Repentance
Jesus first began to preach the Kingdom of God to the lost sheep of the twelve tribes of Israel - the house of Israel (Gen 49:28; Exo 16:31). We will begin with a summary of the house of Israel from the book of Acts by a servant of God named Stephen. I will be the words in green. Purple highlights will emphasize important words or phrases of truth.
After being falsely accused of blasphemy and brought before the high priest, Stephen gives a remarkable summary of the Old Testament house of Israel beginning with Abraham, the father of Isaac, the father of Jacob. Jacob later had his name changed by God to Israel (Gen 32:28).
Israel had twelve sons who became known as the fathers or patriarchs of the house of Israel. Stephen summarizes all the way up to the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ [the anointed one of God (Psa 45:7; Heb 1:9)]. First a few scriptures referring to the lost sheep, the twelve tribes of the house of Israel:
Psa 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant; for I do not forget your commandments.
Here, God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah:
Jer 50:6 My people [the house of Israel] have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray [and the same goes on today by men not preaching the whole truth of the Bible, usually because of what they have been taught or just to keep a position for money or honour among men], they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill [from a high place to a low place], they have forgotten their resting place.
Now in order to understand this "resting place", it is vital to understand the history of the twelve tribes of the house of Israel, the people God made a covenant with. And in return for their obedience, He promised them a "resting place" from all their enemies (Deu 12:10).
God also wanted them to be a model nation to the rest of the world (Deu 4:6). A long story short, they failed as a whole to keep that covenant by forsaking God and relying on their own ways (Eze 20:43). Or they were led astray by false teachings from the false prophets (Jer 14:14).
But God always had some few who remained faithful, and their faithfulness is forever recorded in the Bible. You will often see them referred to as servants of God because they chose to serve the truth of God rather than the theories, assumptions, or traditions of men.
There has always been small pockets of the truth down through the ages, including this one where the true Gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached as a witness to all nations before the end of the age comes and a new Kingdom of God age begins. Notice Jesus’s own words, a prophecy now being fulfilled in our time:
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Jesus did not say it would be widely received, which of course it has not been, only that it would be preached as a witness, a prophecy, or a heads up warning to the nations.
The thing about prophecy, which is basically God saying that He is going to do something and then performing it, is that it is going to be fulfilled whether one believes or does not believe.
The bible contains examples of fulfilled prophecy including some, like the one I just showed you, being fulfilled in our time today.
Now it is also important to understand that even though the house of Israel as a whole failed to keep a covenant with God, the laws of God have not changed and are still binding, especially with those He calls (Joh 15:10; 6:65). And Jesus certainly did not destroy the law or nail it to the cross with Him as some religious authorities mistakenly assume and teach today. Notice from Jesus Himself:
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil [fulfill prophesy].
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And of course the same exceeding of righteousness applies to Christians today within the religious establishments that do not preach the whole truth of God.
So, we have a people of God, the house of Israel, who have forsaken the covenant they made with God, along with His commandments and have become like lost sheep who have been led astray.
Now comes the God of that Old Covenant, in the flesh, Jesus Christ (1Co 10:4) preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mar 1:14) beginning with the descendants of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
After His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, the gospel of the kingdom of God is made available to the rest of the world, or Gentiles as explained in chapter ten of the book of Acts. For now, notice the reference to "lost sheep" from Jesus:
Mat 10:5 These twelve [Apostles] Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter you not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Lost because the house of Israel failed to keep the commandments and statutes of God and pass them on to their children. Notice:
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart:
Deu 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
And one more concerning the lost sheep of the house of Israel:
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
So what should be diligently taught today?
Mat 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
"Of" heaven, not in heaven, but will come down from heaven (Rev 21:2).
The Kingdom of God, the proper or more common phrase, is used 292 times in the New Testament.
The New Testament teaches to repent (turn back to God) and believe the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mar 1:15; Act 17:30; 26:20). It also teaches full immersion baptism for the remission of sins (Act 2:38; 3:19; 26:20).
This new covenant is sealed with the very blood of Jesus Christ (Mat 26:28; Act 20:28; 1Pe 1:2; 1Jn 1:7) and is not a covenant to enter into lightly without weighing the costs. Consider these scriptures; first about repenting:
Mar 1:14 Now after that John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.
And that gospel would of course include the baptism for remission of sins. Now, again from Jesus, weighing the cost of a commitment that estranges you from the believes and traditions of the world (Joh 17:16; 1Co 2:12; Col 2:8; Jas 4:4; 2Pe 2:20; 1Jn 2:16):
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
An important truth of this last scripture: the original Greek, which the New Testament was written in, shows the word "hate" to mean "love less". In other words, disciples count the teachings and commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ to be above all, even at the cost of losing family, a job, and as happened down through the ages, a life. Did Jesus say this would be easy?
