The following letter is all about the true relevance of repenting.
Jesus was ministering in the Bethany Temple to the Jews. His teachings were being challenged by the Chief Priests. So he asked them a question in the form of a parable:
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Matthew 23:28-32
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“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
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“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
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“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
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“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
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For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
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The Man is the Master, our Lord and Savior. The two sons are the two types of Jews, those who practice religion to do their own will, and those who want to do what is righteous but do not have faith they can. Jesus spoke clearly about the hypocrisy of Temple leadership often. The leadership would tell everyone what was considered righteous behavior, but in secret would sin without repenting. Jesus then explained that those who openly sin, are repenting, acknowledging their sin before God who they know is what is righteous. These type of people are the ones who even with little faith, understand they have to deny themselves have what is righteous come through them.
Now, today, those of us who were not raised under Law, but instead were raised in our transgressions, we sometimes gather in groups to learn and share our understandings. And when we do so, you will notice immediately that the 'two sons' are present among us as well
It is difficult for some to consider themselves as sinners. And some sinners find it difficult to consider themselves worthy of righteousness.
There is an aspect of humility that God finds joy in. When we recognize what is sinful, we are capable of recognizing what is holy. But if we consider ourselves as what is holy, all we end up doing is justifying our sinful ways. Jesus knew this, and spoke of it. He came for those who would seek holiness, nor for those who claimed it as their own. Righteousness is of the Father, and only by setting ourselves aside, can that righteousness manifest through us.
So what is the lesson of the two sons?
Righteousness includes acknowledging sin because we have gained wisdom of what is holy through faith. The first son dishonored his father(a sin), then, in acknowledging that sin, later, in an act of humility, went to work as an act worthy of that acknowledgement(repent).
How profound. Jesus even says that tax collectors and prostitutes who recognize their sinful ways and repent them, are bearing holy fruit of the Kingdom, because in the moment they show humility in denying themselves, their faith that there is holiness is available, is the same moment that holiness comes through them, manifesting in their acts. That humility is a joy to God.
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Romans 6:17,18
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But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
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You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
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Now, many teachers will say that you should no longer sin. What they do not see is that all sin. So what is missing?
I will use an example to bring about an understanding in you. Before he knew Christ, a soldier used to kill his enemies. He was found by the Lord. The soldier then killed an enemy, and knew he had sinned. It was this, this acknowledgement of sin, that made his action of murder no longer a sin, but an awareness of sin through righteousness gained in faith. He was no longer a slave to that sin, as he was now aware of his actions, acknowledging them through righteousness gained through faith.
(Then you could say, he still killed a man. What did he do act on his repentance? This example was made not to condemn the man for sin, but to see that he is no longer a slave to it, as now his faith allows him to acknowledge it as sin.)
It is this awareness, that we identify as being a slave to righteousness. Because of repentance we now know what is sin, because we have a light, the Holy Spirit, showing us what we were slaves to before. This breaks the yoke sin has on us, and we are free to set it aside. In many respects, a repent clears our conscience, so we may see clearly what is right.
For those who were raised under Law, the commandment 'thou shall not kill', only told them what was sin. It did not show them what was righteous. In order to know what was righteous, they would have to acknowledge that sin in themselves. Because the nature of man is to do what they know not to do, sin increases. But righteousness is found by acknowledging that act as a sin because we have gained wisdom of what is holy through faith.
So the second son, honored his father(a commandment). Later, did what he knew not to do, which condemned him in sin. Because what was righteous to him was in obedience based on his knowledge. What was missing entirely was that he was a slave to sin, and therefore unable to fulfill holiness.
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Matthew 11:28-30
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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
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Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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Being a slave to righteousness begins with faith. You have to believe that Jesus is with you in the Spirit, and that council is there for all who seek it. You will see what cannot be seen, and will hear what cannot be heard. Another way of saying this is you will have a holy perception, that is fully based on faith it is available to you. And this yoke of righteousness is what leads you through, you will gain confidence, and in perfect time, will have the strength to not only see the sin you are in, but to also set it aside.
The two sons are actually in all of us. God is love. Love is patient, love is kind. Learn to acknowledge sin in yourself, and produce acts that honor the righteous light faith has lent you.
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