"... repent ye, and believe the gospel" ~ Mark 1:15b
The kingdom of God is at hand and anyone can enter into it who will "repent... and believe the gospel." The gospel of Jesus Christ tells us that a way has been made for us to find peace with God. But it is a way that leads us into a new life. A life which invades us from outside ourselves. A life which has its origin in the kingdom of God. In God Himself. It is not an improved human life. It is an entirely new life. "... old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ."
"All things are of God ..." This is why everyone must repent before entering upon the new life. True repentance comes slowly to some. Perhaps I should say a sense of the need for forgiveness comes slowly. We can be so twisted that we seem almost unaware of sin. I [Eugenia Price, the author] was. But God knew this, and by His love, He brought me to repentance.
But Jesus did not stop preaching, "repent ye." He knew that being willing to turn around and go an entirely new direction is not possible until we "believe the gospel." And so He said, "repent ye and believe the gospel." When we believe the gospel, we believe Christ. And when we believe in Christ, He becomes our Saviour from the old ways. Only then can "all things be made new." Being sorry isn't enough. Being repentant is.
"... and godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation."Jesus said this. "... Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
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