October 18, 2026

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday October 18TH 2026, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

Volume 9, Number 34, Edition 434
“Repentance”

When I was actively preaching on Sunday mornings – I preached often about repentance and salvation. It was a common theme in many of my sermons.

“Well there you go again Chris – preaching about repentance and salvation. You sound like a broken record. You keep preaching about it like it’s something important – like it’s some type of monumental life-changing event !”

Well that’s because it is. It’s the difference between Heaven and hell.

The word “repent” – and all forms of the word with “repent” as the root – appear in the Bible 112 times. That’s the King James Version. It’s in the Old Testament 46 times, and it’s in the New Testament 66 times. In other popular translations of the Bible it’s in there anywhere from 60 to 100 times. The New Living Translation uses the word “repent” 62 times – occasionally substituting it for phrases such as “turn away from sin”, “turn back to God”, and “change your heart”.

Repentance is about returning home. It’s about turning away from the darkness of the devil – and turning to the bright light of the Savior. It’s a change of mind. It’s when you realize that the direction that you’re headed leads to a dead end, so you turn in the opposite direction – deliberately and intentionally towards God. If you have pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, or sloth – then repent.

Paul wrote – For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT)

God meets us with His open arms. He cleans up our mess. And just as salvation is not a one-time event but a continuing process – so is repentance. Since we are all sinners – we must instantly realize that we’ve sinned, and regret it, and repent it, so that we may continue moving forth in His light because of His grace and mercy.

“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2 NLT)

Let’s pray: “Lord I know what I did right there during that weak moment was wrong. That was a barrier that was placed between You and I. Thank You God for forgiving me for what I’ve done. I ask that You give me the strength and the wisdom and the guidance and the direction – so that I don’t do it again. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. In Your powerful name I pray to You. Amen.”