Living as Kingdom People: Faith, Repentance, and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: True Salvation Leads to a Transformed Life of Righteousness

Salvation is not merely the forgiveness of sins or a ticket to heaven, but a restoration to our true purpose: living in intimate fellowship with God, being healed from the corruption of sin, and walking in righteousness. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are not only forgiven but also empowered to live as worshipers of God, enjoying Him and being enjoyed by Him. The evidence of salvation is seen in a life increasingly marked by holiness, zeal for good works, and a desire to please God, not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude for His grace. [03:48]

1 Peter 2:24-25 (ESV)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you see God calling you to deeper fellowship and righteousness today, and how can you respond to His invitation?

Day 2: Repentance and Obedience Are Essential to Inheriting the Kingdom

The call of the gospel is not simply to believe the right facts, but to repent and obey Jesus Christ, making it your life’s ambition to walk closely with God. Repentance is a turning from sin and a willingness to become a worshiper of God, seeking to live each day more like Jesus. On the day of judgment, it is not mere knowledge or mental agreement that will matter, but whether your life bore the fruit of repentance and obedience, demonstrating a genuine relationship with God. [13:40]

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have settled for knowing about God rather than truly seeking to obey and please Him? What step of repentance or obedience can you take today?

Day 3: God Judges Each Person According to Their Deeds

God, as the righteous and impartial judge, will repay each person according to their works. Those who, by perseverance in doing good, seek for glory, honor, and immortality will receive eternal life, while those who refuse to submit to God’s will face wrath. This is not salvation by works, but the outworking of a repentant heart that submits to God’s purpose. The life that seeks to please God, even in weakness, will be rewarded with His praise and the inheritance of the kingdom. [23:10]

Romans 2:6-7, 29 (ESV)
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life… But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Reflection: What motivates your pursuit of good works—seeking praise from people, or seeking the praise and reward that comes from God alone? How can you shift your focus today?

Day 4: Faith That Pleases God Is Active and Seeks Him Diligently

Faith is not passive belief but an active trust that seeks to please God, believing that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The examples of Noah, Abraham, and Moses show that true faith leads to obedience, even when it requires sacrifice or stepping into the unknown. Like them, we are called to lay aside every sin and run the race with endurance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. [29:34]

Hebrews 11:6-7, 24-26 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith… By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Reflection: What is one area where God is calling you to step out in faith and obedience, even if it means letting go of comfort or approval from others?

Day 5: Make It Your Life’s Ambition to Please God—Starting Now

No matter your past, it is never too late to repent and make it your ambition to please God. The story of the thief on the cross shows that even in the final moments, a heart that turns to Jesus in repentance and allegiance is welcomed into the kingdom by His grace. God is merciful and quick to receive those who make it their aim to honor Him, so do not delay—run the race with endurance, take up your cross daily, and you will receive the reward of the kingdom. [48:38]

Luke 23:42-43 (ESV)
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can make it your ambition to please God today, regardless of your past or present circumstances?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on what it truly means to be a “kingdom person”—someone who will inherit the kingdom of God. The central question is not just, “Who believes the right things?” but, “Who lives in repentance and obedience to Jesus Christ?” While salvation is by grace and not by works, the evidence of genuine faith is a life transformed—one that seeks to please God, turns from sin, and pursues holiness. God’s purpose in saving us is not simply to forgive our sins so we can go to a location called heaven, but to restore us to relationship with Himself, to make us worshipers who enjoy Him now and forever.

Scripture makes clear that the fruit of repentance and obedience is necessary. Jesus, Paul, and the apostles all call for repentance—not as a work that earns salvation, but as the heart’s response to God’s grace. The gospel is not a license for complacency or spiritual apathy. Rather, it is an invitation to return to the Shepherd of our souls, to be healed from sin, and to live in the purpose for which we were created.

On the day of judgment, it will not be mere intellectual agreement with doctrine that matters, but whether our lives bore the fruit of fellowship with God. Jesus Himself warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. The examples of Noah, Abraham, and Moses in Hebrews 11 show that faith always leads to action—obedience that flows from trust in God’s promises and character.

