OUTLINE:

With grace, our Lord Jesus shared the unadulterated Truth, so men would not deceive themselves, but instead come to God's salvation.

Guarding Your Soul
If you're reading a "spiritual" book, and you're not reading the Word of God first, as your first priority, you can get swayed to give too much emphasis to that book/topic, or even to a perverted perspective, possibly.

What's BEST For Our Souls
The very best thing we can do is read the Word for ourselves... because we can take in the whole story of God in context… AND because we're reading the only supernatural book in human history, let's not forget!

Perspective
When we take the time to live for others, there's no more time to worry about living for self! Thank God!

Dedication To Self
Selfishness breeds malcontent. God did not regenerate believers in order to live a better life for self; rather, He gave us new life in Christ to live as Christ did - for others, in humility. (Gal 5:13-14)

A Daily Rescue
Only relying upon and obeying the Word and the Spirit can save us from self-induced misery. When we live in the Word, and live for others, we are rescued from ourselves.

Heb 10:24-25
…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

True Encouragement
- The LIE:  "If someone's feelings get hurt, it cannot possibly be encouraging."
- The TRUTH: "The Word of God, no matter how offensive to human feelings, is always the best form of encouragement."

The Gospel Is Everything
It is the very hope of fallen mankind, and we must share this Good News with those we go out to. The world is without hope, but we can impartially share the Truth with them, that some might be saved.

Arrogance In A Nutshell
Question God and all of His authority. Do as Satan did. Undermine mercy, grace, and love. Lead others astray. Live for self. Posture oneself as righteous while bound in unrighteousness.

Repentance is sweet to the ears of God; it's a surrender of someone's free will to His majesty, and it allows God to take over their lives, by grace.

“the repentance”
from ten metanoian - the definite article, “the”, implies singleness to repentance; in other words, there’s only ONE repentance in view, the same as always, whether OT or NT - there’s always only been one true repentance that leads to life!

What Is Repentance?
Repentance is often mentioned alongside of faith as an essential condition of conversion (Mt 4:17; Mk 1:15; Ac 20:21; Heb 6:1). The relationship between repentance and faith (the sole instrument for justification) is so intimate, NT writers implied one when mentioning the other.

And if a man is unwilling to repent towards God, he won't honestly turn to Christ in faith.

If God draws you to Himself (Jn 6:44), and His plan is to save you, then you will be receiving BOTH sides of the Gospel coin, repentance and faith. You cannot receive only one side.

What Is Repentance?
Jesus characterized His own ministry as calling sinners to repentance. He spoke clearly of the impending judgment of God as looming over those who refused to repent. (Lk 5:32; 13:3, 5)

What Is Repentance?
Jesus included His call to repentance in the Great Commission, itself! (Lk 24:45-47)

The Apostles of Jesus Christ would never wish to dishonor their Teacher, so repentance was as intimate to conversion in their minds as it was within their Master's.

What Is Repentance?
Jesus' disciples obeyed the Great Commission, which, by Jesus' own account, included a call to repentance. (Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)

Repentance and Salvation
Watering down the Gospel by denying repentance as essential to conversion not only confuses people, but it undermines God’s communication with His creatures regarding their need to be saved.

Tell The Whole Story...
...not being skewed by sentimentality or emotionalism...but in love and honesty, let's unveil the Master Plan of God... from the tragic beginnings of man's story to the great redemption plan of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.