July 26, 2020
Morning Service

Salutation to the Hebrews:

Heb 1:1-2  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  (2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

 

Prayer:

 

Heb 5:12-14  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1-2  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

 

Before we get into the principles, listen to Paul; 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

·        There is nothing mysterious about the gospel of Christ.  It has all been revealed by God in our Bible.

·        The purpose of the gospel (good news) is that all mankind would have an opportunity to get in a right relationship with God Almighty. 

·        So as we begin with the principles, let’s look at the simplicity that is in this gospel.

 

Now notice what the writer considers are the principles, or first things in the teachings of the gospel.

Heb 6:1-2  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

1.      repentance from dead works.

2.     faith toward God.

3.     the doctrine of baptisms.

4.     laying on of hands.

5.     resurrection of the dead.

6.     eternal judgment.

·        There is nothing mysterious, or difficult to understand concerning these principles, they are the milk of the Word, and obedience, to what these teach, is salvation.

Let’s look this morning at repentance.

First of all this wild man came down out of the hills, and his diet was locusts, and wild honey.  His name was John, and they called him John the Baptist.  John was Jesus’ cousin.  John was 6 months older than Jesus.  Now don’t you know they would have a great time growing up, and playing together at their special gatherings, and hearing, and talking about God.

 

John said this;  Mat 3:4-8  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.  (5)  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance”:

Jesus said;  Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Listen to Peter, who Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom, which gave him the authority to speak in Jesus name, said this, when he opened the door to salvation to the Jews;

Act 2:37-38  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

·        Now when Peter spoke to these people, Jews from all over the world, because this was the day of Pentecost, and they were to do their best to make this feast in Jerusalem.  He brought great conviction on them for how the Jews had crucified God’s Christ, Jesus.  So they ask the question, “what shall we do, for God to forgive us?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

·        Notice, this is the good news (gospel) in which if obeyed gets one in a right relationship with God.  The simplicity that is in the gospel, not hard at all to understand.  You repent, and be baptized in Jesus name (or authority), and you will receive the gift (eternal life) of the Holy Ghost (Who is God Almighty).

·        Now remember what John said concerning those coming to his baptism;

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

 

Now let’s look at how the new testament describes repentance.

2Co 7:9-11  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  (10)  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:

·        You see this is what happened on Pentecost, the people were truly sorry for what they had done, and repented (turned from what they were doing).

but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  (11)  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

·        By repenting they will be bringing forth the fruits that John talked about.  Carefulness, clearing of themselves, indignation or sorry for their actions, fear knowing that they were unpleasing to God, vehement desire trying their hardest to do things that will please God, zeal  showing a lot of energy to do what’s right, revenge getting mad at satan for having them fooled for so long.

So it brings us to this;  Have I truly repented.  Am I sorry for how I have lived outside of God’s will for so long?  Am I sick and tired of living a life of sin?  If this would apply to you, you should truly repent, and be baptized in Jesus name.

Our prayer this morning, Lord Jesus help me to truly have a repentant heart, that I might be what you would want me to be.  In Jesus name.  Amen.