Repentance Unveiled

What does it mean to truly repent, and why is it crucial in our relationship with God? In this episode, we dive deep into the message of John the Baptist, as recorded in Matthew Chapter 3, emphasizing the urgency behind his proclamation: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This compelling call is much more than an ancient cry; it resonates profoundly in our current landscape, prompting us to examine our hearts and lives.

We explore the importance of aligning ourselves with God's purposes and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in true repentance. The narrative illustrates that genuine repentance is not merely regret but a call to action—one that prompts a change in direction toward God and away from sin. As we reflect on John’s impactful message, we challenge the existing religious norms that could hinder our journey toward authentic faith.

From the imagery of wheat and chaff to the importance of bearing good fruit, the episode underscores the significance of living out our repentance through actions that reflect our commitment to Christ. We encourage listeners to respond wholeheartedly to this call, creating space for transformation in their own lives. Engaging, thought-provoking, and rich in scripture, this episode invites you to reflect deeply on your journey of faith.

Join us in this important conversation and heed the call to repentance. Together, let's embrace the transformative power of God’s love and grace in our lives. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review! Your engagement helps keep the message alive.

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Welcome
• 0:51 Exploring Matthew Chapter 3
• 2:01 John the Baptist: The Forerunner's Role
• 3:21 The Urgency of Repentance
• 6:41 Understanding True Heart Transformation
• 10:21 The Call to Prepare for the Kingdom
• 14:36 The Danger of False Security
• 18:51 The Consequences of Not Bearing Good Fruit
• 22:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Transcript

Jeff Thomas: 0:22

Hello and welcome to this another edition of Words from the Word of God. Thank you all so much for joining us today as we join together to explore the timeless message found here in Matthew, the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 3. We'll be examining the first 12 verses. Verse, 12 verses. This passage is powerful as it is filled with the same urgency and relevance. It is still a relevant message. However, in many ways, sadly, it is an unwanted message and an unheard message, just in the times of John the Baptist the forerunner, the one who would come out of the wilderness with a leather girdle, wearing camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey, crying out, single man, filled with the spirit and power of Elijah, as we are told in the word of God in the gospel of Luke. One who would be completely filled with the Holy Spirit, not given to wine, as as it said in in the gospel of Luke, as we learn of him. One who was conceived six months before Christ was conceived. One who leapt in his mother's womb when he heard, when she heard, or the voice of the sound of Mary's voice was heard in his mother's ear. He leapt in the womb knowing that his Lord and Savior, even as an unborn babe, knowing that the Lord and Savior, even as an unborn babe, knowing that the Lord and Savior was present, the forerunner, the one who would come. And then we look at his message, the call to repent, coming out of the wilderness. 400 years of silence. You have to consider this. 400 years of silence from malachi's prophecy. No other words from the lord through any prophets, until john the baptist comes out of the wilderness. Now understand this. He comes out of the wilderness, screaming, crying at the top of his lungs repent, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is not just an ancient proclamation, it is a divine summons. Do you understand? It is a divine summons that echoes throughout all the ages of humanity, urging whoever will hear, let him hear. Urging whoever will turn their ear to hear. Urging us to turn our hearts to Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord. Let's read the scripture together here in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 3, verse 1 through 12. The word of God tells us here if you have the word of God, please, I implore you to read along with us. This is such powerful words in the word of God today that we have to look at, of God today that we have to look at Beginning in verse 1,.

Jeff Thomas: 4:12

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah. That is Isaiah. This is his Greek pronunciation of his name, his Hebrew name, isaiah, saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. And the same John john. The same john had his raiment of camel's hair and a leather girl about his loins, and his meat was locust and wild honey then went out to him listen, did you hear that Notice? There was no social media announcement, there was no national news broadcast of this man coming out of the wilderness. None of that was available. Yet it is estimated by some scholars that millions of people came to hear his message.

Jeff Thomas: 5:41

Then went out to him Jerusalem, meaning the whole Jerusalem, all of Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region round about Jordan and were baptized of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them O generation of vipers, o generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Bring forth, therefore, fruit to meet for repentance, and think, not to say within yourselves. We have Abraham to our father, for I say unto you that God is able, of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also, the axe is laid into the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hung down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he, he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his float and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. May the Lord bless the reading of his word to our hearts this evening In Matthew, chapter 3, verses 1 through 12, john the Baptist.

