Responding to God's Call: Repentance and Salvation

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound call to repentance and the timeless offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. This call is not just a historical narrative but a present invitation to acknowledge our unworthiness and rebellion, and to turn to God with urgency. The essence of the Gospel is encapsulated in the declaration that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, offering us eternal life through belief in Him. This ancient story of Jesus' sacrificial love remains as relevant today as it was in the past, urging us to respond with faith and commitment.

We examined the two possible responses to this divine message: the believer's response, which is one of acceptance, humility, and trust in God's mercy, and the unbeliever's response, characterized by disbelief and defiance. The believer acknowledges their need for healing and salvation, casting themselves upon God's mercy even without full understanding. In contrast, the unbeliever questions and challenges the Word of God, often with a spirit of skepticism and defiance.

The unbeliever's stance is marked by a refusal to believe, which ultimately determines their destiny. This disbelief is not merely a passive state but often manifests in active opposition or indifference to the Gospel. The unbeliever's ignorance of God's historical actions, His methods, and His immense power and love leads to a tragic misunderstanding of God's patience and longsuffering. This ignorance blinds them to the reality that God's delay in judgment is an expression of His desire for all to come to repentance.

Ultimately, the unbeliever will come to realize the truth of God's Word through their own experiences. The challenge for each of us is to examine our response to God's call and to act upon the truth of the Gospel, embracing the life and hope offered through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Call to Repentance: The call to repentance is an urgent invitation to recognize our unworthiness and rebellion against God. It is a call to turn to God with haste, confessing our sins and acknowledging His offer of forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ. This call is not just a historical message but a present reality that demands a response. [15:51]

- The Believer's Response: The believer's response to the Gospel is one of acceptance and trust in God's mercy. Despite not fully understanding, the believer casts themselves upon God's grace, acknowledging their need for healing and salvation. This response is characterized by humility and a willingness to follow Christ, forsaking the world and taking up the cross. [17:14]

- The Unbeliever's Disbelief: The unbeliever's disbelief is not merely a passive state but an active rejection of God's Word. This disbelief is the root cause of their separation from God, as it prevents them from accepting the truth of the Gospel. The unbeliever's destiny is determined by their refusal to believe, not by their actions or moral standing. [19:25]

- Ignorance of God's Ways: The unbeliever's defiance and skepticism are rooted in ignorance of God's historical actions, His methods, and His immense power and love. This ignorance leads to a tragic misunderstanding of God's patience and longsuffering, which is an expression of His desire for all to come to repentance. [27:29]

- The Reality of God's Word: Ultimately, the unbeliever will come to realize the truth of God's Word through their own experiences. The challenge for each of us is to examine our response to God's call and to act upon the truth of the Gospel, embracing the life and hope offered through Jesus Christ. [33:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [15:51] - Call to Repentance
- [16:09] - The Gospel Offer
- [16:57] - Our Response to God's Word
- [17:14] - The Believer's Response
- [18:22] - The Unbeliever's Position
- [19:25] - Disbelief and Its Consequences
- [20:20] - Acting on Belief
- [21:04] - The Reality of Unbelief
- [22:01] - Temporary Belief vs. True Faith
- [23:24] - Active Opposition to the Gospel
- [24:12] - Defying God's Word
- [25:02] - Modern Skepticism
- [27:29] - Ignorance of God's Ways
- [30:30] - God's Love and Longsuffering

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
2. 2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
3. Jeremiah 17:14 - "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what are the two possible responses to the Gospel message? How are these responses characterized? [16:57]

2. What does the sermon suggest is the root cause of the unbeliever's separation from God? [19:25]

3. How does the sermon describe the unbeliever's misunderstanding of God's patience and longsuffering? [27:29]

4. What is the significance of the believer's response, "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved"? [17:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the urgency of the call to repentance, and why is it considered a present reality rather than just a historical message? [15:51]

2. In what ways does the sermon describe the consequences of disbelief, and how does this disbelief manifest in the life of an unbeliever? [19:25]

3. How does the sermon interpret God's delay in judgment as an expression of His love and desire for repentance? [30:30]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between belief and action in the life of a believer? [20:20]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own response to the Gospel. Do you find yourself more aligned with the believer's response or the unbeliever's response as described in the sermon? Why? [16:57]

2. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of repentance. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to repent and turn back to God with urgency? What steps can you take this week to act on this call? [15:51]

3. Consider the ways in which disbelief might be manifesting in your life. Are there areas where you find yourself skeptical or indifferent to God's Word? How can you address these doubts? [19:25]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding God's patience and longsuffering. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for God's patience in your own life, especially in times of waiting or uncertainty? [30:30]