Repentance is not perfection, but a continual turning toward God, a zealous pursuit of pleasing Him. Even the thief on the cross, in his final moments, demonstrated this heart by submitting to Jesus and seeking His kingdom. God graciously welcomes all who make it their ambition to please Him, regardless of their past. The call is to lay aside every sin, run the race with endurance, and fix our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. As we do, we can be confident that God, the righteous Judge, will reward those who seek Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Salvation is not just about forgiveness, but about restoration to relationship with God. The purpose of salvation is to redeem us from lawlessness and bring us into fellowship with our Creator, so that we might live as worshipers who enjoy Him now and forever. This is the true aim of the gospel: not just a change of destination, but a transformation of life and purpose. [03:48]
2. Repentance and obedience are necessary responses to God’s grace, not means of earning salvation. A repentant heart is one that desires to be a worshiper of God, turning from sin and seeking to please Him daily. This is not about rule-following, but about a genuine zeal to honor God in every aspect of life, which is the evidence of true faith. [08:07]
3. On judgment day, God will judge each person according to their works—the life they lived, not just the beliefs they held. Jesus warns that knowing the right facts or performing religious acts is not enough; what matters is whether we did the will of the Father and bore the fruit of repentance. The true test is a life lived in fellowship with God, not mere intellectual agreement. [15:37]
4. The examples of Noah, Abraham, and Moses show that faith always leads to action. True faith is not passive; it moves us to obey God, even at great personal cost, because we trust in His promises and seek the reward He offers. Like Moses, we are called to forsake the fleeting pleasures of sin and the approval of the world, looking instead to the eternal reward of the kingdom. [35:51]
5. God graciously welcomes all who make it their ambition to please Him, regardless of their past. The story of the thief on the cross reminds us that it is never too late to repent and submit to Jesus. What matters is the heart’s desire to honor Christ, even in our final moments, and God’s mercy is sufficient to receive all who turn to Him in faith and repentance. [48:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Who Will Inherit the Kingdom?
[03:48] - Salvation: More Than Forgiveness
[07:27] - The Fruit of Grace: Zeal for Holiness
[11:27] - God’s True Offer: Relationship, Not Location
[13:40] - Judgment Day: The Basis of God’s Judgment
[15:37] - Doing the Will of the Father
[19:46] - Repentance: The Call to Turn
[22:19] - Romans 2: Repentance and Works
[24:36] - God’s Praise for His People
[27:48] - God’s Impartial Judgment
[29:34] - Faith That Seeks to Please God
[33:06] - Faith in Action: Noah, Abraham, Moses
[41:05] - Jesus: Our Perfect Example
[45:08] - The Call to Repentance and Endurance
[48:38] - The Thief on the Cross: Last-Minute Repentance
[52:35] - Prayer and Final Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 2:5-11 — - Hebrews 11:6-8, 24-26
- Luke 23:39-43 (The thief on the cross)

Observation Questions

In Romans 2:5-11, what does Paul say is the basis for God’s judgment of each person?
According to Hebrews 11, what actions did Noah, Abraham, and Moses take as a result of their faith?
In Luke 23:39-43, what did the thief on the cross do and say that showed a repentant heart?
The sermon says, “Salvation is not just the forgiveness of sins. Salvation, the point of salvation, is to be redeemed from lawlessness and to have a relationship with our Creator and have a relationship with the living God.” What does this mean in your own words? [[03:48]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that God “will repay each according to his works” in Romans 2? How does this relate to the idea that salvation is by grace? [[22:19]]
The sermon says that “repentance is not perfection, but a continual turning toward God, a zealous pursuit of pleasing Him.” How does this definition of repentance challenge or encourage you? [[12:20]]
What does the story of the thief on the cross teach us about God’s grace and the possibility of repentance, even at the end of life? [[48:38]]
The examples of Noah, Abraham, and Moses show that faith leads to action. Why is it important that faith is not just belief, but also obedience? [[35:51]]