Jeff Thomas: 7:35

Now, that's not Baptist as we consider denomination Baptist, methodist, presbyterian and so on. That is John the Baptizer in transliteration, and so on. That is John the baptizer in transliteration. John the baptizer, because that is exactly what he did. He came out of the wilderness after 400 years of silence from the prophets, from the Lord, breaking that silence. With this message repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He came as the forerunner. He emerges as the forerunner, the one who would come before the true king from glory, jesus Christ, proclaiming a message of repentance.

Jeff Thomas: 8:18

Verse 3 is particularly significant as this fulfills remember what we've talked about throughout these messages since we began here in Matthew. His key phrase, his key thought is fulfillment. Fulfillment bridging the New Testament to the Old Testament. And here we have it again, verse 3,. Let's read it. The Word of God says and he says right here in verse 3, let's read it again, for this is he which is spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. He's quoting from Isaiah and saying this is fulfillment. Of course, in the original writings there would be no chapter breaks or verses, but we see it here in our scriptures, in our word of God that we hold in our hands.

Jeff Thomas: 9:14

We find that the fulfillment of Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 3. It's particularly significant as it fulfills the prophecy spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, the one, the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. That's not talking. He was not talking about the physical or the nature paths that we see in nature. No, it's not talking about the roads that we see to have potholes and ditches that need to be filled in, those things of nature that need to be corrected. No, this is talking about the paths of the heart, the paths of each man's heart. They would have to be a heart change. I've often said many times the heart of the problem in today's church, in today's society, is the problem of the heart, and this is exactly why it is significant for him to come.

Jeff Thomas: 10:25

This fulfillment of prophecy underscores the divine orchestration Did you hear me? Divine orchestration of God's redemptive plan, and none other than Jesus Christ, the Lord. There would be a forerunner, and that forerunner came in fulfillment of what he had told them, what he has told us in Isaiah, to let us know that he is divinely orchestrating his redemptive plan for humanity in Christ Jesus, the Lord, and nothing, nothing at all, would vary from that plan. Nothing would change. He is an unchangeable God. He is an on-time God. Nothing happens before he determines it. Nothing happens any other way than the way he determines it to happen.

Jeff Thomas: 11:18

Matthew frequently emphasizes fulfilled prophecies. We've said this, we've mentioned it, but I think it's important to highlight. He emphasizes fulfilled prophecies, to highlight, to let us know that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. He has been revealed to us as the true king of the Jews. The Messiah Jesus, who is called the Christ. Repentance. Repentance. John would come out of the wilderness saying what. What did he say here in verse 2? Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent ye.

Jeff Thomas: 12:14

Repentance is a profound transformation of the heart. Please write that down, take a note of it. Pause the broadcast, get a piece of paper, get your notebook, get your journal that you write in your prayer journal and write it down. Repentance is a profound transformation of the heart. That involves turning away from sin completely, making the decision in your mind and in your heart, your heart. The determination of your heart makes the determination of your mind to turn away completely from sin and turning towards God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not merely feeling sorry for our sins, it is not just an emotional experience. And then we say oh well, yeah, I can go and do this and that and I'm okay with God, I can still live in that sin and God's okay, me and the big man upstairs we're okay, we're tight, we're going to be fine. No, that is not what repentance is. Repentance is not feeling sorry. It is not an emotional experience for our sins. It is a complete change of our heart and our mind, a reorientation of our whole life towards the divine will of God and none other than Jesus Christ.

Jeff Thomas: 13:54

This concept is deeply rooted in the Hebrew word teshuvah, which means return, or to restore, or to restore. Repentance here, as proclaimed by John, john the baptizer, is a call to recognize our spiritual brokenness, our brokenness, an inability to save ourselves, and our spiritual brokenness and our waywardness, and bring us to confess our sins and seek God's forgiveness through placing all of our faith in Christ. It is not an act of pride, it is not an act of boldness. No, it is an act of humility and submission, acknowledging that we cannot. We cannot save ourselves and we need God's grace and our Lord Savior and Redeemer, jesus Christ, to save us from our sins. He is the only way, he would tell us as we go through the gospels greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends. I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. He is the only way, and repentance is a large step in the direction of receiving him by faith.

