The Seven Calls of the Lord Jesus Christ
The First Call: Repent!

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All the Bible verses quoted in this article are from the King James Version.

Sin is disobedience and failure to worship God. When we are born as humans, we are enslaved to sin, meaning we have a tendency to sin. We know what we are about to do is sin, but we cannot help but sin.

Humankind was sold into sin when the progenitors of mankind, Adam and Eve, willfully disobeyed God. Since then, the sinful nature has been inherited by the entire human race. The Bible clearly states the enslavement of mankind to sin as follows:

Romans 7:14-23:

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

God is life, so opposing God is opposing life. Therefore, the natural consequence of sin is death. The first death is the separation of the physical body from the soul, so that the sinner does not eternally oppose God. The second death is the eternal separation of the resurrected soul and body from God.

However, God loves mankind and has given mankind the opportunity for salvation, which humans only need to believe in and accept. Salvation is being saved from the power of sin, no longer being controlled by sin, and being forgiven for sins, no longer having to endure punishment for sins. Those who believe and accept God’s salvation will be reborn by Him into a new person, “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). As a result, they have God’s power to fully obey and worship Him. Those who are faithful in obeying and worshiping God will be granted eternal life.

Salvation, which means being born again, is a prerequisite for entering the Heavenly Kingdom. To remain in the Heavenly Kingdom, a person must keep the commandments of *God and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12).

To be saved and have eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom, a person must wholeheartedly respond to the seven calls of the Lord.

Today, we respectfully invite all brothers and sisters to join us in exploring the seven calls of the Lord Jesus Christ, clearly recorded in the Bible, and to reflect on how we have responded to His calls.

Please set aside all doctrines not found in the Bible that are taught by those religious organizations and return to the Word of God. Because our future depends on whether or not we follow *God’s will, not on which religion we adhere to or which doctrines of those religious organizations we believe in. The Lord Jesus Christ stated very clearly:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

The First Call: Repent!

Perhaps each of us knows and has memorized these two verses:

“For *God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Because *God loves the world, God the Son came into the world to bear the punishment of sin for humanity. Salvation is the will of *God, the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the influence of the Holy Spirit. However, humans must repent in order to be saved.

The term “repentance” in the Bible refers to a change of mind, a change of attitude, or a change of purpose. When the Lord Jesus Christ began his ministry preaching the Gospel, He called upon humanity to repent:

“…Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

“…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom belonging to heaven, unlike kingdoms or countries belonging to the earth or to the world. The Kingdom of God is ruled by God Himself according to His laws through the person of the Son of God, with the title King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). The Kingdom of God, first and foremost, comes into the hearts of those who repent of their sins and accept the Gospel of Salvation from *God (Luke 17:21). Next will be the period of a thousand years of peace on earth (Revelation 20:4-6). Lastly, it is for eternity in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-22:5).

Nearly two thousand years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ preached, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” because He was about to die on the cross to fulfill the redemption of humanity. Today, the Kingdom of God has come and continues to come into the hearts of those who truly repent of their sins and accept the salvation of *God. God the Father calls them His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18); God the Son reigns in the hearts of those who are saved (Colossians 3:15); and God the Holy Spirit dwells within them, making their bodies temples and worshiping God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). And that is the Gospel. The good news of God’s salvation of humanity from the power and consequences of sin, adopting them as children, ruling them with His peace, and granting them eternal life in His kingdom.

Therefore, the first call of the Lord Jesus Christ to humanity is “Repent!” And repentance spoken of here is repentance of sin. It means a change of mind, a change of attitude towards sin, and a change of purpose in life.

Initially, humans were created perfect and good, with the ability to obey and trust God. However, when humans chose to exercise their free will to disobey God, God’s glory was no longer upon them, and they lost the ability to obey God. Since humans disobeyed God, they gained knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong, by doing them. Good and right are in agreement with God’s will. Evil and wrong are contrary to God’s will.

The event where humans know that what they are going to do is evil, wrong, contrary to God, but still do it is called being enslaved to sin in the Bible. Humans are both enslaved to sin and bear the punishment of sin. Apart from the painful consequences and shame caused by sin, sinners also bear the ultimate punishment of being eternally separated from God, separated from His love and redeeming power:

“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

To be able to escape the power of sin and the consequences of wrongdoing, a person needs to accept the salvation of *God. To be able to accept the salvation of *God, a person needs to repent of sin, which means changing their mindset, attitude, and purpose regarding sin.

1. Changing the mindset about sin: no longer liking sin, no longer thinking about the pleasures and benefits that sin brings, no longer thinking about sinful ways to satisfy the needs of life or the wrongful desires of the flesh. Changing the mindset about sin is essential to changing the attitude toward sin.

2. Changing the attitude toward sin: to always be vigilant and to stay away from anything that may lead one to think of sin or commit sin. Willing to pay any price to escape from environments that may lead one to think of sin or commit sin. Not trying to rationalize or justify staying in the environment of temptation. Not curious, wanting to know how temptation will come.

