What God Has Joined Together: Repentance and Faith — Zac Poonen -- September 9, 2022
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/what-god-has-joined-together-repentance-and-faith River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that true salvation requires both repentance and faith, as God has joined them together. Repentance involves a complete 180-degree turn away from sin, addressing both excessive pride (high thoughts) and deep discouragement (low thoughts), as well as all crooked and rough areas of life. Faith in Jesus Christ is the necessary second element, and neglecting either component results in a shallow foundation for the Christian life.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why check your foundation?Just like a building with cracks on the upper floors, spiritual problems years after conversion often trace back to a shallow foundation of repentance.
What did John the Baptist preach?Quoting Isaiah, John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins to prepare the way for Jesus.Luke 3:3–4
The four areas of repentanceRepentance involves filling up the valleys of discouragement, bringing low the mountains of pride, straightening crooked areas, and smoothing out rough ways.
Repentance toward God and faith in ChristPaul preached repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, turning away from sin and facing God.
The narrow gate and the narrow wayJesus taught in Matthew 7 that the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and very few find it.
True repentance versus mere sorrowFeeling sorry because you got caught or suffered consequences is not true biblical repentance, which produces salvation without regret.
Christ's last messages to the churchesIn Revelation, Jesus repeatedly commands backslidden and lukewarm churches to repent and return to their first love.
The goal of the Christian raceGod's predestined goal for believers is to be totally conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ through a lifetime of continuous repentance.
What is biblical faith?Faith is more than mental agreement with doctrine; even the devil believes theological facts about God.
The faith of AbelBy faith, Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain, bringing the very best of his flock and earning God's testimony that he was righteous.
Offering leftovers to GodIn Malachi, the people and priests despised God's name by offering blind, lame, and sick animals instead of their best.Malachi 1:6–8
I will not offer that which costs me nothingDavid refused to accept free land and oxen from Araunah for an altar, declaring he would not offer to the Lord something that cost him nothing.
Living by faith dailyJust as salvation begins with faith, the righteous live by faith every day, offering their very best to God.
