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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt

James Merritt - Repentance

August 9, 2025 | S25 E58 | 28:30

James Merritt - Repentance
Touching Lives is the international broadcast ministry of Dr. James Merritt.
#inActive #Repentance #Heart #Change #Sin #Jesus #Death #Eternity #Conviction #Faith #Believe #SpiritualWarfare #Flesh #Devil

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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt | James Merritt - Repentance | August 9, 2025
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: welcome to the international broadcast ministry
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  • Of "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
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  • Here at "touching lives," our mission is to touch the lives of
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  • The lost and enrich the faith of the found.
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  • And now here is pastor, author and speaker, dr. james merritt.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • James merritt: we are in a series that we've been calling
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  • "lost in translation."
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  • Started it last week.
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  • There's some big church words that church people use and
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  • Pastors use and we sometimes forget that if you don't, if
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  • You're not kind of churchy, you may not understand what those
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  • Words mean.
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  • They get lost in translation and yet there are words that even
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  • Though they're big and we may not understand that at first we
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  • Do need to understand.
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  • If you're an unbeliever, you need to understand them because
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  • Without these words and without these concepts, you can never
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  • Have a relationship with god.
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  • Believers need to understand them because if you're not
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  • Practicing these things, you really don't have fellowship
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  • With god and they all relate to salvation.
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  • So i'm gonna give you a little review if you missed last week.
  • 00:01:07.816 --> 00:01:10.319
  • The first one we talked about was the word regeneration.
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  • And i know that's a word that can kinda make your eyes glaze
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  • Over you, you say what in the word is regeneration?
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  • So we talked about that last week, so let me just give you a
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  • Quick review.
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  • Regeneration is the work that god does in bringing spiritual
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  • Life to a spiritually dead person so they can truly see
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  • Spiritual truth with their eyes, hear spiritual truth with their
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  • Ears, and respond to spiritual truth with their heart.
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  • And what we said last week was, there are only two kinds of
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  • People in the world.
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  • You've only got two kinds of neighbors, two kinds of family
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  • Members, two kinds of friends.
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  • Either they're spiritually alive or they are spiritually dead.
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  • Those are the only two kinds of people in the world.
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  • And we said last week, every one of us were born dead on arrival.
  • 00:01:52.828 --> 00:01:56.331
  • We were all born spiritually dead, so we need regeneration.
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  • We need the life that only god can give.
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  • Now, today we're gonna talk about another big church word.
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  • It's the word repentance.
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  • I know it's a big deal for this reason.
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  • That word is used 969 times in the bible.
  • 00:02:15.384 --> 00:02:21.256
  • Now we would all agree if god says something once, all you
  • 00:02:21.256 --> 00:02:24.927
  • Need, but yet god repeats it 969 times.
  • 00:02:24.927 --> 00:02:29.565
  • And i think that's god's way of saying, "you know what?
  • 00:02:29.565 --> 00:02:31.833
  • If i mention something almost 1000 times, it better get
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  • Your attention.
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  • You better understand what i'm talking about when i mentioned
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  • That word."
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  • The problem is this.
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  • It's a word you rarely ever hear anymore.
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  • I listen to a lot of preachers you can imagine.
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  • I listen to preachers who are called--today's the real n-word
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  • Is the word communicator.
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  • You know, if you're a preacher, that's kind of old timey.
  • 00:02:56.992 --> 00:02:58.994
  • By the way, i'm a preacher, but anyway, you know, they're now--
  • 00:02:58.994 --> 00:03:01.763
  • And i listen to great communicators.
  • 00:03:01.763 --> 00:03:04.032
  • But i've noticed this for years and years and years.
  • 00:03:04.032 --> 00:03:07.002
  • There are several words they don't ever ever talk about
  • 00:03:07.002 --> 00:03:09.738
  • Anymore and one of the words they never ever use is this
  • 00:03:09.738 --> 00:03:12.507
  • Word repentance.
  • 00:03:12.507 --> 00:03:14.176
  • One theologian called it the forgotten word.
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  • And it's not only a forgotten word.
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  • It's a forsaken word.
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  • You just don't really hear it much anymore.
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  • It's also a forbidden word.
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  • And preachers will say, "oh you can't call people to repent,
  • 00:03:25.420 --> 00:03:27.956
  • You'll offend them."
  • 00:03:27.956 --> 00:03:29.591
  • Because if you tell people they need to repent, you know what
  • 00:03:29.591 --> 00:03:32.060
  • You just said?
  • 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:33.428
  • You're not as good as you think you are.
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  • And maybe you're not okay with god.
  • 00:03:35.464 --> 00:03:37.499
  • And oh, by the way, if you need to repent, that means that
  • 00:03:37.499 --> 00:03:40.535
  • There's something you need to repent of and then here's what
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  • They'll tell you, "you can't call people to repent, then
  • 00:03:43.472 --> 00:03:46.275
  • You're judging other people."
  • 00:03:46.275 --> 00:03:48.610
  • Well, if it came from jesus, it's a word we cannot forget, we
  • 00:03:48.610 --> 00:03:54.449
  • Cannot forsake, and we cannot forbid.
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  • So today, if you brought a copy of god's word, i want you to
  • 00:03:56.251 --> 00:03:59.821
  • Turn to the gospel of luke chapter 13.
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  • Matthew, mark, luke.
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  • If you don't have a bible, put it up on your ipad or
  • 00:04:05.394 --> 00:04:07.629
  • Your phone.
  • 00:04:07.629 --> 00:04:08.964
  • And we're gonna talk about a conversation that jesus had in
  • 00:04:08.964 --> 00:04:12.067
  • The gospels, a fascinating conversation.
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  • And he's talking about the principle of repentance.
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  • Now let me give you my sermon in a sentence, okay?
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  • This is what we're gonna talk about today.
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  • To turn to god, we must turn from sin.
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  • That's simple.
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  • All right, let's say that together.
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  • To turn from god, we must turn or turn to god.
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  • Let's do it again.
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  • "to turn to god, we must turn from sin."
