So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Mark 6:7-13

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. Mark 6:12-13

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 6:7-13. Excerpts from the commentary's for the fourth and final (of four) division (vv12-13):

•  The title of this division per the commentary: "Go Preaching the Word and Doing the Work of the Kingdom." 
• "[The disciples] were not to compromise their message even if it brought rejection and persecution. They had to have the courage to tell the truth about Jesus and the gospel." 
•  "If “repentance” was the first word out of the mouth of John, Jesus, and the apostles (Acts 2:38), it must be an important component of the gospel and the Christian life." 
• The commentary refers us to Thomas Watson's treatise on repentance - The Doctrine of Repentance - where Watson outlines "six ingredients necessary for true repentance...including sight of sin, sorrow for sin, confession of sin, shame for sin, hatred for sin, and turning from sin and returning to the Lord."  We are further referred to Joel 2:12, Acts 26:20, and Ezekiel 14:6.
• "We are called to turn away from all our abominations—not just the obvious ones or the ones that create friction in others. The goal of repentance is not to manufacture peace among others with perfunctory repentance, but rather to turn to God wholly." 
• "Repentance is rooted in a hatred of sin and a joyful awareness of God’s loving-kindness, which leads to joy: “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4)."

Indeed Repentance must be stressed as core to the gospel - Satan is waiting to consume and eternally condemn those who do not.  We should be sharing the Gospel as Good News, so good that it should motivate us into the arms of the One True God who offers what no other can - life to the full now and for eternity!

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion - saving me and all other believers not because of what we have done but because He is SO good.  I am not deserving of my salvation as my sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming 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

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming 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

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 1:14-15, which is the text for the first of three divisions per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary:

• Believers are encouraged to "fish for people" by proclaiming the Good News
• There are four components of Jesus' message: "(1) [t]he time is fulfilled, (2) the kingdom of God is near, (3) repent, and (4) believe in the gospel."
• "With the appearance of the Messiah-King, the “kingdom of God” has drawn near. In the person of Jesus Christ, men are confronted head-on with the kingdom—the reign of God. What should be our response? Jesus gives His hearers two commands."
• The first command is to repent, which is "to change [one's] mind leading to a change in behavior."  Of course, we must turn towards God.
• The second command is to believe.  Repentance is complemented by belief - this is how we turn towards God. This turn towards God is not a one-time event but a "life altering change" as we become a new creation. "[a] King has arrived who rightly demands that we follow and radically obey Him. This is the unchanging and uncompromising message and vision of the eternal kingdom of God."  

As the commentary implies, this message of repent and believe requires something not just of a new believer, but all believers over the course of their entire life.  Despite being "born again" (aka regeneration), we continue to have sin until glorification when we meet Jesus face-to-face in Heaven.  On a daily basis, we must go to God to continue a work in us through sanctification.  Sanctification only works if we remain and abide in Him - see also John 15:1-8 and this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.    

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My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God who saves, provides mercies that never cease and that are new every morning, and who is full of grace and patience to continue a work in me through sanctification. I am undeserving of my salvation and for all that You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...sometimes in very frustrating ways.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming 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 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming 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

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 1:14-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Here the text shares/describes:

• that John the Baptist is arrested
• that Jesus went into Galilee, sharing the Gospel - "repent and believe"
• how Jesus calls the first disciples: brothers Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and brothers James and John  

Jesus' preparation for His ministry includes going to temple and learning God's word (see Luke 2:41-52), His baptism, His time in the wilderness (experiencing the temptations humanity faces), and of course His experience growing up with faithful families (Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah) who modeled faith for Him.  Jesus knew that His ministry was a fulfillment of prophecy so part of the Good News is to remind the Jews that He is the One promised in Old Testament scripture.  This point reinforces my post from a couple of days ago that we must understand how all of scripture points to Jesus.  Core to the Good News is humility and repentance - we all sin and need salvation or forgiveness of sins (not just an annual offering at the altar but a one time sacrifice of our life devoted to God and submitting to Him). Of course we should be struck by how both of the sets of brothers immediately (see both v18 and v20) left the safety of their fishing business and followed Him, not knowing what that truly meant.  If we read our Bible and are faithful, we will see the sanctification process unfold as Jesus makes us more like Him - the renewing of the mind per Romans 12:2.  As our thoughts become more like Jesus, we can see His will for our lives and His desires for our lives and dropping everything for Him becomes easier as we first and foremost seek to please Him vs ourselves. See also 1 John 5:3 where John shares how obedience to God is not burdensome.  Repent, believe, submit to Him, and watch God work in your heart and life!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that not only forgives sins, but You also save, provide the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and the church to equip us to become more like You because that is our desire.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving...my sin continues every day - anger, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.