Daily Devotions
July 23rd, 2013 by Pastor SolleyActs 20:18-21 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Evidence of a lack of repentance among professing Christians is the life style they choose to live. Many who claim to be born again live more in the world than they do in Christ, walk in the flesh and not the Spirit of God. Professing Christians claim the liberty to hang on to the sins of the world, using alcohol, going to dances, bars, the movie house, dress like the world, talk like the world and act like the world. All the time they say they are born again but live without any evidence of a new birth. These ones lack true repentance, a turning from sin, from self, from the world, and to God. Notice that repentance is toward God. (Verse 21) How can a person be saved who has never turned their life toward God? True Bible repentance brings a change in a life. But we need also note that repentance is not reformation. The power to really change a life does not come from within the new believer but from the Holy Spirit of God, that it why it is repentance that changes a person, not reformation. Reformation seldom lasts, but repentance because it comes from God, from the Holy Spirit, is lasting. Jesus said that a person is known by their fruits, John the Baptist preached that fruits meet for repentance needed to be seen, man need to repent toward God. When repentance is there salvation is real and lives are changed.