by Rev. Rick Pursley
LEARN HIM-LOVE HIM-LIVE HIM
“But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13
Repentance and remorse are not the same thing. Remorse is being sorry for something you have done. Repentance is not only acknowledging your wrong doing and seeking forgiveness, but to also turn away from those wrong doings to not do again.
Jesus said there will be many who believe that they will go to heaven, but will be turned away for they have not truly repented. Even Judas was remorseful, but he never repented of his sin of betrayal of Christ. Remorse will not save our souls, true repentance will.
Acts of kindness alone will not touch the heart of Jesus. Being a Bible Scholar, nor consistent church attendance will not gain our salvation. Our salvation is a gift. We cannot earn it. We cannot buy it. We must be truly repentant and turn from our evil ways before we can be granted this most precious gift. Repeating a prayer and then not living our lives as one that belongs to Jesus will not get us to heaven.
The Pharisees were students of the law. In fact they added their own strict rules to God’s word. They looked down their noses at Jesus as He met with the outcast of society. Jesus said it was these “outcasts” that He came to save. The Pharisees knew the law, but their hearts and their lives did not reveal the mercy and grace that Christ preached.
True repentance is not a suggestion, but a necessity if we desire to spend eternity with Jesus. We have to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to our Lord. Instead of following the ways of the world, we should learn to mimic the life of our Savior.