Bible Matters 386: Time to Turn

Some of the most powerful lessons in God’s doctrine have been presented in the last several lessons.  Once you read these and understand them, one has to ask yourself, how has the devil misled men about the truth in God’s word for so many years! 

At any time in the last eleven years, as the Lord was directing my steps, I could have turned away from his directions, but I didn’t.  (See Bible Matters 385: Works in Three).  The witnesses, the testimonies, the verses, the lessons and the miracles, all lead to the understanding of the truth in God’s word. (See Bible Matters 378: Truth).

Once you realize that your life on earth has consequences (See Bible Matters 384: Consequences) and that you will be judged (See Bible Matters 375: Judgement) for you sins here on this earth (See Bible Matters 376: Sin unto Death), there is only one solution:  It is Time to Turn from you sin and seek God’s forgiveness (See Bible Matters 374: Forgiveness), put your trust in God(See Bible Matters 382: True God) and believe the Gospel. (See Bible Matters 379: Gospel).

In the Old Testament, Jonah told the people of Nineveh to repent and turn back to God.  They did it. 

In the New Testament, Jesus gave you two commandments and a few ordinances to follow.  Love God, love your Neighbor, repent and live the gospel.  The preponderance of evidence testimony from the eight witnesses supports the direction you are to make, when it is your Time To Turn.  Let’s review the testimonies.

Matthew 12:41 – The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Matthew 3:1-3 – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Matthew 4:16-17 – The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 9:12-13 – But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 1:14-15 – Now after that John was put in prison, 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.

Mark 2:17 – When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 6:10-12 – And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.  And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luke 5:31-32 – And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 13:3-5 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 15:10 – Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 24:46-48 – And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things.

John 3:3,5-7 – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Acts 3:18-19 – But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 8:22 – Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Romans 2:4 – Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Hebrews 6:6 – If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 12:16-17 – Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

1 Peter 1:21-23 – Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

2 Peter 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.

James 4:8 – Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Revelation 2:16,21-22 – Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Revelation 16:9,11 – And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Revelation 3:19-21 – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

From all eight witnesses, the testimonies are clear.  You are to repent and turn from your sin.  Period.  Many will say, “Just believe in Jesus and be saved!”  All taken from this one verse. 

Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Do not let anyone deceive you.  The testimony of one witness will not put a man to death.  Likewise, the testimony of one witness will not give you eternal life. 

Numbers 35:30 – Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Humble yourself and pray to God for guidance and power to be able to turn from your sin.  Today, repent of your sins and follow Jesus. 

2 Chronicles 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.

Your only desire is to keep yourself in the love of God, looking forward unto eternal life! 

Jude 1:21 – Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

God has a plan for you.  Just follow his directions. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.