Jeff Thomas: 15:25

The word in the New Testament is metanoia and signifies a change of mind and heart, emphasizing the transformative nature of true repentance in Jesus Christ. He would also say repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. What does that mean? Verse 2, the latter part what does he say there? And saying repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John the Baptist's declaration that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, john the Baptist's declaration that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, signifies the imminent arrival of God's reign breaking into human history through the person of Jesus Christ. That is what it signified at this time of Jesus Christ. That is what it signified at this time. Our saying the same words today means that Jesus Christ will soon return to receive his body, his church home, to be with him. Before the tribulation period, before the judgment of God is poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world and a sin-filled world, we should say repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He is coming, the king is coming back. Here John the Baptist was saying the king has arrived. God's reign has broken into human history and humanity through the person of Jesus Christ. The kingdom of heaven is not a distant reality, but a present and active force in life, bringing God's rule and reign into our lives through none other than Jesus Christ and his spirit.

Jeff Thomas: 17:29

For John's original audience, this message of repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand was a message. It was a beacon of hope and a call to prepare their hearts for the coming Messiah. The Messiah had not yet come on the scene. There were rumblings about 28 to 30 years earlier, I would say around 28 years earlier, when all, when the Magi came from the east saying where is he that is born King of the Jews and the great slaughter of the innocents and the persecution of the Messianic line and the first martyrs of all those male children, jewish children, were slain there in Bethlehem and surrounding districts. There was rumbles of his coming then. But now John the Baptist comes out of the wilderness after the 400 silent years with this message as a beacon of hope, calling them to prepare their hearts for one who was coming. His name is Jesus Christ the Messiah. It challenged them to repent, to align their lives with God's purposes.

Jeff Thomas: 18:50

The religiosity of that day, embodied by the Pharisees, who added to God's word with their traditions and precepts, and the Sadducees, who did not believe in angels or spirits or the resurrection, who took away from it with their beliefs, burdened the hearts of the Jewish people. These religious leaders imposed heavy burdens, making it difficult for the people of the Jewish people to experience true communion with the one and only true God. Sadly to say. But today, over 2,000 years later, the kingdom of heaven remains at hand. As I said earlier, the next step, the next prophetic thing to happen, is the calling out of the church, the rapture, the catching up of the church, the body of Christ, to be home with him. Then God's judgment will be poured out throughout the tribulation period. Then Christ will return after those seven years to set up his millennial reign on earth. But right now, the kingdom of heaven remains a hand. It is a present reality that we are called to enter through repentance and faith in none other than Jesus Christ.

Jeff Thomas: 20:21

But unfortunately, just as in John the Baptist's day and in that day when he cried out in the wilderness, unfortunately we still have and see similar tendencies in our church today, where certain supposed religious leaders add to or take away from God's word, creating obstacles for genuine faith. They're getting in the way of the message by their religious, added on religious rule. Well, you've got to do this to be a Christian, or you've got to do that to be a Christian. Or you've got to be at church so many times a year to be a Christian, or you've got to do that to be a Christian. Or you've got to be at church so many times a year to be a Christian, or you've got to dart the doors of the church and sit on the pew to be a Christian, or you've got to do this or that.

Jeff Thomas: 21:13

There is nothing. Plus, there is nothing to be added to the cross of Calvary. There is nothing to be added to true repentance, a heart changed from sin and the world turning to God by placing their faith in Christ. There is nothing and I say nothing to be added to that for salvation in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Now we will talk about the fruit, the fruit bearing here in a moment. But as far as salvation, there is nothing to be added to the cross of Calvary. There is nothing to be added to repentance. Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand and receive Jesus Christ by faith. There is nothing to be added to that for salvation. I want to say that carefully. Yet the message of Christ because you know, no matter how bad they try to take away, these supposed religious leaders and, unfortunately, pastors of churches today that add to and take away, no matter how they create obstacles, no matter what obstacles they create to get in the way of genuine faith the message of Christ cuts through these barriers, calling us to authentic repentance and true heart transformation.