5. How can you actively demonstrate your belief in the Gospel through your actions this week? Identify one specific way you can live out your faith in your daily interactions. [20:20]

6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the reality of God's Word. How can you ensure that your understanding of God's Word is not just intellectual but also transformative in your life? [33:00]

7. The sermon discusses the ignorance of God's ways as a barrier to belief. What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of God's historical actions and His methods? [27:29]

Devotional

Day 1: Urgent Call to Repentance
The call to repentance is a profound and urgent invitation to recognize our unworthiness and rebellion against God. It is not merely a historical message but a present reality that demands a response. This call urges us to turn to God with haste, confessing our sins and acknowledging His offer of forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ. The urgency of this call is rooted in the understanding that our time is limited, and the opportunity for repentance is now. Ignoring this call can lead to spiritual stagnation and separation from God. The call to repentance is a reminder of God's immense love and patience, as He desires for all to come to repentance and experience the fullness of life in Him. [15:51]

Ezekiel 18:30-31 (ESV): "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you respond to His call to repentance today and draw closer to Him?


Day 2: The Believer's Humble Response
The believer's response to the Gospel is characterized by acceptance and trust in God's mercy. Despite not fully understanding, the believer casts themselves upon God's grace, acknowledging their need for healing and salvation. This response is marked by humility and a willingness to follow Christ, forsaking the world and taking up the cross. The believer's journey is one of continual growth and transformation, as they seek to align their lives with the teachings of Jesus. This path requires a daily commitment to surrender and obedience, trusting that God's ways are higher than our own. The believer's response is a testament to the power of faith and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. [17:14]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate humility and trust in God's plan for your life today? How can you actively seek to follow Christ in your daily decisions?


Day 3: The Consequences of Unbelief
The unbeliever's disbelief is not merely a passive state but an active rejection of God's Word. This disbelief is the root cause of their separation from God, as it prevents them from accepting the truth of the Gospel. The unbeliever's destiny is determined by their refusal to believe, not by their actions or moral standing. This rejection often manifests in skepticism and defiance, leading to a life devoid of the hope and peace found in Christ. The consequences of unbelief are profound, as it blinds individuals to the reality of God's love and the eternal life He offers. Understanding these consequences is crucial for both believers and unbelievers, as it highlights the importance of faith and the transformative power of the Gospel. [19:25]

Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you struggle with disbelief or skepticism? How can you seek God's truth and allow Him to transform your heart?


Day 4: Ignorance of God's Ways
The unbeliever's defiance and skepticism are rooted in ignorance of God's historical actions, His methods, and His immense power and love. This ignorance leads to a tragic misunderstanding of God's patience and longsuffering, which is an expression of His desire for all to come to repentance. Many fail to recognize that God's delay in judgment is not a sign of indifference but a demonstration of His mercy and desire for reconciliation. Understanding God's ways requires a willingness to seek Him and an openness to His truth. By acknowledging our limitations and seeking God's wisdom, we can overcome ignorance and embrace the fullness of His love and purpose for our lives. [27:29]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: How can you actively seek to understand God's ways and His purpose for your life? What steps can you take to overcome ignorance and grow in your knowledge of Him?


Day 5: Embracing the Reality of God's Word
Ultimately, the unbeliever will come to realize the truth of God's Word through their own experiences. The challenge for each of us is to examine our response to God's call and to act upon the truth of the Gospel, embracing the life and hope offered through Jesus Christ. This involves a commitment to live according to God's Word and to allow His truth to shape our thoughts, actions, and relationships. Embracing the reality of God's Word requires a willingness to be transformed by His Spirit and to live in alignment with His will. It is a journey of faith that leads to a deeper understanding of God's love and a more profound experience of His presence in our lives. [33:00]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: How can you actively live out the truth of God's Word in your daily life? What changes can you make to ensure that your actions align with your beliefs?

Quotes


"law and then it's a call to repentance it's a call to us to realize that and having realized it to go to God with haste and to confess it and to acknowledge it and to tell him that we're conscious of our unworthiness and our Folly and our Rebellion it's a call to repentance and then thank God it's a call to us to listen to The Gospel offer to listen to God's statement that he has so loved the world that he has sent his only begotten son into it that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life it is still the ancient Story the old old story of Jesus and his love of the Son of God who came down and humbled himself and took his sin our sins upon him and took them to the cross and bore them in his own body and that there he was punished for them and for us and that because of that God offers us pardon and forgiveness a new life and all we need that's the word of the Lord that is the message of the Christian salvation this evening and it comes to us as it came of old well now here's the question" [00:15:40]

