repent and believe

Mark 1:15

Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

To repent means to change direction and to change our mind. We change direction by turning from sin, self and life lived on our own terms to follow Jesus; and we change our minds by agreeing with the Bible that Jesus is Lord and we are not.

To believe in the Gospel means to put the full weight of our trust in Jesus’s death and resurrection alone for our salvation as the only way to be forgiven. This requires total surrender.

Galatians 2:20-21

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

Jesus is not asking us for perfection but He is asking for surrender. 

In the Bible, there’s over 50 names for Jesus but there’s one name for Him that’s all-encompassing and that’s ‘Lord’.  In the New Testament, the word for “Lord” means “Master” and “Controller” and describes a ruler with an unquestionable right to command. In other words, when we repent and put our faith in Jesus it means that we’re surrendering control to Jesus as the final authority in our lives.

Matthew 10:38

”He who does not take his cross and follow after Me [Jesus] is not worthy of Me.“

Luke 9:23-25

”If anyone wishes to come after Me [Jesus], he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?“

After we surrender our lives to Jesus, He wants to lead us in every area of our lives.

If following Jesus required radical change, which area of your life would be the hardest to surrender to His Lordship? (Major, Career, Friendships, Romantic Relationships, Finances, etc.)