  • 00:04:34.056 --> 00:04:36.558
  • Okay, got it now.
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  • Jesus tells us three things we need to learn about repentance.
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  • Number one, we are commanded to repent.
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  • We're commanded to do it.
  • 00:04:45.967 --> 00:04:48.370
  • Now the reason the topic even came up is really interesting.
  • 00:04:48.370 --> 00:04:51.440
  • So we're in luke chapter 13, verse 1.
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  • "now there were some present at that time
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  • Who told jesus about the galileans whose
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  • Blood pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
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  • Jesus answered, 'do you think that these galileans were worse
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  • Sinners than all the other galileans because they suffered
  • 00:05:05.020 --> 00:05:08.290
  • That way?'"
  • 00:05:08.290 --> 00:05:09.624
  • Now back in that day, news traveled fast and evidently,
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  • Here's what had happened.
  • 00:05:12.427 --> 00:05:13.795
  • There were a group of galileans, they were practicing their
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  • Religion and they were offering a blood sacrifice.
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  • Now we're not told why it made pilate mad.
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  • We're not told why it upset him, but evidently he didn't like it.
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  • So he not only had these religious people killed, he then
  • 00:05:25.774 --> 00:05:30.011
  • To kinda add insult to injury, took their blood, their own
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  • Blood and mixed it with their sacrifice.
  • 00:05:33.882 --> 00:05:38.153
  • And so the people said to jesus, "so what did they do to
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  • Deserve that?
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  • What, what, what, what possible sin did they commit?
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  • How did they make god so angry?"
  • 00:05:48.263 --> 00:05:51.900
  • Well, then jesus brings up an incident they didn't even
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  • Know about.
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  • He said, "are those 18 who died when the tower of siloam fell
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  • On them?
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  • Do you think they were more guilty than all the others
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  • Living in jerusalem?"
  • 00:06:02.577 --> 00:06:03.945
  • And evidently there was a, there were some people in siloam,
  • 00:06:03.945 --> 00:06:07.516
  • Which by the way, was a reservoir.
  • 00:06:07.516 --> 00:06:09.551
  • You could go to the pool of siloam today.
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  • It had a pool.
  • 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:12.687
  • I don't know what they were doing.
  • 00:06:12.687 --> 00:06:14.022
  • Maybe they were getting a drink of water, maybe they were
  • 00:06:14.022 --> 00:06:16.024
  • Bathing in the pool.
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  • I don't know what they were doing, but for no reason, this
  • 00:06:17.392 --> 00:06:19.461
  • Big tower falls down and it kills 18 people.
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  • And it caused a strange reaction among the people because this is
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  • The way people thought back in that day.
  • 00:06:27.002 --> 00:06:29.204
  • Back in that day, people thought if something bad happened to
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  • Somebody, they did something bad to deserve it.
  • 00:06:32.073 --> 00:06:36.711
  • So whenever something bad would happen they would think now why
  • 00:06:36.711 --> 00:06:39.748
  • Wonder what they did to deserve that.
  • 00:06:39.748 --> 00:06:45.720
  • Because they also thought deep down, "didn't happen to me.
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  • I must be a pretty good guy.
  • 00:06:49.591 --> 00:06:51.660
  • I must be better than they are 'cause look man, i'm living high
  • 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:54.729
  • Wide and handsome."
  • 00:06:54.729 --> 00:06:56.765
  • So jesus says, "i need to set your thinking straight."
  • 00:06:56.765 --> 00:07:00.735
  • And so he uses these two instances to prove a point.
  • 00:07:00.735 --> 00:07:03.104
  • Let me just tell you what jesus was getting them to understand.
  • 00:07:03.104 --> 00:07:05.574
  • I want you to understand.
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  • I know you know it, but just as a review, disasters happen
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  • To everybody.
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  • Not just bad people but good people.
  • 00:07:12.547 --> 00:07:16.351
  • Not just people who don't go to church, but people who do go
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  • To church.
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  • Not just people who don't believe in god, but people
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  • Who do.
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  • That's why you can't really divide the human race into who
  • 00:07:23.425 --> 00:07:25.660
  • Is bad and who is good due to either the good things that
  • 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:28.897
  • Happened to them or the bad things.
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  • The truth of the matter is tragedy and disaster and
  • 00:07:30.732 --> 00:07:34.269
  • Terrible things they do separate people, that's for sure.
  • 00:07:34.269 --> 00:07:37.539
  • Some people have it worse than others.
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  • Listen, i've been so blessed.
  • 00:07:39.074 --> 00:07:40.709
  • God has been so good to me.
  • 00:07:40.709 --> 00:07:42.310
  • There's some of you right now, you're going through things i've
  • 00:07:42.310 --> 00:07:44.546
  • Never gone through.
  • 00:07:44.546 --> 00:07:47.015
  • And there's some of you, you've gone through things i've never
  • 00:07:47.015 --> 00:07:49.317
  • Gone through.
  • 00:07:49.317 --> 00:07:50.685
  • So jesus said, "i think you misunderstand something about
  • 00:07:50.685 --> 00:07:53.221
  • Death, so let me set you straight."
  • 00:07:53.221 --> 00:07:56.224
  • He said, "the real issue of death is not where you die.
  • 00:07:56.224 --> 00:08:01.730
  • It is not when you die.
  • 00:08:01.730 --> 00:08:05.934
  • It's not how you die.
  • 00:08:05.934 --> 00:08:09.571
  • And in one sense, you don't even realize it's not even why you
  • 00:08:09.571 --> 00:08:12.707
  • Think you die."
  • 00:08:12.707 --> 00:08:16.044
  • We're all going to die.
  • 00:08:16.044 --> 00:08:17.913
  • And we're all going to meet god.
  • 00:08:17.913 --> 00:08:20.115
  • And he says, "once you understand that," then he drops
  • 00:08:20.115 --> 00:08:22.684
  • The ball.
