God...commands all...to repent!

Hello To All:

Our title for today's posting, comes from Acts 17:30-31, where we find written (New King James Translation): "Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

Our Sovereign God commands that we repent; and we are, once again, confronted with this great mystery of our freedom to choose and God's absolute control of His creation. Our limited human intellect cannot reconcile this, seemingly, contradictory reality: God is in control - but, we can choose. God commands us to repent; and then He gives us the freedom to obey and to believe; and He gives us the freedom to say no; and He gives us the freedom to continue in our sinful ways. If we choose to not obey, then, when we are "judged in righteousness by the Man (Jesus Christ) whom He has ordained": we shall not be delivered "from the wrath to come," (First Thessalonians 1:10).

It is written (First Peter 4:17): "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" If we are to avoid God's judgment and His wrath, then we must obey the gospel of God.

Let us examine ourselves. Let us ask ourselves the question: Do we obey? When judgement comes - will we be judged as being righteous, by virtue of our having believed and obeyed Jesus Christ? Beloved, our answers to these questions, directly relates to how victorious our discipleship in Jesus Christ is, in our daily lives. This is not just entry-level believing and obeying. This is everyday - here and now - believing and obeying. If we are to be victorious, then we must obey. Jesus says, in one place (John 15:14): "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Let us all, ask ourselves the question: Are we obeying Jesus Christ? Are we repenting? Do we believe?

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus

P.S. In order to avoid any confusion, regarding how we are saved, let us be reminded of the following, from the King's Book. It is written (Ephesians 2:8-9): "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."