Where is your loyalty?
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11:
2 You need to know that God’s passion is burning inside me for you, because, like a Loving father, I have pledged your hand in marriage to Christ, your true Bridegroom. I’ve also promised that I would present His fiancée to Him as a pure virgin bride.
3 But now I’m afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s clever lies, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may lose your single-hearted devotion and pure Love for Christ.
4 For you seem to gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you preaching a pseudo-Jesus, not the Jesus we have preached. You have accepted a spirit and gospel that is false, rather than the Spirit and Gospel you once embraced. How tolerant you have become of these imposters!
And…
James wrote by The Holy Spirit in chapter 4:
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Repentance means “a change in the whole personality from a sinful course of action to GOD.” FATHER uses the illustration of a husband and wife, bridegroom and bride in conveying the loyalty HE expects of us to HIM. The following provides a comparison between pseudo-Christians and true Christians:
The unrepentant person: The Word of God is optional for my choices.
The repentant person: The Word of God is the final authority for my choices.
Is your relationship with GOD sacred?
After Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, the first Words He spoke in Matthew chapter 4:
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” NKJV
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. NLT
The only way you can turn to God is to repent of your sins.
Matthew wrote by The Holy Spirit in chapter 11:
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent
Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 13:
2 Jesus turned and asked the crowd, “Do you believe that the slaughtered Galileans were the worst sinners of all the Galileans?
3 No, they weren’t! So listen to Me. Unless you all repent, you will perish as they did.
4 Or what about the eighteen who perished when the tower of Siloam fell upon them? Do you really think that they were more guilty than all of the others in Jerusalem?
5 No, they weren’t. But unless you repent, you will all eternally perish, just as they did.“
Jesus reiterated the need for us to repent for repentance opens the door to our relationship with Him. Lawlessness closes the door. The disciples got the message!
Mark wrote by The Holy Spirit in chapter 6:
12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.
13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
When repentance comes, so does healing.
Luke 16, Jesus speaks:
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.
28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”
The rich man knew the reality of his demise and wanted to warn his family. Repentance is critical.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2:
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Our loyalty to Jesus as His bride requires us to fully repent of our sins. Anything less is unacceptable for the bride.