  • 00:08:22.684 --> 00:08:24.185
  • He says, "but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
  • 00:08:24.185 --> 00:08:33.461
  • It may not be with a sword, it may not be by a falling tower,
  • 00:08:33.461 --> 00:08:37.065
  • But you're going to die and when you die, you're going to meet
  • 00:08:37.065 --> 00:08:39.601
  • God and therefore it doesn't matter whether something bad
  • 00:08:39.601 --> 00:08:42.971
  • Happens to you or nothing bad happens to you.
  • 00:08:42.971 --> 00:08:46.041
  • If you want to know god and be right with god, he said, "you
  • 00:08:46.041 --> 00:08:50.545
  • Must repent."
  • 00:08:50.545 --> 00:08:51.880
  • It's not an option.
  • 00:08:51.880 --> 00:08:53.315
  • It is a command.
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  • It's the first word that jesus ever spoke in his ministry.
  • 00:08:55.050 --> 00:08:58.353
  • You are commanded to repent.
  • 00:08:58.353 --> 00:09:01.056
  • Oh, by the way, not only was it the first word jesus ever spoke.
  • 00:09:01.056 --> 00:09:05.961
  • Did you know it was the last word that jesus ever spoke?
  • 00:09:05.961 --> 00:09:08.763
  • In the book of revelation, he said this, "those whom i love i
  • 00:09:08.763 --> 00:09:11.967
  • Rebuke and discipline.
  • 00:09:11.967 --> 00:09:13.301
  • So be earnest and repent."
  • 00:09:13.301 --> 00:09:15.337
  • So the first thing i want you to understand is this, we are all
  • 00:09:15.337 --> 00:09:18.340
  • Commanded to repent.
  • 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:20.575
  • It's not just that everybody should repent, they ought
  • 00:09:20.575 --> 00:09:22.844
  • To repent.
  • 00:09:22.844 --> 00:09:24.212
  • It'd be good if they repented.
  • 00:09:24.212 --> 00:09:25.547
  • Jesus said, you must repent if you're going to have a
  • 00:09:25.547 --> 00:09:29.951
  • Relationship with god.
  • 00:09:29.951 --> 00:09:31.386
  • So number one, we're commanded to repent, no choice.
  • 00:09:31.386 --> 00:09:36.157
  • Well, number two, if we're commanded to repent then we
  • 00:09:36.157 --> 00:09:40.195
  • Ought to commit to repent.
  • 00:09:40.195 --> 00:09:42.063
  • I mean, if he tells me you ought to do it, then i should do it.
  • 00:09:42.063 --> 00:09:45.133
  • So jesus repeats himself twice, says the same thing two times.
  • 00:09:45.133 --> 00:09:49.137
  • "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
  • 00:09:49.137 --> 00:09:52.774
  • So, now we need to answer the question, the big
  • 00:09:52.774 --> 00:09:55.443
  • Church question.
  • 00:09:55.443 --> 00:09:56.811
  • What does it mean to repent?
  • 00:09:56.811 --> 00:10:02.250
  • If you ask the average unbeliever, clueless.
  • 00:10:02.250 --> 00:10:06.888
  • If you ask the average believer, many people are clueless.
  • 00:10:06.888 --> 00:10:11.359
  • 'cause i can tell you right now, there's some of you right now,
  • 00:10:11.359 --> 00:10:13.662
  • You've already thought in your mind, oh, i know what repentance
  • 00:10:13.662 --> 00:10:15.864
  • Is, and you think you're right, but you're not.
  • 00:10:15.864 --> 00:10:18.166
  • I'm gonna give you an example of that in just a moment because by
  • 00:10:18.166 --> 00:10:21.102
  • The way, the word perish, unless you repent, you're going to
  • 00:10:21.102 --> 00:10:23.705
  • Perish, that word perish doesn't mean to die physically.
  • 00:10:23.705 --> 00:10:26.241
  • It means to die spiritually.
  • 00:10:26.241 --> 00:10:27.976
  • It means to die eternally.
  • 00:10:27.976 --> 00:10:29.444
  • What jesus said was, look, we're all going to die, but if you
  • 00:10:29.444 --> 00:10:33.281
  • Don't repent, you're not just gonna die physically, you're
  • 00:10:33.281 --> 00:10:35.583
  • Gonna die spiritually, you're gonna die eternally, you will be
  • 00:10:35.583 --> 00:10:38.453
  • Dead forever, you will be forever separated from god.
  • 00:10:38.453 --> 00:10:41.523
  • So it really is the ultimate life or death decision.
  • 00:10:41.523 --> 00:10:45.293
  • So i thought about this and i thought, well, wait a minute,
  • 00:10:45.293 --> 00:10:47.629
  • Before i tell people what it does mean, let me clarify what
  • 00:10:47.629 --> 00:10:50.765
  • It doesn't mean.
  • 00:10:50.765 --> 00:10:52.133
  • Repentance is not just the conviction of sin.
  • 00:10:52.133 --> 00:10:57.772
  • It's not just a conviction of sin.
  • 00:10:57.772 --> 00:11:00.341
  • Now, you cannot repent until you're convicted of your sin,
  • 00:11:00.341 --> 00:11:06.114
  • But you can be convicted of your sin and still don't repent.
  • 00:11:06.114 --> 00:11:11.186
  • And then there are people who say, "i know what it is.
  • 00:11:11.186 --> 00:11:14.189
  • Repentance is not just conviction of sin.
  • 00:11:14.189 --> 00:11:16.624
  • It's not just confession of sin, it's contrition for sin.
  • 00:11:16.624 --> 00:11:21.262
  • It's being sorry for your sin."
  • 00:11:21.262 --> 00:11:23.631
  • Let me say this again, you can be sorry for your sin and still
  • 00:11:23.631 --> 00:11:27.469
  • Not repent.
  • 00:11:27.469 --> 00:11:28.803
  • Now you can't repent unless you're sorry for your sin, but
  • 00:11:28.803 --> 00:11:31.206
  • You can be sorry for your sin and still not repent 'cause i'm
  • 00:11:31.206 --> 00:11:35.143
  • Gonna let us all in on a dirty little secret that's true about
  • 00:11:35.143 --> 00:11:39.614
  • Everybody in this room.