It was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who spoke these very strict words:

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:27-30).

“Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Matthew 18:8-9).

Many people believe that the Lord’s words above cannot be taken literally; there cannot truly be gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand to avoid sinning. We believe that the context requires us to interpret the Lord’s words literally. The Lord truly spoke of adultery in a literal sense, and thus, an eye that looks lustfully, leading to sin, or a hand that touches, leading to sin, must be eradicated to stop sinning. Gouging out the eye and cutting off the hand signify repentance for sin. Those who repent of sin will no longer bear the punishment of sin in the afterlife, in hell. Additionally, we can also apply the Lord’s words to the eradication of anything that has become a means of causing us to sin.

In Matthew 19:11-12, the following words of the Lord Jesus Christ are recorded:

“…All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Through this saying of the Lord, we can be certain that making oneself eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven must be understood literally, meaning that there are those who have voluntarily castrated themselves to devote themselves to the Lord. Some people believe that the word “eunuch” should be understood as being single. However, no one says: Someone is single from their mother’s womb; someone is single because of human actions! Therefore, the Lord’s saying must be understood literally.

Thus, the Lord’s words about gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand to avoid sinning are entirely literal.

3. Changing the purpose of life: Humans are enslaved to sin and can only sin, unable to do anything else. Therefore, the purpose of life for some people is to indulge in sin, living day by day and doing whatever the flesh desires, regardless of the future. For others, they may strive to chase after fame, wealth, and power to forget their own weakness, the slavery to sin. Yet for some others, they seek salvation in religions, in the effort to do good. But when a person changes their mindset and attitude toward sin, they also change their purpose in life. The purpose of life for someone who truly repents of sin is to wholeheartedly obey God, worship God, and love and help others as oneself.

Repentance does not change us but helps us meet the conditions to receive the salvation of *God. It is the salvation of *God that changes us. It is the power of God overflowing within us that enables us to overcome temptation, overcome sin, overcome adversity, overcome every enemy, understand the Word of God and His will in our lives, and do all the good works that *God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). Good deeds begin with obeying the Ten Commandments of *God.

Without repentance for sin, one cannot receive salvation. The word “believeth” in John 3:16 means to hear and obey every word spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. That verse can be interpreted as follows:

“For *God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever listens to and obeys every word He says should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

What good is it to believe without acting upon it?

Let’s say a person is trapped in a burning house, and a firefighter manages to get inside the building, handing the victim a fire-resistant suit and an oxygen tank and instructing him to put on the suit and wear the breathing apparatus to navigate through the fire and escape outside. If the victim says he believes the firefighter’s words, believes in the fire-resistant suit, and believes the oxygen tank will help him survive the fire and escape safely, but he refuses to put on the fire-resistant suit and use the oxygen tank, will he be rescued or not?”

A person, even if sincerely believing in the atonement of sins by the Lord Jesus Christ, cannot receive salvation if they do not repent or forsake sin.

Repentance of sin is not just something done once and done. Repentance of sin is a daily practice in the lives of God’s people. After realizing one’s status as a sinner, repenting of sin, believing in the salvation of *God, being born again, and being endowed with the power of God to live a life pleasing to God, God’s people may still fall back into sin. This sin may be due to a lack of understanding of the Word of God, not knowing that thinking, speaking, or acting in such a way is sinful. The prayer of King David recorded in Psalm 19:12-13 is as follows:

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

The important thing is that we do not intentionally sin! The one who has no room for blame is not the one who no longer sins but rather the one who doesn’t intentionally sin. Living in the world, within the limitations of this physical body, we are still prone to sin due to a lack of vigilance, falling into the traps of demons, a lack of understanding of the Word of God, and being led astray by false teachings.

Therefore, we should always be busy each day, asking the Lord to examine our hearts and to reveal to us the sins we are unaware of. We need to confess to the Lord every day and present our bodies as living sacrifices and holy offerings to the Lord, like the priests of the Old Testament, who twice offered a lamb without blemish to the Lord each day (Exodus 29:38-42).

Today, every child of God is a priest of *God (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6), offering their bodies instead of sacrificial lambs, offering prayers to honor God, like incense (Hebrews 13:15, 16; Revelation 5:8), and glorifying their bodies by obeying the Word of God (Psalm 119:105; Matthew 5:14).

Repentance is expressed through the action of confessing sins. Confession means telling *God how we have violated His commandments. We ask *God for mercy and forgiveness. The Word of God promises us, as written in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

But if we keep repeating the same sin, that is a sign that we are not truly repentant. In the story of God punishing Pharaoh and the land of Egypt (Exodus 7-10), after Pharaoh repented twice but then relapsed, God hardened his heart. If we continue to disregard God’s mercy and persist in the same sin, beware that the Lord may spew us out (Revelation 3:16).

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
04/12/2014