Application Questions

The sermon warns against a “gospel of just Jesus died for my sins so I could just be in heaven and live however.” Have you ever found yourself thinking this way? What are some signs of spiritual complacency or apathy in your own life? [[08:07]]
Is there an area of your life where you know you are not living in obedience to Jesus? What would it look like to “lay aside every sin” and run the race with endurance this week? [[38:18]]
The sermon says, “God graciously welcomes all who make it their ambition to please Him, regardless of their past.” Is there something in your past that makes it hard for you to believe this? How can you bring that to God today? [[48:38]]
Think about the thief on the cross. He used his last moments to honor Jesus. Are there “last moments” or opportunities in your daily life where you could honor Christ, even in small ways? [[48:38]]
The examples in Hebrews 11 show people who gave up comfort, approval, or pleasure to follow God. Is there something you need to give up or change in order to pursue God more fully? What is one step you can take this week? [[35:51]]
The sermon says, “Repentance and obedience are necessary responses to God’s grace, not means of earning salvation.” How can you remind yourself daily that your obedience is a response to God’s love, not a way to earn it? [[08:07]]
The pastor challenged us to make it our ambition to please God. What is one practical way you can seek to please God in your work, family, or relationships this week? [[50:19]]

Sermon Clips

Brothers and sisters, somebody who is saved is not just somebody who is forgiven of sins and it's just going to heaven. You're not forgiven of sins to go to a location. You're forgiven of sins to go to a person and that person is God that we would return to the shepherd and overseer. Some versions say shepherd and guardian of our souls and I want to tell you today that God is exactly that. The shepherd and guardian of our souls. [00:05:33] (27 seconds)

``Repentance and obedience and zeal for the will of Christ is necessary to inherit the kingdom of God. God's offer in the gospel is not, you can just go to heaven if you ask me to. God's not offering that as a gift. That's not available to you. God's offer in the gospel is, you can have him, you can have relationship with him now and forever. [00:11:15] (33 seconds)

If we are unwilling to walk this path and live this life, we should have no confidence that we are going to inherit the kingdom on that final day. Is this salvation by works? No. It's not salvation by works to say, I'm going to submit my life to the purpose that God created me for in order that I may inherit the kingdom. That is not salvation by works. That is actually the mindset of repentance and faith in the Bible to say, I am going to live as a worshiper of God, giving my life to be pleasing to Him in order that I may inherit the kingdom. [00:21:13] (36 seconds)

Ponder this for a second, brothers and sisters. We talk about praising God, bringing glory to God, bringing honor to God. But did you know that God, for those who submit their lives to his purpose, God will praise you. God will give you glory. God will give you honor. He will say in a real genuine way, well done. You did really good in this. I'm really proud of you for making this choice. You really loved me well when you lived your life this way. Good job. Well done. That was great. That was awesome. [00:25:02] (48 seconds)

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For he who draws near to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. The wrong question, what do I have to believe in order to go to heaven? That's the wrong question. And that's not the question that faith asks. Faith says, How can I be pleasing to God? How can I please my Creator? How can I be pleasing to God in order to inherit the kingdom? [00:29:30] (43 seconds)

He rewards those who seek Him, not those who know the right things, those who make it their life's ambition to seek Him. He graciously welcomes to Himself whoever desires to be His worshiper, and then He rewards those who make it their ambition to be His worshiper in their life by carrying out His will. [00:31:57] (26 seconds)

Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us. Lay it aside. Get rid of it. If there's sin in your life that you know of, it's got to go immediately without delay. You've got to run with endurance the race, the path that is set before you. There is a path that leads to life. There is a race that ends in the prize. Run it. [00:39:02] (31 seconds)

If you claim to be a Christian and you claim that the Spirit of God is in you and God is at work in your life leading you, then actually just live the life that would demonstrate that. And he says, do it with fear and trembling. That's intense. It's like, it's not a joke. Why with fear and trembling? Because if we see ourselves just willingly giving into sin and just denying the will of God in our life, well, Jesus never did that. [00:44:02] (31 seconds)

And our gracious king, our merciful Lord does not say, well, you lived a whole life of rebellion and thievery and murder. So I don't care about the small little amount of love that you gave to me. No, he says, today you will be with me in paradise. What grace. What mercy, what compassion for sinners does our Lord have. Amazing. [00:49:58] (32 seconds)

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