Luk 14:27 And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me ["follow me" (Mat 16:24)], cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Emphasizing enduring till the end, as He does at the end of the messages to the seven churches in the book of Revelation beginning in Chapter two.
Enduring till the end will be covered, God willing, in a future teaching after the teaching of baptism.
Now we will go to the book of Acts to confirm repentance granted unto the Gentiles after the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ of God:
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he [Saul, later changed to Paul and now known as the Apostle Paul] is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Opening salvation to all who would receive it. And now, the Apostle Peter's account:
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed [those of the house of Israel] were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
Act 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
We will now look at Stephen’s summary of the twelve tribes of Israel, the house of Israel. This summary serves as a good history lesson concerning the house of Israel and will be the foundation of other truths we will explore:
Act 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit for his obedience to God. Notice, also from the book of Acts:
Act 5:32 And we are his [Jesus'] witnesses of these things; and so is [of] also the Holy Ghost [Spirit], which God has given to them that obey him.
Back to Stephen:
Act 6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians , and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
A common occurrence down through the ages, the many of error attacking the few of truth (Mat 7:14).
Act 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.
Not surprising, when you understand the wisdom came from God’s Holy spirit dwelling in Stephen (1Jn 4:13).
Act 6:11 Then they suborned men [to induce secretly to do an unlawful thing], which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
The unlawful act induced here is the breaking of God's nineth commandment:
Exo 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
Does God give His commandments to be bossy, or is there supreme wisdom behind them? We will see a prime example of just how deadly this sin of false witness can be at the end of Stephen’s summary.
Act 6:12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council [note the high place],
Act 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Act 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
Moses also delivered the ten commandments given to him for the house of Israel by God, including the ninth, not to bear false witness, which after being broken led to a sad outcome for Stephen:
Act 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Act 7:1 Then said the high priest [note the high religious authority], Are these things so?
Act 7:2 And he said, men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Act 7:3 And said unto him, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and come into the land which I shall show you.
Act 7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.
Act 7:5 And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession [which will be fulfilled when Abraham is resurrected in the first resurrection (Rev 20:5,6) at Christ's return (Luk 19:12), and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
And "as touching the resurrection of the dead":
Mat 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Here is the scripture Jesus was referring to from the Old Testament:
Exo 3:6 Moreover he [God] said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
God received the spirit, the spirit in man, at the time of their deaths, preserved in a sleep state until the first resurrection at Christ’ return. Let us confirm the spirit in man:
Num 27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding.
Job 34:14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gathers unto himself his spirit and his breath [last breath];
Ps 31:5 Into your hand I commit my spirit: you have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Ps 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile [deceit or falseness; pretender].
Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust [physical body] return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Zec 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, says the LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
One from the apostle Paul in the New Testament who had this understanding:
1Co 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God [having the Spirit of God].
Thus the importance of seeking God "with all your heart" (Jer 29:13) to obtain that Holy Spirit essence that can only come from Him.
Now we will look at examples of the sleep state the spirits are in while awaiting a resurrection or awakening back to awareness:
Deu 31:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people [the house of Israel] will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods [worshipping idols] of the strangers of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
God speaking to King David through the prophet Nathan:
2Sa 7:12 And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
And here, from the prophet Daniel covering both sleep and resurrection:
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And from Jesus:
Jn 11:11 These things said he: and after that he said unto them, our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Returning his spirit to his flesh and awakening it.
Jn 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Jn 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
One concerning King David:
Act 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
His dead body saw decay.
From the book of Mathew:
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Back to Jesus:
Luk 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.
Speaking of her spirit:
Luk 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Luk 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
Again, returning the spirit to the flesh:
Luk 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
Physical food which feeds the flesh or body. God’s people or saints need spiritual food or truth to feed the spirit. Notice from Jesus:
Joh 21:17 He said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, love you me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Love you me? And he said unto him, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep [the saints (Heb 6:10)].
Back to the sleep state from the Apostle Paul:
1Co 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Again, covering both sleep and resurrection:
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump [Rev 11:15]: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead [in Christ (1Th 4:16)] shall be raised [resurrected (Luk 20:36)] incorruptible [to ever lasting life], and we shall be changed.
Speaking of the saints who are still alive at Christ’s return.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [saints, called, chosen, and faithful till the end (Rev 17:14)] will God bring with him.))