  • 00:11:39.614 --> 00:11:41.382
  • Do you know why many, many times people have to say they're sorry
  • 00:11:41.382 --> 00:11:47.322
  • Is because they got caught.
  • 00:11:47.322 --> 00:11:51.126
  • Now don't look at me like you're so holy out there, don't know
  • 00:11:51.126 --> 00:11:53.194
  • What i'm talking about, right?
  • 00:11:53.194 --> 00:11:55.764
  • No, you're not sorry 'cause you got your hand caught in that
  • 00:11:55.764 --> 00:11:59.634
  • Cookie jar when your momma told you not to eat cookies before
  • 00:11:59.634 --> 00:12:02.237
  • Dinner, you're sorry because you got caught.
  • 00:12:02.237 --> 00:12:05.507
  • So you can be sorry, you can be contrite, "oh, i am so sorry
  • 00:12:05.507 --> 00:12:10.445
  • That i did that," but that is not repentance.
  • 00:12:10.445 --> 00:12:13.681
  • It's not being sorry for getting caught.
  • 00:12:13.681 --> 00:12:15.917
  • So what is repentance?
  • 00:12:15.917 --> 00:12:17.285
  • Here's what it is, real simple, coming clean.
  • 00:12:17.285 --> 00:12:21.289
  • Repentance is coming clean.
  • 00:12:21.289 --> 00:12:23.191
  • Now, it includes conviction.
  • 00:12:23.191 --> 00:12:24.926
  • That's step one.
  • 00:12:24.926 --> 00:12:26.394
  • It includes confession.
  • 00:12:26.394 --> 00:12:27.996
  • That's step two.
  • 00:12:27.996 --> 00:12:29.364
  • It includes contrition.
  • 00:12:29.364 --> 00:12:30.698
  • That's step three.
  • 00:12:30.698 --> 00:12:32.066
  • Let me tell you what real repentance is in a word that
  • 00:12:32.066 --> 00:12:34.869
  • Starts with a c.
  • 00:12:34.869 --> 00:12:36.538
  • Real repentance is conversion, conversion.
  • 00:12:36.538 --> 00:12:40.241
  • Did you hear that?
  • 00:12:40.241 --> 00:12:41.576
  • It is conversion.
  • 00:12:41.576 --> 00:12:43.812
  • You turn from sin.
  • 00:12:43.812 --> 00:12:46.247
  • Repentance is that point when you all of a sudden just put a,
  • 00:12:46.247 --> 00:12:48.883
  • I mean, you just slam on the brakes and you turn away from
  • 00:12:48.883 --> 00:12:54.122
  • All that you have done and you turn to what he has done.
  • 00:12:54.122 --> 00:12:59.794
  • You turn from who you are and you turn to who he is.
  • 00:12:59.794 --> 00:13:05.233
  • So let me give you my definition of repentance.
  • 00:13:05.233 --> 00:13:06.868
  • You're ready?
  • 00:13:06.868 --> 00:13:08.236
  • Repentance is true remorse over sin, a determined renouncing of
  • 00:13:08.236 --> 00:13:14.809
  • Our sin, and a sincere resolve to forsake our sin and
  • 00:13:14.809 --> 00:13:19.113
  • Follow jesus.
  • 00:13:19.113 --> 00:13:20.481
  • Now, this is important.
  • 00:13:20.481 --> 00:13:21.816
  • Don't miss this.
  • 00:13:21.816 --> 00:13:23.484
  • It's not just turning from something.
  • 00:13:23.484 --> 00:13:26.988
  • Is turning to someone.
  • 00:13:26.988 --> 00:13:29.424
  • And this is where a lot of people miss it.
  • 00:13:29.424 --> 00:13:32.493
  • Some of you may be listening right now and you may say,
  • 00:13:32.493 --> 00:13:34.696
  • "yeah, you know, i really do need to quit sleeping with my
  • 00:13:34.696 --> 00:13:37.732
  • Girlfriend or my boyfriend."
  • 00:13:37.732 --> 00:13:40.668
  • And some may be saying, "yeah, you know, i really do need to
  • 00:13:40.668 --> 00:13:43.338
  • Quit looking at pornography."
  • 00:13:43.338 --> 00:13:45.907
  • Or somebody say, "yeah, i need to really quit listening to
  • 00:13:45.907 --> 00:13:48.343
  • Filthy music."
  • 00:13:48.343 --> 00:13:50.511
  • Or somebody says, "yeah, i really do need to start going
  • 00:13:50.511 --> 00:13:52.914
  • To church."
  • 00:13:52.914 --> 00:13:55.116
  • That's not repentance.
  • 00:13:55.116 --> 00:13:57.018
  • If that's all you do, that's just reformation.
  • 00:13:57.018 --> 00:14:00.121
  • We're not talking about reformation.
  • 00:14:00.121 --> 00:14:02.457
  • In fact, the first step for repentance is just gonna shock
  • 00:14:02.457 --> 00:14:05.827
  • You, the first step to repentance is not turning from
  • 00:14:05.827 --> 00:14:08.897
  • Sin, it's actually turning from self.
  • 00:14:08.897 --> 00:14:12.400
  • You say, how do you know when you really are ready to repent?
  • 00:14:12.400 --> 00:14:14.903
  • Here's how you'll know it.
  • 00:14:14.903 --> 00:14:17.071
  • When you realize no matter how good you think you are, no
  • 00:14:17.071 --> 00:14:21.342
  • Matter how hard you're trying to be a good person, do the right
  • 00:14:21.342 --> 00:14:24.979
  • Thing, live the right way, you know now you need to repent when
  • 00:14:24.979 --> 00:14:29.684
  • You realize that it finally hits you, i need to repent just as
  • 00:14:29.684 --> 00:14:34.055
  • Much as a serial killer on death row.
  • 00:14:34.055 --> 00:14:37.759
  • And when that thought hits you and you say, "now i get it,"
  • 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:41.863
  • Then you're ready to repent.
