Repent and Believe

Jesus' opening command: turn from self-rule and trust the good news that the kingdom is at hand.

Key Concept

• Kingdom's here now - turn from self-rule and trust the gospel today, not when habits look respectable.

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Mark 1:14-15 NASB1995

• Belief is reliance on Christ's promise - that trust receives eternal life; it is not mere intellectual agreement.
• Repentance turns from sin for fellowship - not the price of receiving eternal life.
• Under Free Grace, faith receives the gift; turn-from-sin belongs with the walk, Standing vs Fellowship, and grateful living under the King.
• There Is No Perfect Solution - the kingdom is at hand now, not when you have fixed yourself.

Level 1 - Recognize

Repent and believe is Jesus' opening command - turn from self-rule and trust the gospel that the kingdom is at hand.

Level 2 - Explain

Belief receives eternal life; repentance turns for fellowship and walk - respectable habits are fruit, not the door price.

Level 3 - Use

Trust the coach's system today, messy as you are - do not wait until your form looks respectable.

Level 4 - Connect

Because the kingdom arrived in Christ, delay is another form of self-leadership - belief today receives the gift; turn keeps fellowship warm.

Level 5 - Create

Preach the pair with Free Grace order straight - faith receives eternal life; repentance serves fellowship and the thank-you walk.

Examples

• I kept telling myself I would trust the coach's system once my form looked respectable - glad faith receives the gift today, messy as you are.
• I kept telling myself I would trust Jesus once my habits looked respectable - eternal life is not a finish line when you are fixed.

Note Relationships