Matthew 4:17 - Repent and Believe

Jesus' first message to the public in three of the four gospel accounts was,

Matthew 4:17 NIV

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

To repent means to turn around, change direction, change your mind, and move your heart toward God. To repent means to turn away from sinful behaviors to godly ones. Sounds simple enough. It's not. We need help. We need a savior.

The apostle Paul describes the condition of humanity as a result of the fall of Adam from Eden. His sin became an inescapable snare to every human soul, that is until Christ came and broke sin's power over us.

Romans 7:14-25 NIV

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am!

Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Jesus announced the good news. The kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God is near, close at hand. The kingdom of God is the reign of God, the good governance of the creator. In reference to repentance, this good news means the power of sin is defeated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The same power that gave Jesus the ability to overcome every sinful temptation, is now a power available to you through faith in Christ. The same power God exerted to raise Jesus from the dead is the same power at work in us who believe. The reign of God is near, as near as a breath. The Holy Spirit brings you this power, because the Holy Spirit is God living in you. The Holy Spirit is Christ in you.

So the next time the temptations of sin pull at your head and heart, remember there is grace greater than sin which will make you able to stand against every flaming arrow of the evil one. Christ has given you victory over sin and death! So turn! Turn away from the lesser power of sin and the fear of death, and turn toward the greater power of grace in God's love.

Repent. Believe the good news! The government of God's love is here!