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TOPIC 4: THE LAW OF CHRIST
The 1000 Commandments of Christ in the New Testament
E - Commandments of Christ related to Principles of FAITH in the New Covenant

5. REPENTANCE AND FAITH -- WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT



Matthew 4:17 -- From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 5:6 -- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Luke 18:10-14 -- 10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 5:5-9 -- 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken.
Luke 19:1-10 -- 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 15:17-24 -- 17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, ' Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
John 3:20-21 -- 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
Luke 5:31-32 -- 31 Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
John 1:35-39 -- 35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
Matthew 9:9 -- As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
John 3:14-15 -- 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Mark 10:13-16 -- 13 Then they brought young children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." 16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
Matthew 8:13 -- Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
Mark 10:17-25 -- 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " 20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
John 6:68-69 -- 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
John 6:35,47 -- 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. … 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
Matthew 9:2-7 -- 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
John 3:17-19 -- 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Matthew 26:26-28 -- 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 16:16 -- He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Matthew 21:21-22 -- 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ' Be removed and be cast into the sea, ' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
John 20:29 -- Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Summary

Other religions require their followers to believe in their principles, sacrifice their money and time, and suffer for the realization of their faith. We have to understand that the mere mental belief does not save man. The question is: In whom does man believe? The true faith is the story of love, which is converted from acquaintance into confidence, surrender, steadfastness, and forbearance. For the sake of love, man believes in whom he trusts. In such a high way man has to get acquainted with Jesus, understand his principles, trust him, submit to him, abide in him, endure hardships for him, and never leave him at any cost. Faith is a developed experience in us, and Jesus Christ helps us to grow in faith from the beginning to the end.

At the same time, the knowledge of Jesus and his Father establishes in us the recognition of our corruption and sins. The more we come near to God, the more we stand in his light, and the more we recognize our hidden corruption. He, who is haughty, does not have any acquaintance with God. The holiness of God leads us to confess our sins; it even leads us to brokenness of spirit that we live only from the grace of our Lord, having nothing to present to him. At the same time, the Holy Spirit sanctifies those who were freed, through the blood of Jesus Christ, from all filthiness and offensiveness.

Repentance is connected with faith. The more we recognize our corruption, the more the Holy Spirit becomes stronger in us, and the more the grace and love of God become greater in us, as Dr. Martin Luther confessed: “I believe that I cannot believe of my own accord, or by the power of my mind, or can come to Jesus; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel. He illuminated me with his gifts, sanctified me with the true faith, and kept me with him. He also invites Christianity on the whole earth and gathers and keeps it in the one faith. This is certain and true. Amen.”

This confession includes our righteousness, which is given to us by God because of our faith. We are not justified by our deeds, or our so-called good deeds, but through the blood of Jesus Christ who cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) We have this righteousness by grace not as our own property, but through our faithful communion and eternal fellowship with the Lamb of God (Matthew 26:26-28).

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