Jeff Thomas: 22:42

The apostle Paul would tell us in Romans, chapter 10, I believe, verse 17,. So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by what? The word of God. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. John the Baptist also spoke of Jesus saying let's read verse 11 to get it all in context. Verse 11, read with me. He says this profound statement points to the transformative work of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Jeff Thomas: 23:47

The baptism with the Holy Spirit signifies the indwelling and empowering presence of God in the life of every true born-again believer, bringing new birth and spiritual renewal. The old is passed off and then everything becomes new. You become a new creation in Christ Jesus, unto good works which God hath before ordained, which is the fruit bearing the baptism with fire. No matter what people tell you, it represents two things In the life of the believer. The baptism with fire represents purification. It represents purification. It is a refining fire that purifies and sanctifies and makes us more and more like Christ Jesus every day. But for those who reject Christ, it is a fire of judgment.

Jeff Thomas: 24:52

The word of God speaks here in verse 12, burning the chaff with unquenchable fire. Read verse 12 with me. Whose fan is in his winnowing fork is is what that means. That's what it translates His winning fork is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garden, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. We ought to twitch two things the birth from above, the new birth with the holy spirit, which jesus speaks about in john, chapter 3, for a man must be born again to see and enter the kingdom of heaven. That's the birth from above. We are either born of the holy spirit or we're bound for hellfire. We are bound for the fires of hell and the lake of fire, which is the second death Verse 12, where he says right there he will baptize you with Holy Ghost and with fire. Many want to make something else of that, but verse 12 defines what that fire, that baptism of fire, is. He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. You either accept Christ or you reject him, and your eternal destiny will be determined by the choice that you make. Verse 12 further illustrates this concept. As I said, his winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his weed into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Jeff Thomas: 26:35

This imagery emphasizes the separation between the righteous and the wicked, those who are truly born again and those who have rejected christ or who are claiming to be born again, living like the world, smelling like the world, talking like the world, acting like the world all the time on their way to hell. They haven't been born again, truly born again, born from above. Their life has never changed. That is considered. The chaff. The wheat here in verse 12 represents those who have repented, truly repented, and are born again through the Holy Spirit. The chaff symbolizes those who have rejected Christ, who will face the unquenchable fire of judgment.

Jeff Thomas: 27:30

Then we get into, we go back to verse 8 to look at the fruit bearing, the bearing of fruits that are worthy of repentance. Let's read that again, verse 7, roots meet for repentance. This emphasizes that true repentance results. Now you need to listen closely here, my friends, listen closely. This emphasizes that true repentance results in a transformed life. Remember what I said the problem today is the heart of the problem today in our society and in many of our churches, sadly, is the problem of the heart. We have those that say they have truly repented, they have been saved, they claim the name of Christ, yet they live like the devil, they live like the world. You see the fruits that they bear, and it is not consistent with a transformed heart. It is not consistent with a transformed life. It is not enough to merely confess our sins. Our lives must reflect the change of heart.

Jeff Thomas: 29:11

Good fruits, acts of righteousness, love and obedience are the evidences of genuine repentance and faith in Christ. Therefore he says the axe is laid to the root. Read with me on verse 10. And now also the axe is laid into the root of the trees. It is currently at its present tense. It is being laid to the roots of the tree. It is already laid to the roots of the trees. Therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is honed down and cast into the fire. John warns that the axe is already laid at the root of the tree and he says therefore every fruit that does not did you hear that Does not bear good fruit, is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Jeff Thomas: 30:09

This metaphor underscores the urgency and the seriousness of true repentance. God, in Christ Jesus, demands genuine transformation. He has, he will, and he always, he has, he is and will always demand genuine transformation, not superficial feelings and compliance. Trees that do not produce good fruit, those who do not truly repent and follow Christ, will face judgment. The word of God is very, very serious about that fact. We will look into something that Jesus has said, that we'll look ahead into chapter 7 here in a few moments.

Jeff Thomas: 31:01

But we must understand the trees that do not produce. We have two references the chaff, which is no good for anything but to be burned, and it's because it is not good wheat it is the waste parts of the wheat is the chaff that's no good, it produces nothing, it is good for nothing. The tree that does not bear good fruit is good for nothing. It is cut down to make room for the trees that do bring forth fruit, to give them space to breathe, to give them light to shine, to give more water to their roots that they may bring forth more fruit, that they may bring forth more fruit for the furtherance of his kingdom, bringing glory and honor to his holy name. That's why jesus tells us that we are to be the light to this world, and a light that is set upon a hill, a house that's lit up, is set upon a hill cannot be hidden. You don't light a candle and put it under a bushel to hide it away. No, you put it up to be shining and let everybody it might light, everyone that cometh into the house. Same thing with telling us we're the salt of the earth. The salt that's lost to savor is good for nothing but to be cast out and tread under the feet of men. He'll tell us this in Matthew, chapter 5.

