Romans 8: Repentance, The Defining Mark of the Overcomer

Just before Jesus appeared in ministry upon the earth, John the Baptist preached saying, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2 KJ2000) John himself was that prophetic voice which Isaiah foretold when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Matthew 3:3 KJ2000) Then, upon John’s arrest and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He Himself proclaimed, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17 KJ2000)

These two men, John, the greatest man who had lived until the time of Jesus, and Jesus, who is God Himself, both told us how to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God. They said we must repent. These two men preached to Israel, a nation that knew the Law, God’s specific commands for living within his kingdom. They preached to men who thus knew the definition of sin and what to repent of. Paul, on the other hand, wrote to Romans who he called “Gentiles.” These were men of other nations than Israel or the Jews.

As Paul begins his discourse on repentance he starts with a short summary of common sins, acts which God’s Law forbids. He says,

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 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. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32, KJV)

Before we move on, please notice verse 32. Paul makes it clear that those who practice any of the sins listed before this “commit such things [as] are worthy of death.” Modern day Christianity has white-washed sin by declaring that many of these declared acts simply are not sins. Neither Paul nor any other true prophet of God ever teaches that God’s defined sins are not sins. We only hear such nonsense from leaders of Christian denominations who sold their birthright to Mystery Babylon. Such Christians and those who listen to them fail to repent because they believe they have nothing to repent of. These can never be accounted overcomers with God in this condition. They will not be allowed to enter New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God, until they learn repentance.

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