  • 00:14:41.863 --> 00:14:44.065
  • When you finally realized, you know what?
  • 00:14:44.065 --> 00:14:47.435
  • I need the grace of god just as much as adolf hitler needed the
  • 00:14:47.435 --> 00:14:50.605
  • Grace of god.
  • 00:14:50.605 --> 00:14:52.573
  • I need the grace of god just as much as vladimir putin needs the
  • 00:14:52.573 --> 00:14:55.710
  • Grace of god.
  • 00:14:55.710 --> 00:14:57.178
  • I need the grace of god as much as the worst person on this
  • 00:14:57.178 --> 00:15:00.114
  • Planet needs the grace of god.
  • 00:15:00.114 --> 00:15:01.883
  • When that's finally hits, you say, "okay, now i know what it
  • 00:15:01.883 --> 00:15:04.385
  • Means to repent."
  • 00:15:04.385 --> 00:15:06.020
  • 'cause here's what frustrates me.
  • 00:15:06.020 --> 00:15:07.822
  • I'll share the gospel with people, i'll try to get people
  • 00:15:07.822 --> 00:15:09.824
  • To give their life to christ and they'll say something like this,
  • 00:15:09.824 --> 00:15:12.393
  • "yeah, i know i need to get my act together.
  • 00:15:12.393 --> 00:15:16.864
  • I know that i need to kinda clean up my life."
  • 00:15:16.864 --> 00:15:21.135
  • I want you to hear me very, very clearly.
  • 00:15:21.135 --> 00:15:24.072
  • Not only do you not have to clean up your life or get your
  • 00:15:24.072 --> 00:15:26.975
  • Act together before you come to jesus.
  • 00:15:26.975 --> 00:15:30.378
  • Matter of fact, think about it.
  • 00:15:30.378 --> 00:15:32.246
  • If you could get your act together or you could clean up
  • 00:15:32.246 --> 00:15:36.351
  • Your life, you don't need to come to jesus.
  • 00:15:36.351 --> 00:15:40.054
  • The reason why you need to come to jesus is because you can't
  • 00:15:40.054 --> 00:15:42.490
  • Get your act together and you can't clean up your life.
  • 00:15:42.490 --> 00:15:45.793
  • You can't do it without him.
  • 00:15:45.793 --> 00:15:47.595
  • You can't do without him leading you to repentance.
  • 00:15:47.595 --> 00:15:50.331
  • And here's what repentance is.
  • 00:15:50.331 --> 00:15:51.733
  • Repentance is when you finally come to jesus and you say, "i
  • 00:15:51.733 --> 00:15:54.936
  • Don't have a shot at changing my life if you don't change me.
  • 00:15:54.936 --> 00:15:59.307
  • I don't have a shot of getting right if you don't get me right.
  • 00:15:59.307 --> 00:16:02.710
  • You've got to give me, you've got to lead me to repentance.
  • 00:16:02.710 --> 00:16:05.279
  • You've got to give me the strength to repent."
  • 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:07.582
  • That's why repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin.
  • 00:16:07.582 --> 00:16:10.651
  • You turn away from sin, but that's not repentance.
  • 00:16:10.651 --> 00:16:15.223
  • It's when you turn to jesus.
  • 00:16:15.223 --> 00:16:18.192
  • It's when you turn from self.
  • 00:16:18.192 --> 00:16:19.861
  • I can do it myself and you turn to a savior.
  • 00:16:19.861 --> 00:16:23.264
  • So when you place your faith and trust in jesus, here's
  • 00:16:23.264 --> 00:16:25.299
  • What happens.
  • 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.968
  • There's a change of mind about yourself and your sin that leads
  • 00:16:26.968 --> 00:16:32.106
  • To a change of heart which leads to a change of direction.
  • 00:16:32.106 --> 00:16:36.944
  • So this is what i want you to understand.
  • 00:16:36.944 --> 00:16:40.014
  • When i talk about repentance, a lot of people think, yeah, i
  • 00:16:40.014 --> 00:16:42.517
  • Need to change the way i'm behaving.
  • 00:16:42.517 --> 00:16:44.052
  • That's not repentance.
  • 00:16:44.052 --> 00:16:46.187
  • Repentance is really not changing your behavior.
  • 00:16:46.187 --> 00:16:50.992
  • It is changing your savior which changes your behavior.
  • 00:16:50.992 --> 00:16:54.829
  • If you got that, raise your hand.
  • 00:16:54.829 --> 00:16:56.164
  • If you got that, raise your hand, okay.
  • 00:16:56.164 --> 00:16:57.732
  • It is not changing your behavior.
  • 00:16:57.732 --> 00:17:00.701
  • I'm gonna quit drinking.
  • 00:17:00.701 --> 00:17:02.070
  • I'm gonna quit cussing.
  • 00:17:02.070 --> 00:17:03.404
  • I'm gonna quit chewing and spitting on people.
  • 00:17:03.404 --> 00:17:06.808
  • That's reformation.
  • 00:17:06.808 --> 00:17:09.410
  • Repentance with your grace and with your help, i'm not only
  • 00:17:09.410 --> 00:17:13.514
  • Going to turn from that.
  • 00:17:13.514 --> 00:17:15.016
  • I'm turning to you.
  • 00:17:15.016 --> 00:17:17.151
  • That's repentance.
  • 00:17:17.151 --> 00:17:18.519
  • So we have the confession.
  • 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.288
  • Jesus said you must, we are commanded to repent.
  • 00:17:20.288 --> 00:17:24.158
  • And then jesus said, "we are to commit to repent."
  • 00:17:24.158 --> 00:17:26.727
  • Now most people try to get at this point, but now i'm gonna
  • 00:17:26.727 --> 00:17:29.263
  • Leave unbelievers for a minute.
  • 00:17:29.263 --> 00:17:30.631
  • I wanna talk to believers 'cause this is where this is where a
  • 00:17:30.631 --> 00:17:33.534
  • Lot of churchgoing believers who know god, they do, you know god,
  • 00:17:33.534 --> 00:17:36.471
  • You love god, you've been saved.
