Seeking God with A Repentant Heart
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Nov 22, 2020
- 17 min read
God’s way is perfect. Amen? If we allow our minds to be open, and realize that God’s ways are not our ways, then we stand to learn a thing or two about God’s way. Where? Through His Word!
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Not only does His Word give us discernment of the Truth, but it instructs us:
Proverbs 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is the first thing that God’s Word instructs us to do? Repent. What does “repent” mean?
Definition of “repent” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repent
: to feel regret or contrition
: to change one’s mind
: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
Ezekiel 18:30-32 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Jesus was the Word of God, made flesh. He came to give us a choice. That choice to accept His gift (in the way that He instructs us to do) will take away our sins and give us life. What? We have to do something? Yes… we have to have a wholesale “change of heart” (repent) and then seek Him! Where do we seek Him? Through and by His Word. How do we seek Him? By keeping His commandments.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance
1 John 3:4-5 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
Psalms 119:32-35 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Now, we know that mankind, within their own power, and within their own knowledge, can only keep God’s commandment partially: as the old saying goes, “no one is perfect”. This of course is referring to anyone whom God has not recreated to perform His will in a way that satisfies Him; in a perfect and holy way.
Romans 8:19-22 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
However, someone with a truly repentant heart, will still continue to try and do their absolute best to perform His commandments as they wait on Him for conversion. For instance: consenting to water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, which is considered a first work.
(“Conversion” in referring to the gift of God’s Holy Spirit being introduced into a person’s heart by God, which frees them from sin and thereby enables them to learn to keep His commandments without flaw through the power of His Spirit. For more on this, please research our subject titled “The Miracle of Conversion”.)
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord
It is important to note here: that repentance and conversion are two totally different things! And - water baptism is part of repentance. Spiritual baptism is part of conversion. Repentance has been acknowledged and accepted by God throughout all ages of mankind’s existence. Conversion, however, was only made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. This is important, because without grace, no one can be saved.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Did you know that people who were not known as God’s people; or otherwise known as the “house of Israel” were normally not even able to repent! This is because, in most cases, they did not even know that they should be doing anything other than what God abhors, because they had no law to tell them what was right and wrong in the sight of God.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
This is because The Law of Moses was given to the house of Israel only. There were, though, “strangers” that were accepted into the Israeli camp before Christ came. This was a type and shadow of how Jesus would also bring God’s grace and mercy unto those (like many of us) who were ‘without’ the camp, otherwise known as Gentiles in the bible.
Nehemiah 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
Leviticus 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 17:8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice
2 Samuel 22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
Romans 15:8-10 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again He saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people.
What about the Old Testament Saints?
One question that I have heard in the past is: what happened to all of the Old Testament “saints” that died before Christ came? Well, what did we say at the beginning of this teaching, that we all must do? “Yes… we have to have a wholesale “change of heart” (repent) and then seek Him!”
In modern times (after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection) we must repent and do our “first works” as part of our process in seeking God.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Regardless of what “people say”, God’s Word tells us that repentance and Water Baptism (amongst other things) are both essential parts of salvation through Christ. “Repentance” is a state of mind, or ‘state of being’ that a person can choose to be in, and not to be confused with one specific action, but is made up of many; repentance is a lifestyle. Now, asking for God’s forgiveness and repentance are also not the same. Rather, to ask for God’s forgiveness is a part of a person being in a repentant state. Likewise, consenting to water baptism as an act of keeping God’s commandment to do so, is another ‘ingredient’ that makes up a repentant heart. These ‘actions’ are ways that a person might be found to be “seeking” God; proof, if you will.
The Old Testament saints were already repentant before Christ came. (Notice here that I said ‘Old Testament saints, and NOT the house of Israel in general.) If this is true, what was the proof? The proof was that they kept the commandments found in The Law of Moses which God gave to His people, Israel. They did not, of course, have His Spirit, and therefore could only partially keep them within their own power, being yet carnally natured. So, all that these people needed to do, if they had already passed away before Christ came, was believe that He was the messiah, and that God raised Him from the dead so that men might be raised from their dead-in-sin state, to serve God in true holiness.
Proof? From the Old Testament:
Psalms 119:1-5 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
The fact that the people of the Old Testament could not possess the indwelling Spirit of God before He died, was resurrected, and then ascended back into heaven…
John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.
After Christ’s ascention…
Ephesians 4:21-24 If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Those that were still alive and of the house of Israel, and who had kept the Law of Moses (were repentant toward God), only needed to add to and apply the new light that Jesus shed on the Law in order to be saved by grace. Thus, they then would need to also repent (if they were not keeping the Law with all of their heart already) believe in Christ, and consent to water baptism.