Jeff Thomas: 32:42

As we go along, we'll see this, but there is a choice today set before us here, in this message of John the Baptist, we stand between two paths being born again from above by the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance, or rejecting Christ and facing the unquenchable fires of hell and the lake of fire, which is the second death, eternally separated from God. The choice is clear and stark. Christ offers us life, forgiveness and eternal hope, while rejecting him leads to eternal separation from God and nothing but judgment. The choice is set before us. Jesus himself spoke about this choice in the gospel of Matthew and we're getting ahead of ourselves. But I want to look at this. I think it's very significant and it goes right along with this message from John the Baptist today in Matthew, the gospel of Matthew, chapter 73, verses 13 through 27,.

Jeff Thomas: 33:48

He warned about the broad and the narrow paths. He says in verses 13 and 14, enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat. Did you hear that? Many there be that go in thereat? Because straight is the gate, narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few let me emphasize that word, few there be that find it. These teachings emphasize. It emphasizes the necessity of choosing the path that leads to life by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and him alone. It's not Christ plus something else. It's not Christ plus your membership at church. It's not Christ plus how many times you go to Sunday school that gets you into heaven. It is the blood of Jesus Christ alone that washes away sin, and we must come to him and confess those sins, repenting of those sins, turning from what we used to be.

Jeff Thomas: 35:03

When I got saved, I wasn't excited about the fact that, hey, I can live like I want to because of the grace of God. No, I got excited because my life was completely transformed. I found that narrow path and Christ showed me and held my hand the whole way to help me find it, my hand, the whole way to help me find it. Folks, that's what I want for you. I want you to repent, to change your heart, bringing about a change of your mind from the sin of this world and come to faith in Jesus Christ, which is the only way to be saved, the only way to the Father, way to the Father.

Jeff Thomas: 35:51

Jesus further elaborates here in Matthew, chapter 7, on the importance of genuine repentance and true heart transformation by comparing those who bear good fruit to those who do not. He says right here and you'll see why I'm referencing this, why the holy spirit is bringing us here this evening every tree. Does this sound familiar? Now, this is in matthew, chapter 7, verse 19 every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is honed down and cast into the fire. Now john the baptist has told us this in mat, in Matthew, chapter 3, verse 10. Jesus is reiterating this in his message in Matthew, chapter 7, verse 19. This aligns exactly with John's warning about the axe being laid to the root of the trees that do not bring forth good fruit. Their lives and their hearts are not transformed in a way as there is true outward evidence of an inward change. True repentance produces good fruit, reflecting did you hear this? These Reflecting a transformed heart and life. Finally, jesus underscores the significance of building our lives on a solid foundation.

Jeff Thomas: 37:19

Verses 24-26 of Matthew, chapter 7,. He says Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to like a wise man which built his house upon a rock, and everyone that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand, on the rock of Jesus Christ signifies living a life rooted in Christ and completely transformed by that, being established and rooted in such. If we are rooted in him, truly rooted in him, we will bring forth fruits that are meat for repentance, as John told the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were adding to the word of God and not living up to what they were, putting the burden upon the Jewish people. They were not living up to that burden. They were not even living according to the word of God given at Mount Sinai, the one that they claimed that made them so righteous. They are the ones who rejected the Savior. They are the ones who rejected the Savior. They are the ones who rejected their Messiah.

Jeff Thomas: 38:31

He was telling them hey, you need to bring forth fruit that's meat of repentance, that is worthy of repentance, an outward show of your inward change. Where is it? That's what he was asking the religious crowd of that day, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the sects that had formed over the 400 years, the silent years from the last prophecies until John the Baptist coming out of the wilderness. They had formed those sects and they were burdening the Jewish people with falsehoods and traditions and so on and so forth, and so many precepts and rules and regulations, and so many precepts and rules and regulations. It had become burdensome and it was hard to find in all that religiosity how to worship the true and living God.