  • 00:17:36.471 --> 00:17:37.839
  • I get that.
  • 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.173
  • But there's another part of repentance that we either never
  • 00:17:39.173 --> 00:17:41.409
  • Ever learned when we got saved or we have forgotten some way
  • 00:17:41.409 --> 00:17:44.979
  • Somehow and it causes all kinds of problems.
  • 00:17:44.979 --> 00:17:47.582
  • Because not only are we commanded to repent and not only
  • 00:17:47.582 --> 00:17:51.986
  • Are we to commit to repent.
  • 00:17:51.986 --> 00:17:56.657
  • We must continue to repent. we must continue to repent.
  • 00:17:56.657 --> 00:18:01.963
  • Now listen to what jesus said, i want you to focus on this
  • 00:18:01.963 --> 00:18:04.132
  • One word.
  • 00:18:04.132 --> 00:18:05.500
  • He said, "unless you repent, you too will all perish."
  • 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:09.203
  • Now there's something many christians have never thought
  • 00:18:09.203 --> 00:18:11.005
  • About, don't realize, all right?
  • 00:18:11.005 --> 00:18:12.373
  • So let me tell you about repentance.
  • 00:18:12.373 --> 00:18:13.708
  • There's two stages of repentance.
  • 00:18:13.708 --> 00:18:16.344
  • There's an initial repentance.
  • 00:18:16.344 --> 00:18:18.479
  • When you turn from self, you turn from sin, and you turn
  • 00:18:18.479 --> 00:18:21.516
  • To jesus-- that's the initial repentance.
  • 00:18:21.516 --> 00:18:22.884
  • That's what i did as a 9-year-old boy in a movie
  • 00:18:22.884 --> 00:18:25.620
  • Theater about 30 miles from here.
  • 00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:27.121
  • That's what happened to me.
  • 00:18:27.121 --> 00:18:28.489
  • I had that initial repentance.
  • 00:18:28.489 --> 00:18:30.992
  • But a lot of christians don't realize that after that initial
  • 00:18:30.992 --> 00:18:33.728
  • Repentance there must be continual repentance.
  • 00:18:33.728 --> 00:18:37.465
  • You don't just repent one time and you say, "okay, i've
  • 00:18:37.465 --> 00:18:40.434
  • Repented" and you get it, put it in a can and stick it up on
  • 00:18:40.434 --> 00:18:43.804
  • A shelf.
  • 00:18:43.804 --> 00:18:45.173
  • That word repent is in the greek language is in the
  • 00:18:45.173 --> 00:18:47.074
  • Present tense.
  • 00:18:47.074 --> 00:18:48.409
  • That means continuous action.
  • 00:18:48.409 --> 00:18:49.744
  • Jesus said, "repent and keep on repenting and don't ever
  • 00:18:49.744 --> 00:18:55.016
  • Quit repenting."
  • 00:18:55.016 --> 00:18:56.350
  • Now listen, carefully, don't get confused.
  • 00:18:56.350 --> 00:18:59.520
  • I'm not talking about that time when you gave your heart to
  • 00:18:59.520 --> 00:19:02.156
  • Christ like i did.
  • 00:19:02.156 --> 00:19:03.491
  • You gave your life to jesus, you surrendered his lordship in
  • 00:19:03.491 --> 00:19:05.693
  • Your life.
  • 00:19:05.693 --> 00:19:07.061
  • You truly were born again.
  • 00:19:07.061 --> 00:19:08.396
  • You repented and you turned away from sin and turned to jesus.
  • 00:19:08.396 --> 00:19:10.831
  • I'm not talking about that.
  • 00:19:10.831 --> 00:19:12.200
  • That's sealed, that signed, that's delivered.
  • 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:14.268
  • You've got eternal life.
  • 00:19:14.268 --> 00:19:15.603
  • You're not gonna lose your salvation.
  • 00:19:15.603 --> 00:19:16.971
  • You're good to go with god.
  • 00:19:16.971 --> 00:19:18.306
  • I'm not talking about that.
  • 00:19:18.306 --> 00:19:20.608
  • The problem is even though the penalty for sin has been
  • 00:19:20.608 --> 00:19:25.513
  • Dismissed, the presence of sin is still with us.
  • 00:19:25.513 --> 00:19:30.384
  • And the power of sin is just something we have to fight.
  • 00:19:30.384 --> 00:19:33.621
  • So when you turn to christ, here's what happens.
  • 00:19:33.621 --> 00:19:35.456
  • This is what so many people don't realize.
  • 00:19:35.456 --> 00:19:37.959
  • When you give your life to jesus, the real battle begins.
  • 00:19:37.959 --> 00:19:43.264
  • Because for the first time when you give your life to jesus, for
  • 00:19:43.264 --> 00:19:46.200
  • The first time in your life, guess what happened?
  • 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:49.170
  • You and the devil are no longer going in the same direction.
  • 00:19:49.170 --> 00:19:53.441
  • You did something he doesn't like.
  • 00:19:53.441 --> 00:19:55.509
  • It's not just that the devil declares war, guess what?
  • 00:19:55.509 --> 00:19:57.912
  • The world declares war.
  • 00:19:57.912 --> 00:19:59.280
  • Your flesh declares war.
  • 00:19:59.280 --> 00:20:00.881
  • You got three enemies.
  • 00:20:00.881 --> 00:20:02.250
  • You got the world, the flesh, and the devil and they're all
  • 00:20:02.250 --> 00:20:04.619
  • Trying to get you to sin.
  • 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:07.121
  • And guess what?
  • 00:20:07.121 --> 00:20:08.456
  • The problem is sometimes we do.
  • 00:20:08.456 --> 00:20:11.692
  • That's why i want you to understand that repentance is a
  • 00:20:11.692 --> 00:20:15.062
  • One time action followed by a continuous attitude.
  • 00:20:15.062 --> 00:20:19.734
  • So here's what happened.
  • 00:20:19.734 --> 00:20:22.136
  • When i repented as a 9-year-old boy, i established a permanent
  • 00:20:22.136 --> 00:20:26.073
  • Relationship with god, permanent.
