How can we "turn now, each of you, from your evil ways" today? Grasping the Call in Jeremiah 25:5 “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever.” Defining Repentance Today • Repentance means a decisive change of mind that produces a change in direction. • It begins with acknowledging sin as God defines it, not culture. • It centers on turning to the Lord Himself, not merely turning away from bad habits. • It brings immediate forgiveness through Christ and ongoing transformation by the Spirit (1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19). Recognizing Modern “Evil Ways” • Sexual immorality, pornography, and unbiblical relationships (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5). • Deceit, gossip, and slander (Ephesians 4:25, 29). • Bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger left to fester (Ephesians 4:31). • Greed, materialism, and idolatrous attachments to possessions or status (Colossians 3:5). • Injustice, partiality, and neglect of the vulnerable (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27). • Substance abuse or any practice that enslaves the body Christ redeemed (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Prayerlessness and neglect of God’s Word, the root behind every other drift (Psalm 119:9-11). Core Steps for Turning Now 1. Recognize: Allow Scripture and the Spirit to expose sin without excuse (Hebrews 4:12-13). 2. Confess: Agree with God openly, naming the sin as He does (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). 3. Receive: Trust the finished work of Christ for full pardon and cleansing (Romans 8:1). 4. Renounce: Abandon the practice—delete, distance, dismantle, or dispose as needed (Matthew 5:29-30). 5. Replace: Fill the vacuum with obedience—truth for lies, purity for lust, generosity for greed (Ephesians 4:22-24). 6. Remain: Abide daily in prayer, Scripture, and fellowship so the new direction endures (John 15:4-5). 7. Reach Out: Seek accountability and serve others; repentance flourishes in community (Hebrews 10:24-25). Strengthened by Scripture • 2 Chronicles 7:14—“and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” • Isaiah 55:7—“Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” • Romans 12:2—“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” • Galatians 5:19-23—contrast between works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit that shows genuine change. • Proverbs 3:5-6—trusting the Lord with all the heart and turning from self-reliance. Resulting Blessings of Obedience • Deeper fellowship with the Lord, sensing His presence and favor (John 14:21). • A cleansed conscience and restored joy (Psalm 51:12). • Growing Christ-likeness, visible to family, church, and world (2 Corinthians 3:18). • Kingdom usefulness—God entrusts more to those walking in repentance (2 Timothy 2:21). • Hope for cultural impact: one repentant life influences households, churches, and communities, echoing the promise of Jeremiah 25:5 to “dwell in the land” under God’s blessing. |
    |