Jeff Thomas: 39:34

But John the Baptist comes out of the wilderness after all that time, crying to the top of his lungs, standing there by himself as a piece of steel, not worried about making the place look good, dressing the wilderness up, not worried about using the S word or using the H word. We don't need to make them comfortable. We don't want to offend them. We don't want to tell them about sin. We don't want to tell them about hell With the whole time You're sending them to hell by not doing it. We are supposed to tell them the gospel, the true gospel, not water it down. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent and receive Christ by faith, because unless you do, you are going to die in your sins and you're going to end up in hell and the eternal lake of fire, eternally separated from God.

Jeff Thomas: 40:36

John the Baptist is the core example of what we should be today in the Great Commission. It doesn't need our dressing it up, it doesn't need our making it sound better. It is a simple message, so simple that even a child can grasp it. Yet we want to complicate it because we don't want to offend someone. We want to water it down, so it's politically correct. Hey, I'm not worried about politically correctness.

Jeff Thomas: 41:11

You need to understand that because of Adam's disobedience and his rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden, sin and death entered into the whole world, the whole human race. And without Jesus Christ and without repenting and turning from that, you will die in your sins and go to hell, and at the end of time you will be resurrected again in your body and you will be cast body and soul into the eternal lake of fire, which is the second death, eternally separated from God, where His judgment is poured out without mixture, without any mercy, without any love, without any grace. His judgment will be poured out upon you throughout all eternity, throughout all eternity, without Jesus. That's why we need to cry, just as John the Baptist did. Don't worry about offending somebody, just cry out.

Jeff Thomas: 42:08

Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The next prophetic thing to happen in God's prophetic timeline is Christ is going to return one day soon, one day when we don't know when. One day, in the moment, in a twinkle of an eye, millions of people are going to disappear and then the tribulation period is going to begin. The Antichrist is going to come on the scene. Folks, be ready.

Jeff Thomas: 42:37

Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is still at hand. It is not some distant reality. It is a present truth in our hearts today. Distant reality, it is a present truth in our hearts today. God's reality in Christ Jesus is here to transform our hearts today. His redemptive plan is just as real today, over 2,000 years ago, as it was when he died on Calvary's cross. His blood is still able to wash away all sins, but we must be willing and able to repent and receive him by faith. As we reflect on John the Baptist's powerful message, let us hear his words anew Repent. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Let us recognize our need for God's grace and respond with genuine, true repentance. May our hearts be transformed by the Holy Spirit, our lives be aligned with God's purposes and may we bear fruit that reflects the reality of Jesus Christ in our heart and his kingdom.

Jeff Thomas: 43:54

To those who have not yet received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I extend this heartfelt and I am pleading with you from my heart. Today is the day of salvation. Repent ye, and receive him by faith. Turn from the world, turn from that sin that you're in and turn to God by placing all your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross and you will be saved. Turn away from your sins and seek God's forgiveness and embrace fully the love and grace that he offers through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. The kingdom of heaven is at hand and God is calling to you to be a part of his glorious reign. Won't you repent and be saved today? Repent and believe in the Gospel. Come to the saving knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and experience the transformative power of God's love in your life. Thank you so much for joining me today. I pray that you have made this decision to change your life for an eternity. See, this is not a one-time thing. Once you repent that's so sweet. Once you repent, you turn from that world, you turn from that sin. You'll see and you'll feel the Holy Spirit indwell you. Once you invite Christ into your heart, your life will be completely transformed. You'll have a whole new list of want-tos. Everything will change. Trust me, I've been there In 2004, the latter part of 2004,.

Jeff Thomas: 45:43

I spent the majority of my adult life living in this world and running with this world, till I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. And when I just I gave up and I gave in. I said, LORD, I am turning from this. I am tired of this old world. There is nothing in this world that can fill this void in my heart. I ask Lord, if you can do it. I am willing to give my heart to you. I turn from it now and I ask you into my heart and my life to change me, LORD, and make me what you want me to be and save my soul. . You know that I have not been the same since. I'm not saying everything was changed right at that moment. No, because it's a lifelong thing of sanctification. It's a lifelong journey, but you have a secure eternity with Him, no matter if you pass away right now. Paul said to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. But your heart's prepared, your heart's transformed and ready to be called out when Christ returns to rapture out his Church. But you have a secure eternity. You have eternal life, secure in Him and Him alone. Thank you so much for joining me this evening. I look forward to the next time that we can share in a Word from the Word of God. God bless you all.