  • 00:20:26.073 --> 00:20:30.411
  • But then i still see sin.
  • 00:20:30.411 --> 00:20:33.681
  • Now that doesn't break the relationship, but it breaks
  • 00:20:33.681 --> 00:20:37.818
  • The fellowship.
  • 00:20:37.818 --> 00:20:39.920
  • So if i want to get back in fellowship with god when i sin,
  • 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.823
  • I have to repent.
  • 00:20:42.823 --> 00:20:45.793
  • So i'm gonna be very transparent.
  • 00:20:45.793 --> 00:20:50.431
  • I've been saved for decades.
  • 00:20:50.431 --> 00:20:53.034
  • I cannot remember the last day i went
  • 00:20:53.034 --> 00:20:56.804
  • Without repenting of something.
  • 00:20:56.804 --> 00:20:59.874
  • As a matter of fact, one of the beautiful things about being
  • 00:20:59.874 --> 00:21:02.310
  • Married for fourty six and a half years is my best friend is
  • 00:21:02.310 --> 00:21:06.547
  • Very, very great at reminding me every day when i need to repent.
  • 00:21:06.547 --> 00:21:11.252
  • So i don't have to just wonder, trust me, and i mean this.
  • 00:21:11.252 --> 00:21:15.156
  • There are times that teresa will say, "you shouldn't have
  • 00:21:15.156 --> 00:21:17.391
  • Said that.
  • 00:21:17.391 --> 00:21:19.627
  • You need to be more patient.
  • 00:21:19.627 --> 00:21:20.961
  • You need to--i told you to take out the garbage.
  • 00:21:20.961 --> 00:21:23.030
  • You forgot."
  • 00:21:23.030 --> 00:21:24.365
  • You know, whatever it may be.
  • 00:21:24.365 --> 00:21:25.733
  • And i'm being funny, but i'm not.
  • 00:21:25.733 --> 00:21:27.835
  • Listen, i can't really, i don't know of a day that goes and i
  • 00:21:27.835 --> 00:21:31.105
  • Was coming to work this morning.
  • 00:21:31.105 --> 00:21:32.506
  • I got, in fact, i had my quiet time.
  • 00:21:32.506 --> 00:21:34.475
  • I was coming to church.
  • 00:21:34.475 --> 00:21:35.810
  • I was thinking about this message and i said, "lord, is
  • 00:21:35.810 --> 00:21:38.179
  • There any" and boom yesterday hit me about--it was a--you
  • 00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:40.948
  • Might say it's a little thing.
  • 00:21:40.948 --> 00:21:42.316
  • Well, no sin is a little thing to god.
  • 00:21:42.316 --> 00:21:44.352
  • And i said, "you know what, lord?
  • 00:21:44.352 --> 00:21:45.686
  • You're right.
  • 00:21:45.686 --> 00:21:47.054
  • I confess that.
  • 00:21:47.054 --> 00:21:48.389
  • Lord, i repent of that."
  • 00:21:48.389 --> 00:21:49.757
  • 'cause, see, here's what happens.
  • 00:21:49.757 --> 00:21:51.192
  • When i got saved, i realized after i got saved how much i
  • 00:21:51.192 --> 00:21:56.364
  • Needed to be saved and then i realized that once i was saved i
  • 00:21:56.364 --> 00:22:00.735
  • Got more aware that i don't always act like i am saved.
  • 00:22:00.735 --> 00:22:04.305
  • And so when that happens there's really a day that goes by that i
  • 00:22:04.305 --> 00:22:07.641
  • Don't need to repent of something.
  • 00:22:07.641 --> 00:22:11.212
  • So let me just stop and say this 'cause now we're gonna really
  • 00:22:11.212 --> 00:22:13.814
  • Get down.
  • 00:22:13.814 --> 00:22:15.182
  • This is why preachers don't like to do this and this is why that
  • 00:22:15.182 --> 00:22:18.018
  • People don't flock to hear this kind of stuff.
  • 00:22:18.018 --> 00:22:23.624
  • There's only one difference between a christian and a
  • 00:22:23.624 --> 00:22:27.161
  • Non-christian, only one, just one.
  • 00:22:27.161 --> 00:22:31.298
  • The difference is not that the christian doesn't sin and the
  • 00:22:31.298 --> 00:22:34.335
  • Non-christian does.
  • 00:22:34.335 --> 00:22:35.669
  • That's not the difference.
  • 00:22:35.669 --> 00:22:37.037
  • They both sin.
  • 00:22:37.037 --> 00:22:40.808
  • The difference is only one of them can enjoy it and i don't
  • 00:22:40.808 --> 00:22:45.946
  • Care how much you love jesus.
  • 00:22:45.946 --> 00:22:48.349
  • The only place you'll ever go where you don't need to repent
  • 00:22:48.349 --> 00:22:51.185
  • Is heaven and we're not there yet.
  • 00:22:51.185 --> 00:22:53.754
  • So there's always this continuous process we must
  • 00:22:53.754 --> 00:22:57.525
  • Continue to repent.
  • 00:22:57.525 --> 00:22:58.893
  • I just want to say this.
  • 00:22:58.893 --> 00:23:00.561
  • The time for repentance, if you've never given your life to
  • 00:23:00.561 --> 00:23:03.464
  • Jesus, you've never been saved, you've never ever come to know
  • 00:23:03.464 --> 00:23:06.567
  • Him personally, seven people prayed at our first service to
  • 00:23:06.567 --> 00:23:09.837
  • Give their life to christ.
  • 00:23:09.837 --> 00:23:11.172
  • Seven people.
  • 00:23:11.172 --> 00:23:12.540
  • You may be one of those people right now.
  • 00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:13.874
  • Listen to me.
  • 00:23:13.874 --> 00:23:15.843
  • Every day you put that decision off, every day you say, "no, i'm
  • 00:23:15.843 --> 00:23:19.280
  • Not gonna repent."
