Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• John 3:16

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

• Acts 20:21

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

• Mark 1:15

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

• John 3:18

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

• Matthew 28:19-20

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  … Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

• Acts 2:42, 46

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

• 1 Timothy 4:16

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

• 1 Corinthians 1:21

speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Ephesians 5:19-20

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

• Ephesians 6:17-18

“Q. 68. How may we escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?
“A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16), trusting alone to his blood and righteousness.  This faith is attended by repentance for the past (Acts. 20:21), and leads to holiness in the future.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?
“A. To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
“A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The Spurgeon Catechism and the Shorter Catechism differ in the focus of how the question is presented, and even the answer differs to an extent.  The Acts 20:21 biblical proof is the same, but a different verse in John 3 was used.  The first half of the Larger Catechism answer has identical biblical proofs to the Shorter Catechism.  The Larger Catechism uses more words regarding our means to the benefits of Jesus’ mediation.  In fact, the Larger Catechism continues that discussion in the following question.  Due to this divergence in approaching this topic, the next couple of weeks will only include the Spurgeon and the Shorter Catechisms.

There are some that might argue, and argue wrongly, that faith in Jesus is the only thing and repentance is not part of the salvation equation.

But even if we are on our deathbed, we must have a heart for repentance.

Some think that repentance is a “work” and Paul taught us that salvation was by Grace through faith and not by works.  But repentance is not really a work.  As one pastor said on a panel discussion, we are in active rebellion against God and repentance is simply stopping what we are doing and turning around toward Jesus.  God is pursuing us.  In stopping and turning around, we basically fall into God’s arms.

But there is a catch with repentance, maybe a couple of catches.  First, with our sin nature, we do not see the need to repent, at least in some cases.  When we are made a new creation, the sin in our lives is something we suddenly do not wish to have.  Some of those sins are easy to simply drop from our lives.  We do not want that anymore and we can rid ourselves of it.  But the bad habits and things ingrained within us might only be possible to quit with a lot of prayer and a lot of strength from God.  God loves us as we are, but to be in His presence, we must be washed by the blood of Jesus.  Washing our bodies to rid ourselves of dirt and mud, the dust can be blown away, some dirt takes soap, water, and some scrubbing, but other stains soak in and the deep cleansing must be done.  In all three, God’s power is required.

And notice that the Larger and Shorter Catechisms both speak of communication.  This hints at having a meaningful relationship with Jesus, our Savior.

And now let us sing.

The following song is Are You Washed in the Blood?, sung by the Statler Brothers.

“1 Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Chorus:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2 Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?[Chorus]

3 When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?[Chorus]

4 Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb![Chorus]”

• E. A. Hoffman, Are You Washed in the Blood?

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
You are all we need.  Yes, we sin.  But we desire Your cleansing blood to wash away those sins.  We do not desire a sinful life.  We desire to be with You and be more like You.  Cleanse us and give us the power to resist temptation and turn from all sin.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.