"what is our response to it and I remind you again my dear friends that there are only two possible responses last Sunday night we considered the Christian response the believer's response which is this again Heal Me Oh Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved for thou art my praise the Christian says quite right I accepted I admit it it's all true I haven't a word to say I cast myself upon thy mercy I believe though I don't understand that's the believer's response but oh Les there is another response and here it is in this 15th verse where is the word of the Lord let it come I say once more in this series of sermons and this Noble chapter that I would to God that I hadn't to preach in a text like this but I'm not here to choose texts I'm here to expound the scripture to hold the truth before you and as Jeremiah ends with it I end with it here is the position you see of the unbeliever who faces the same message and as we look at it you'll find I think that all the characteristics of unbelief are here very plainly and clearly set forth before us" [00:16:57]

"yeah perhaps it's in a particularly extreme and blatant form but still the principle is the same and it describes all unbelievers tonight perfectly isn't there something almost incredible about this isn't it almost beyond belief that there should be anybody in the world who can react like that to the message of almighty God but there are such people therefore let me ask you to consider with me hurriedly my simple analysis of this terrible appalling condition which leads to such Unthinkable consequences what is it that's true of all people who are not Christians well the first thing that's obviously true of them is this that they disbelieve the word of God they don't believe it that is why we very rightly call them unbelievers you see the thing I'm emphasizing is this that the thing that takes a man to hell in the last analysis is not drunkenness nor even murder it's unbelief so that your most respectable person will go there also unless he believes it's belief or unbelief that determines our destiny not what we do I say and all these other things surely this needs no demonstration if a man believes this word of God El act in it he's Bound to You can't believe my synopsis of the Gospel just now and just sit where you are and do nothing and say all right I carry on it's impossible if you believe these things of necessity you must do something about it" [00:18:22]