Galatians 3:21-26 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For those children of Israel that were already diligently kept the Law, as best they could you see, were effectively practicing repentance of their sin in the sight of God. During this time, they would experience the Law of Sin and Death, just as Paul did while under the grasp of that law. I have proof to this in that there is no record of Paul physically calling out to God, asking for forgiveness in repentance prior to his meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus. God had mercy on Him, because Paul was repentant and had great zeal to please God already, he was simply ignorant of who Christ truly is.
Acts 22:1-3 (Paul speaking here) Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Acts 22:6-10 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
Philippians 3:5-6 (speaking Paul, of himself) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
1 Timothy 1:12-13 (speaking again Paul, of himself) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The Order of Things
For those who are not physically part of the house of Israel, we will usually begin seeking God through Jesus Christ. This means that we must believe on Christ, that He is the only way to obtain salvation with God before we might repent of our lifestyle in sin against God.
1 Corinthians 7:18-19 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
As mentioned before, if we were raised in circumcision, under the ordinances of The Law of Moses, then we may already be repentant toward God for our sin, but then need to accept that Christ is the messiah and be liberated. Either way, two things will stand true for all people:
1. Jesus Christ is the only way to get to God and be saved by Him.
2. We all must repent and then go through and acknowledge the Law of Sin and Death before God will impart the Gift of His Holy Spirit into our hearts and minds, that we might serve Him in true holiness. And, this is the condition that will certify and sanctify us as a new creature in Christ. i.e., Born Again, Saved, etc. This IS true conversion to Christ. (You can find more about this where we covered Gods teaching on “The Law of Sin and Death”.)
Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
When do we, or should we stop seeking God? NEVER stop seeking God! God draws us to Him. He also grants us the ability to turn from our evil ways. Our repentance is the beginning of our lifelong search to get ever closer and closer to Him. It lasts throughout the course of our lives here on earth. Tucked inside repentance are these things, and in this order:
1. Seeking God on our own throughout the realization and our acknowledgement of The Law of Sin and Death
2. Conversion by receiving His gift of the Holy Spirit. At this point we are freed from the Law of Sin and Death and now have power over sin. His Spirit then leads and guides us into ALL Truth.
3. If we continue in His Word, seeking Him with our whole heart, we will eventually come to respect all of His commandments, being effectively sin-free in His sight!
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
John 16:13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
Romans 8:1-5 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
So as to be sure that there is no confusion:
Not to condemn others, but I have a few sincere questions. Not that it is any of my personal business either, but in the spirit of hope for your welfare, I ask these questions:
Understanding that water baptism is part of repentance (much like asking for forgiveness), and that repentance is a state that a person finds themselves in when they truly want to turn from their sin and serve God… why do some people keep repeating this step? Were they not sincere when they asked for forgiveness? Perhaps they did not fully understand why they were water baptized? Is it because they were confused into believing that water baptism and conversion re the same thing (they are not)? Or – is it because they were fooled into thinking that they were converted when in reality they were not?
One thing is for sure: that God does things in His own time. Do you want to be converted? Have you asked for forgiveness? Were you water baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ? If so, then you are a candidate for His Spirit once He see fit. You need to continue to read and seek Him through His Word, and wait, patiently. Don’t worry, pray! Continue is His Word!
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
The Law of Sin and Death is endured prior to conversion. In times past, however, some people have said things that lead me to believe that they have been convinced that a person will go through The Law of Sin and Death after God has converted them with the indwelling Spirit of God. If this were to be true, then this would mean that we do not have power over sin after conversion. It would also mean that our sin is stronger than The Spirit of God. I sincerely hope that we all know better than this!
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Be careful though! What does “liberty” mean? It means that we have freedom; and in this case: freedom from sin. It does not mean that we are being forced to not commit sin. At that very moment of conversion, God sends His Spirit into our heart, purifying it by faith. At this point, our mind and body are still very much infested with sin and so we have to continue to seek the knowledge of God through His Word to cleanse these. Make no mistake here though: once God’s Spirit comes in, The Law of Sin and Death has no more power in our lives! We have more than enough of the Power of God to overcome sin in our lives. We just simply need to learn how to use it. Doing so will essentially and eventually cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness towards God.
We have to repent in order to truly recognize that the Law of Sin and Death is real. How else would you know that you cannot abstain from sin until you actually tried to do it? Until we realize whole-heartedly that we canot perform this cleansing of ourselves from sin within our own power, we become candidates for “a new and living way”.
Romans 7:19-21 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Acts 15:8-9 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Friends, remember: we walk by faith, and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) If we see that we cannot live righteously in the sight of God, then we are blessed with the first-hand knowledge of The Law of Sin and Death. Knowing that we cannot keep the commandments of God perfectly on our own, does not mean that it is not possible to keep His commandments perfectly. It simply means that we do not yet possess the God-given power to do so. After that we are converted, this experience will only give us a much deeper appreciation for The Lord and His mercies, grace, and forgiveness. It is that appreciation that will drive us to continue with the cleansing of ourselves from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 10:36-38 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name
1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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