  • 00:23:19.280 --> 00:23:20.614
  • Every day you do that you've got more sin to repent of and less
  • 00:23:20.614 --> 00:23:24.819
  • Time to do it.
  • 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:26.987
  • That's why the best time to repent is now and the best place
  • 00:23:26.987 --> 00:23:30.558
  • To do it is here.
  • 00:23:30.558 --> 00:23:32.827
  • So here's the message.
  • 00:23:32.827 --> 00:23:37.898
  • The best time to repent is now and the best place to repent is
  • 00:23:37.898 --> 00:23:45.439
  • Here because the best life you'll ever live is the life you
  • 00:23:45.439 --> 00:23:51.245
  • Live when you turn from your sin and you turn to the one who can
  • 00:23:51.245 --> 00:23:56.484
  • Save you from your sin.
  • 00:23:56.484 --> 00:23:59.286
  • Would you pray with me right now?
  • 00:23:59.286 --> 00:24:01.856
  • I just wonder who here today would say "i need to repent.
  • 00:24:01.856 --> 00:24:04.792
  • I want to repent.
  • 00:24:04.792 --> 00:24:06.160
  • I'm ready to repent.
  • 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:07.495
  • I'm willing to repent."
  • 00:24:07.495 --> 00:24:09.663
  • And would you just tell god this right now just in your heart?
  • 00:24:09.663 --> 00:24:13.434
  • Would right now, would you just say this.
  • 00:24:13.434 --> 00:24:14.802
  • Would you say, "lord jesus, i am a sinner and i need to repent of
  • 00:24:14.802 --> 00:24:22.943
  • My sinful ways.
  • 00:24:22.943 --> 00:24:26.347
  • I believe you are the savior of the world.
  • 00:24:26.347 --> 00:24:31.752
  • Today, come into my heart.
  • 00:24:31.752 --> 00:24:36.490
  • Forgive me of my sins.
  • 00:24:36.490 --> 00:24:39.493
  • Give me eternal life.
  • 00:24:39.493 --> 00:24:42.997
  • Save me.
  • 00:24:42.997 --> 00:24:44.865
  • I repent.
  • 00:24:44.865 --> 00:24:46.600
  • I turn away from myself and i turn away from my sin.
  • 00:24:46.600 --> 00:24:52.239
  • And i've turned all that i am over to all that you are
  • 00:24:52.239 --> 00:24:56.577
  • Trusting you as my savior, receiving you as my lord."
  • 00:24:56.577 --> 00:25:00.548
  • Announcer: to watch an extended version of today's message from
  • 00:25:02.283 --> 00:25:04.652
  • Dr. james merritt, go to touchinglives.org.
  • 00:25:04.652 --> 00:25:08.756
  • James: hello, i'm james merritt and i'm glad you're joining us.
  • 00:25:11.458 --> 00:25:14.862
  • Welcome.
  • 00:25:14.862 --> 00:25:16.230
  • Today i wanna share with you about one of life's greatest
  • 00:25:16.230 --> 00:25:18.432
  • Heartaches is watching someone that you love walk away from
  • 00:25:18.432 --> 00:25:21.402
  • Faith and family.
  • 00:25:21.402 --> 00:25:23.170
  • Maybe you have a son or a daughter or a spouse or a dear
  • 00:25:23.170 --> 00:25:25.339
  • Friend who's made choices that break your heart.
  • 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:27.308
  • You pray for them daily, but sometimes it feels like those
  • 00:25:27.308 --> 00:25:30.544
  • Prayers just aren't being heard.
  • 00:25:30.544 --> 00:25:33.080
  • That's why i know that this book "reaching your prodigal" by a
  • 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:36.550
  • Dear friend phil waldrep is going to be a blessing to you.
  • 00:25:36.550 --> 00:25:39.186
  • In this book, phil shows you how to love someone back to life
  • 00:25:39.186 --> 00:25:44.091
  • Where they're making poor choices.
  • 00:25:44.091 --> 00:25:45.859
  • The book is based on biblical principles to help you maintain
  • 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:48.662
  • A relationship while still standing firm in truth
  • 00:25:48.662 --> 00:25:53.133
  • And grace.
  • 00:25:53.133 --> 00:25:54.501
  • For a gift of any amount to touching lives ministry today,
  • 00:25:54.501 --> 00:25:57.705
  • We'll send you a copy of reaching your prodigal as our
  • 00:25:57.705 --> 00:26:00.574
  • Way of saying thank you for your support.
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  • And for those who feel led to give a gift of $75 or more, i'd
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  • Like to send you something that i believe every american needs
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  • In their home or office, the freedom box set.
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  • This beautiful collection includes elegantly bound copies
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  • Of the declaration of independence, the united states
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  • Constitution, and the bill of rights, the foundational
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  • Documents that outline our liberties and the principles
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  • This nation was built upon.
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  • These aren't just historical documents.
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  • They're a powerful reminder of our nation's heritage.
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  • Your partnership helps us continue bringing god's word and
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  • The hope of christ to people across america and around
  • 00:26:37.778 --> 00:26:40.981
  • The world.
  • 00:26:40.981 --> 00:26:42.316
  • Together, we're making an eternal difference in
  • 00:26:42.316 --> 00:26:45.486
  • Countless lives.
  • 00:26:45.486 --> 00:26:47.121
  • We couldn't do this without faithful friends like you.
  • 00:26:47.121 --> 00:26:50.190
  • Thank you for your prayers and your support as we continue
  • 00:26:50.190 --> 00:26:54.061
  • Reaching hearts with the transforming message of
  • 00:26:54.061 --> 00:26:56.864
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:26:56.864 --> 00:26:58.298
  • God bless you and remember no one is ever too far from god's
  • 00:26:58.298 --> 00:27:03.604
  • Redeeming love.
  • 00:27:03.604 --> 00:27:05.539
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:16.717
  • Announcer: touching the lives of the lost and enriching the faith
  • 00:27:18.986 --> 00:27:22.122
  • Of the found, this is "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
  • 00:27:22.122 --> 00:27:26.326
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:26.326 --> 00:27:30.798