
Day Two Hundred Fourteen

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2

John the Baptist’s call to repentance is the first exhortation or warning in the New Testament. It is also first in importance. Repentance is the door to the gift of life; without it no one enters. The Bible knows nothing of salvation apart from repentance. In John’s message, he marries the command to repent with the consequences: “Even 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.”282 The failure to repent carries with it judgment. Notice that John carefully articulates judgment. The axe sits at the root of the tree, perhaps having already been imbedded, making judgment absolute. However, the tree is still standing, capable of bearing fruit, thus reflecting the potential for God’s mercy. Repentance leis between these two absolutes.

The Baptist talks about fruit; repentance must produce fruit. Mere acknowledgement of your sin is not enough. You must be willing to change. If you believe God’s wrath is directed at you, and you want God’s grace, then the fruit of repentance will be forthcoming.

Repentance is not just for conversion; all that sin need to repent. It doesn’t matter where you are in your walk with God, you never grow out of the need to repent. As long as you sin you need to repent. Never deceive yourself into believing that because you are a child of God you no longer need to repent.

282 Matthew 3:10

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Psalm 60-62 Romans 5 (New King James Version)

Psalm 60-62
Urgent Prayer for the Restored Favor of God
To the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
60
O God, You have cast us off;
You have broken us down;
You have been displeased;
Oh, restore us again!
2
You have made the earth tremble;
You have broken it;
Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
3
You have shown Your people hard things;
You have made us drink the wine of [b]confusion.
4
You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
5
That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
6
God has spoken in His holiness:
“I will rejoice;
I will divide Shechem
And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
7
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the [c]helmet for My head;
Judah is My lawgiver.
8
Moab is My washpot;
Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.”
9
Who will bring me to the strong city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10
Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
11
Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless.
12
Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
Assurance of God’s Eternal Protection
To the Chief Musician. On [d]a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.
61
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
2
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4
I will abide in Your [e]tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
5
For You, O God, have heard my vows;
You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
6
You will prolong the king’s life,
His years as many generations.
7
He shall abide before God forever.
Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may [f]preserve him!
8
So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may daily perform my vows.
A Calm Resolve to Wait for the Salvation of God
To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
62
Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
2
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my [g]defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.[h]
3
How long will you attack a man?
You shall be slain, all of you,
Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
4
They only consult to cast him down from his high position;
They delight in lies;
They bless with their mouth,
But they curse inwardly. Selah
5
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my [i]expectation is from Him.
6
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be [j]moved.
7
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
8
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9
Surely men of low degree are [k]a vapor,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed on the scales,
They are altogether lighter than vapor.
10
Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them.
11
God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
12
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You [l]render to each one according to his work.
Footnotes:
• Psalm 60:1 Heb. Shushan Eduth
• Psalm 60:3 staggering
• Psalm 60:7 Lit. protection
• Psalm 61:1 Heb. neginah
• Psalm 61:4 tent
• Psalm 61:7 Lit. guard or keep
• Psalm 62:2 strong tower
• Psalm 62:2 shaken
• Psalm 62:5 hope
• Psalm 62:6 shaken
• Psalm 62:9 vanity
• Psalm 62:12 reward

Romans 5
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Christ in Our Place
6 For when we were still without strength, [d]in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the [e]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many [f]offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s [g]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through [h]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one[i] Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Footnotes:
• Romans 5:1 Some ancient mss. let us have
• Romans 5:3 endurance
• Romans 5:4 approved character
• Romans 5:6 at the right time
• Romans 5:15 trespass or false step
• Romans 5:16 trespasses
• Romans 5:17 trespass
• Romans 5:18 Or one trespass
• Romans 5:18 Or one righteous act