And back to God's servant, Saint Stephen:
Act 7:6 And God spoke on this wise, That his seed [Abraham’s seed]; should sojourn in a strange land [Egypt, as the book of Exodus clearly shows]; and that they [the Egyptians] should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
Here is the prophesy given to Abraham by God:
Gen 15:13 And he said unto Abram [Abraham’s previous name before God changed it to Abraham (Gen 17:5)], Know of a surety that your seed [the house of Israel] shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Gen 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
Gen 15:15 And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
Continuing with Stephen:
Act 7:7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
Act 7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob [Israel] begat the twelve patriarchs.
These were the twelve sons of Israel who became the twelve fathers of the house of Israel.
Act 7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
Act 7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Act 7:11 Now there came a dearth [famine] over all the land of Egypt and Chanan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance [while they were yet in Chanan].
Act 7:12 But when Jacob [Israel] heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
Act 7:13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
This was the kind and generous Pharaoh who welcomed the house of Israel into Egypt.
Act 7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
Multiply the threescore times two and add a zero to get sixty, and then add fifteen to get 75 souls or people.
Act 7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
Act 7:16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
Act 7:17 But when the time of the promise drew near [the prophesy or foretelling we looked at earlier given to Abraham by God], which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
Act 7:18 Till another king [a not so kind Pharoah] arose, which knew not Joseph.
Act 7:19 The same dealt subtilely with our kindred [to be crafty against], and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
Act 7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
Act 7:21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
Act 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Act 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Act 7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
Act 7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
Act 7:26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, you are brethren; why do you wrong one to another?
Act 7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
Act 7:28 Will you kill me, as you did the Egyptian yesterday?
Act 7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Median, where he begat two sons.
Act 7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
Act 7:31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
Act 7:32 Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst [dared] not behold.
Act 7:33 Then said the Lord to him, put off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is holy ground.
Act 7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you into Egypt.
Act 7:35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, who made you a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Act 7:36 He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Act 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me [a deliverer]; him shall you hear.
An early prophesy of Jesus who is also a deliverer. The New Testament shows Him teaching coming out of the world, believing in the kingdom of God, repentance, baptism, and enduring till the end. And those who obey receive God’s Holy Spirit and hear Jesus. See here:
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And for the rest who would be called right up to our present day:
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold [Gentiles; not of the lost sheep of the house of Israel]: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Another example of a prophesy that was fulfilled when salvation was opened to the Gentiles (Act 11:18).
Now concerning Jesus as a deliverer in the New Testament, we learn from the apostle Paul:
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Upon repentance, baptism, and the receiving of God's Holy Spirit, one is considered a begotten child of God (1Pe 1:3; 1Jn 5:1; Mat 5:9; Rom 8:16). The Most High God (Mar 5:7) is then referred to reverently (Psa 89:7; Heb 12:28) as Father. Not any man, only Him. Notice:
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father [the most High God], which is in heaven.
Continuing with Stephen concerning Moses:
Act 7:38 This is he, that was in the church [Greek: called out ones] in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles [utterances; the word of God] to give unto us:
Act 7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
The ways of Egypt, especially idol worship (Eze 20:7).
Here is a good teaching from the apostle Paul about leaving the Oracles or word of God and leaning on our own understanding:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Let us have a look at God’s description of the people he had to deal with at that time and continues to deal with up to our present time:
Exo 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked [grievous; stubborn] people.
Same people Moses had to deal with as their leader, and understood perfectly what God had told him. Moses here makes it clear that the receiving of the promised land was due to God keeping a promise He made to Abraham (Gen 26:3) and not because of any righteousness from the house of Israel:
Deu 9:6 Understand therefore, that the LORD your God gives you not this good land to possess it for your righteousness; for you are a stiff-necked people.
Deu 9:7 Remember, and forget not, how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that you did depart out of the land of Egypt, until you came unto this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.
Deu 9:24 You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.
Deu 31:27 For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
And there has been much more, right up until our present time. They should have been holding fast to the covenant made with God and teaching the same to their children. But, unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Notice what should be, according to the will of God from the few who remained faithful to God:
Psa 78:1 Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Psa 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old
Psa 78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
Psa 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done.
And truly, delivering the house of Israel from slavery and oppression was a wonderful work.
Psa 78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel [the house of Israel], which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
Psa 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
Psa 78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Psa 78:8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
Now back to God’s descriptions of the house of Israel through the prophet Isaiah:
Isa 1:23 Your princes [leaders] are rebellious, and companions of thieves [corrupted]: every one loves gifts [in return for favours; also what we would call bribes today], and follows after rewards [rather than the truth of God]: they judge not the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come unto them.
