“And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”
Luke 3:3 KJV
As Dr. Luke recorded, “John went preaching and baptizing throughout the Jordan Valley. He persuaded people to turn away from their sins and turn to God for the freedom of forgiveness,” the definition of repentance has two concepts. One is turning away from sin, the other is turning to God for freedom. They are linked together as one word translated “repentance” and the concept is returning to God to unite with Unity. This message was revolutionary in that day for the religion instituted that forgiveness was temporary found by offering sacrifices in the temple. Here, John was declaring that repentance was a heart issue, not gained by an animal sacrifice offered in the corrupt religious system. Repentance, breaking open the heart, is more important than gaining forgiveness by religious acts. Jesus started His preaching with, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Unless we recognise that sin separates us from God and that Jesus’s Blood sacrifice is our only hope and the judgment He took on our behalf, we will be under God’s judgment, forever separated from Him and eternal Life of God will not be our portion. Amen!
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