"I mean by that that you must go to God and acknowledge it and confess it you must believe his message and accept it and give yourself to Christ and forsake the world and take up your cross and go after him you can't help it you must if you believe this message you'll flee from the rth to come you'll fly to the Fountain where alone you can be cleansed and you know my friend if you haven't done that there's only one one reason for that and that is that you don't believe the word of the Lord you don't really believe it you've heard it you've listened to it you may say oh well I know that but if you if you haven't done anything about it I say you really don't believe it because if you believe it I say it doesn't need any demonstration you must act upon it if a man tells you when you're walking in the country don't step any further in that direction the ground suddenly will give way between beneath you and you'll fall to destruction you'd listen to him wouldn't you You' you'd pull back and you'd draw yourself back of course I'm telling you something infinitely more alarming than that and unless you've done something about it in the way I've indicated there's only one explanation you don't believe it though that unbelief expresses itself in many ways sometimes it works in this way that man has the sort of temporary belief ah yes he says I I I I felt it that night I I really was moved by it and he felt he ought to do something about it yes but the next day that had gone and he didn't continue what he had resolved the night before it's of no value you see that isn't really a belief that's being moved emotionally and we can be moved emotionally we can be moved in our Wills without our minds and our understandings being involved we can do things in almost an automatic state but they don't last and it doesn't lead to anything it's finally of no saving value it is belief of the truth a man seeing it and knowing it and acting because of that that's the thing that is a value in the sight of God a temporary belief is no belief or sometimes it works like this that people hear it and they say well there seems to be something in that but then they forget all about it it's like a man says James looking at his natural face in a glass and the moment he walks away he forgets what he looks like there are many people who look into the perfect law of Liberty but they don't continue therein again it's of no value they don't rarely see it they've never really believed it but you see it may take the form as it did in the case of these contemporaries of Jeremiah of an active opposition to it the sort of person who says that Gospel of blood how I hate it how immoral it is I can't believe it and miracles and two Natures in one person a active militant opposition to it it's all unbelief yes but the thing I want to emphasize tonight is this that a kind of passive resistance is as much unbelief as is that milit militant active resistance to it if you haven't really put it into operation you haven't believed it whatever the form it May chance to take the second thing I want to say about this unbeliever this person who's not a Christian is that he also defies the word of God he doesn't only un disbelieve it he defies it and in various ways he scuffs at it it's very obvious here isn't it they say where is the word of the Lord you Jeremiah they say come before us day after day and you stand there and you say in that glib anxious manner of yours in that glib self-satisfaction thus sayth the Lord you've been saying it for years but where is it let it come they defy it with insolence and daring they scuff at it now there are many people who still do that the modern way of putting that of course is to put it like this isn't it they say you know you're a little bit behind the times with your blood and thunder preaching you ought have been alive 100 years ago it would work then people could be frightened but of course we are 20th Century men we can't be frightened you can't do that with us it's the same thing you see that's the spirit where is the word of the Lord don't you know about our our knowledge and about our science I can't be frightened but you know I've have sometimes heard very quiet and nice people doing exactly the same thing they haven't spoken violently when they've heard this sort of thing but they've gone away saying a that was too harsh that isn't the love of God that's not the love of Christ that's not a part of the Gospel they've defied it they've come to the conclusion that God has never spoken like this and that there is no such thing as the wrath of God and the justice and the righteousness of God they have said there isn't such a thing and we're not going to listen to it some of them then put it like this they say well I don't believe that gospel but nothing seems to go wrong nothing happens indeed they say I know many Christian people have had a very terrible time and none of these things have happened to me what of it what of this word of the Lord I'll compare my life with theirs look at them and their troubles and their trials look at my life all is well with me where is the word of the Lord that's what they're saying and then others put it in this form they say you know it doesn't really seem to make much difference whether you believe or whether you don't the life of Christians and non-christians in the in respect of these matters as to what happens to them it seems to be almost identical it doesn't make any difference well now then why where is this that's the position the unbeliever I say is one who disbelieves the word of the Lord and He defil it and he scuffs at it why do they do so let me answer that question very hurriedly the unbeliever disbelieves and scuffs at the word because he's ignorant what's he ignorant of well he's ignorant of History he's ignorant of the fact that as Peter reminds those people to whom he writes that Second Epistle he's ignorant of the fact that there have been people like him many times before in the world and they've said exactly the same thing they've said where is the promise of his coming but they live to see that it did come and a man who still says that sort of thing is just ignorant of History he is ignorant of the story of the Bible the historical facts chronicled here he's ignorant even of his secular history of the movement of God amongst the Nations and in the world amongst its peoples he's ignorant of all that he wouldn't speak as he does if he knew his history but he's also ignorant of God's ways and God's methods in God's times he's got an idea you see that When God says he's is going to do a thing he'll do it at once and when he discovers that God doesn't do it at once he says H I knew it wouldn't come to pass I knew it would never happened I never did believe it I wasn't frightened for a second God says I'm told but God does nothing he is ignorant of the fact that with God a thousand years there is one day and one day is a thousand years that God's ways are not our ways not God's thoughts our thoughts that God has his own way of doing things his own plan and purpose God announces he may allow centuries to pass before he performs but then he does it and never fails they're ignorant of that because it doesn't happen to conform to their little timetables and to their own ideas they think that it's never going to happen at all another thing they're ignorant of is this of God's might and God's power you know my friends the way in which men speak of God tells us a great deal about him when men say why does God they speak like that because they don't know his power you read the book of Job and you'll find that poor job said many things in his suffering and in his Agony ah yes he discovered that he was ignorant he didn't know and the moment he saw God you remember what he did he put his hand upon his mouth he said I've spoken in advisedly with my lips I had heard of thee with the hearing of the but now what a fool I was says job ever to have complained ever to have thought that you were against me or ever to have grumbled at your dealings with me it's my little mind I didn't know and it's nothing but sure Stark ignorance that makes men speak like this and scoff at God and at his word they don't know his might and his power but oh the most tragic aspect of their ignorance is this they don't know God's love and God's longsuffering the Lord is not slack as some men count slackness as Peter puts it but is Longs suffering toward us to us word that's the explanation not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance you see these scoffers how ignorant they are of his methods of his might and his greatness yes but I say above everything else about this wonderful love of his he's not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us word not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and isn't that the appalling thing about the unbeliever that he is ignorant of the fact that the very fact that he's still alive and that God hasn't blotted him out of existence is entirely due to the love of God he wouldn't be there to scoff if God were not a god of love and gives him this further opportunity as it were the love of God and the compassion of God and the long suffering of God it is that characteristic of God is Holy love that Central attribute in the character of God that accounts for the fact that God delay is and doesn't call the axe to fall the next minute that's why you and I have been permitted to sin for years in unbelief and didn't go at once to hell it's God's love it's God's mercy it's God's longsuffering and compassion but the scuffers nothing about that he is ignorant of the most glorious thing about God very well there's our second point the unbeliever that this non-Christian disbelieves the word of God the second thing is that he defies it and he scuffs it yes but the third and the last thing is this the unbeliever the disbeliever the defire the scuer shall prove prove the truth of the word of the Lord in his own life and in his own experience where is the word of the Lord CH ire with your preaching and your warnings where is" [00:19:25]

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Transcript
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