A warning coming here from God of deep suffering, calamity, trouble described in one word, “woe”:
Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, says the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me [not of His will]; and that cover with a covering, [the original Hebrew here means to pour out, in the sense of pouring out oil during an anointing to a higher rank or position] but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Sin is the transgression or breaking of God's law (1Jn 3:4). Therefore, if religious authorities are teaching false doctrines apart from the law of God and causing people to break God's law as a result, they are adding "sin to sin" down through the generations (Mat 3:7; 12:34; 23:15).
What did God have His faithful servants do with His word? Drop to verse 8:
Isa 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book [this very book of Isaiah we are reading from being among many books in the Holy Bible], that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.
The Holy Bible is still very much here today. In fact, it has been, and continues to be the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion copies acquired over the years. And according to America’s Leading Media Expert, Michael Levine, bible sales are up 22% as buyers are seeking hope and comfort in troubled times.
"Little flocks" of God’s true servants (Luk 12:23) have been preaching the gospel of truth since the time of Christ. The gospel of the kingdom of God coming to earth (Luk 11:2) brings hope and comfort.
However, Satan has, and will continue to fight against the truth of that gospel right up until Christ returns (Rev 12:9, 17). And not many have had ears to hear (Zec 7:11; Mat 11:15). It takes faith. How do you develop faith to the point where you become convinced?
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"; a solid teaching from the Apostle Paul. Here it is with some important truths leading up to it:
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek [Gentile; anyone other than those of the house of Israel]: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias [Isaiah] says, Lord, who has believed our report [Isa 53:1]?
When one is discouraged or confused by they who claim to be teachers of the gospel of Christ but do not obey what He says (Luk 6:46), what is there that remains to develop faith?
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The Holy Bible. Words spoken by God through His prophets in the Old Testament, and words in red spoken by Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
Now back to God’s description in Isaiah of the majority of the people who rebelled and continue to rebel against His truth due to the traditions and teachings of false prophets or teachers:
Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers [prophets; foretellers], See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things [truth], speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits [lies]:
Isa 30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
The same Holy One who freed their fathers from slavery.
Isa 30:12 Wherefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
Isa 30:13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly at an instant.
Are we living in a time when a high wall can come down suddenly? Think of present world conditions with nuclear sabres beginning to rattle.
What is the root of this rebellion towards God?:
(Isa 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walks in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
The problem is with men leaning on their own understanding (Pro 3:5) and not trusting God.
Look here, God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah:
Jer 5:23 But this people have a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
And to all the house of Israel through the prophet Ezekiel:
Eze 2:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
Eze 2:4 For they are impudent children and stiff-hearted. I do send you unto them; and you shall say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD.
Eze 2:5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear [desist; cease to act], (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
Eze 12:25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, says the Lord GOD.
Now back to Stephen and the house of Israel with an example of their early betrayal and willingness to worship an idol rather than obey a commandment from a loving and merciful God who had just freed them from slavery:
Act 7:40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
Act 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Act 7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness [Amo 5:25]?
Act 7:43 Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Act 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he [God] had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
Act 7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus [Joshua (Jos 3:10)] into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
Act 7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Act 7:47 But Solomon built him an house [the first temple in Jerusalem].
Act 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet,
Act 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? says the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Here is the scripture from the book of the prophet Isaiah:
Isa 66:1 Thus says the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that you build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Yet a lot of houses of worship have been built in His name, but like God Himself says through the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 30, verse 1, which we have already read: "but not of me"; "but not of my spirit". How then is God to be worshipped if not in a temple or building made with hands?
Joh 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
And that can be at home alone (Psa 102: 7; Job 19: 13,14) or where ever two or three are gathered in Christ's name (Mat 18:20).
Continuing with Stephen:
Act 7:50 Has not my hand made all these things?
Here, what has descended down from the house of Israel:
Act 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost [Spirit]: as your fathers did, so do you.
Moses, dealing with the fathers:
Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear [revere; regard as worthy of great honour] the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deu 10:13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes [this would include His feasts, High days or Holy days (Lev 23)], which I command you this day for your good?)
Deu 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S your God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Deu 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed [descendants] after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
And as it is this day with many in the West who do not even know they are descendants of the house of Israel. A topic, God willing, for a future teaching.
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked [stubborn].
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords [Psa 136:3; 1Ti 6:15; Rev 17:14; 19:16], a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regards not persons, nor takes reward [gifts or bribes].
