What other scriptures highlight God's call for repentance and accountability? A Divine Courtroom Scene — Jeremiah 2:29 “Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD. God’s Unchanging Call to Repent (Old Testament) • Ezekiel 18:30–32 — “Repent and turn from all your transgressions… For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death… Repent and live!” • Isaiah 55:6–7 — Seek, forsake, return, and He will abundantly pardon. • Joel 2:12–13 — “Return to Me with all your heart… rend your heart and not your garments.” • Hosea 6:1 — “Come, let us return to the LORD; He has torn us, but He will heal us.” • 2 Chronicles 7:14 — Humble, pray, seek, turn; then He hears, forgives, heals. • Psalm 51:1–4 — David models honest confession and ownership of sin. • Proverbs 28:13 — “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” Personal Accountability Before the Holy One • Deuteronomy 30:15–20 — Life and death set before each person; choose life. • Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 — Every deed, secret or public, will face God’s judgment. • Micah 6:8 — Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly; God requires it. • Isaiah 1:18–20 — Reason together: obedience brings blessing, refusal brings the sword. • Job 34:11 — “He repays a man according to his deeds; He brings his ways upon him.” New Testament Echoes of the Same Call • Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15 — “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” • Luke 13:3 — “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” • Acts 3:19 — “Repent therefore and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out.” • Acts 17:30–31 — God now commands all people everywhere to repent; a Day is fixed. • 2 Peter 3:9 — He is patient, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” • 1 John 1:8–9 — Confession brings sure forgiveness and cleansing. • Revelation 2:5; 3:19 — Remember, repent, and do the first works; those He loves, He rebukes and disciplines. Consequences of Refusal • Jeremiah 18:11 — “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways….” • Romans 2:5–6 — Hard hearts store up wrath; God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” • Hebrews 10:26–27 — Deliberate sin after knowing truth leaves only “a fearful expectation of judgment.” • Revelation 20:12 — The dead judged “according to their deeds” written in the books. Grace Promised to the Penitent • Isaiah 1:18 — “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be white as snow.” • Joel 2:25–26 — Years the locusts have eaten restored. • Hosea 14:1–4 — God heals backsliding and loves freely. • Luke 15:20 — The Father runs to the returning son. • 1 John 1:9 — Confession met with faithful, just forgiveness. Living the Message Today • Repentance is more than regret; it is turning from sin to God. • Accountability is personal: no blaming, no evasion. • God’s patience offers time, not permission, to remain in rebellion. • Every call to repent is also an invitation to restoration. |
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