But men do take gifts or bribes; especially men in high places [Eph 6:12] who care more about their own honour among men rather than honouring God. Notice what happens to Saint Stephen for boldly expressing this truth:
Act 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One [Jesus the Christ; the anointed of God]; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Act 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Notice now the evil spirit rear its ugly head against the truth of God:
Act 7:54 When they [men of high places filled with spiritual wickedness] heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Act 7:55 But he [Saint Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost [Spirit], looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God [Psa 110:1].
Act 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
No ears to hear here:
Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul [also Paul; later the apostle Paul (Act 13:9)].
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
A wonderful man, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, struck down for nothing more than the love of the truth of God by the descendants of a rebellious and stubborn people.
Let us conclude with some scriptures related to repentance. And as you read them, meditate on them, and compare them to what you see happening in the world around you. God bless you with understanding:
Deu 4:29 But if from here you shall seek the LORD your God, you shall find him, if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 4:30 When you are in tribulation [tight spot; trouble], and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days [these days], if you turn to the LORD your God, and shall be obedient unto his voice;
Deu 4:31 (For the LORD your God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore unto them.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Job 42:5 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye sees you.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Ps 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way [along the way, or course of life].
Ps 25:9 The meek [depressed, humble, lowly, poor] will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Ps 34:18 The LORD is nigh [near] unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite [crushed] spirit.
Ps 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Ps 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Pro 28:13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.
Isa 55:6 Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Jer 29:13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
Ps 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Ps 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought you: O let me not wander from your commandments.
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he has pronounced against you.
Jer 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; you have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
Jer 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Eze 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD; Repent [turn back], and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations [morally disgusting ways].
Eze 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Eze 18:20 The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Do not be fooled by the "immortal soul" doctrine.
Eze 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Eze 18:22 All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.
Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Eze 24:14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent [to sigh; to be sorry; to take pity] ; according to your ways, and according to your doings, shall they [" your ways and your doings"] judge you, says the Lord GOD.
Eze 33:10 Therefore, O you son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; This you speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away [be corrupt] in them, how should we then live?
Eze 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, says the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil.
Jon 3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
Jon 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Jon 3:10 And God saw their works, that, they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
The book of Jonah is a fascinating read. It is rare gem in that it shows an entire city actually heed the words of God's prophet and save themselves from imminent destruction by repenting of their evil ways.
I pray for the same for the nations of the descendants of the house of Israel today, as well as all the nations. However, in all honesty, this is one area where I lack faith of that level of repentance ever happening.
But my faith is strong in God's word. And His word says that salvation is available to ALL who call upon His name, to all who seek Him with their whole heart, to all who repent and turn to Him, to all who are baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, to all who worship God in spirit and in truth, and to all that obey God.
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Not verbally confessing their sins in detail, but by the actions of repentance and baptism. Verbal confession of sin is reserved only for God the Father, the most High God (Psa 32:5; Dan 9:4).
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [Spirit], and with fire [fiery; fire]:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Do not enter the new covenant half-heartedly:
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
Mat 7:19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent [to rethink; reconsider]: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe [have faith in;] the gospel.
Mat 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, why eats your Master with publicans and sinners?
Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Mat 9:13 But go you and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, except you be converted [turn around; turn back again to God], and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Luk 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 3:18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has so fulfilled.
Act 3:19 Repent you therefore, and be converted [revert; turn back to the ways of God], that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device [idols].
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent:
Act 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I [the apostle Paul] was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Act 26:20 But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet [suitable] for repentance.
Rom 5:8 But God commended [introduced; exhibited] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now [after repentance and baptism] justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man [first man; Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity [hostility; opposition; hatred] against God: for it is not subject [subordinate; under obedience] to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
It is important to recognize that the Apostle Paul's epistles to "brethren" are to those who have repented and been baptized (saints) into the truth of God. I am displaying some to show examples of what is expected from one who receives "the gift of God".
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Then there is the spiritual battle against Satan:
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world [Satan, for now] has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Then there is the battle against former actions that we know were not pleasing to God.
I doubt anyone has been perfect at it. But I do know, thanks to the blood of Jesus Christ and confessing His name along with our sin to God the Father, He will abundantly pardon(Neh 9:17; Isa 55:7).
Eph 4:21 If it be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive [argue; fight]; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves [set oneself in opposition to something]; if God peradventure [perhaps] will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves [recover one's senses] out of the snare [trap or trick] of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.
1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Freely I have received, freely I have given.
Farewell,
Servanthood