Repentance and the Kingdom of Heaven
(Matthew 4:17)

The forces of the corrupt resulting from Adam’s treason have passed onto the next generations through human inheritance, governing the life of human beings till now. No matter what sort of efforts humans make, they cannot liquidate the existential sins of humans. That is why Jesus, the new ancestor of humans, came to the world as the man free of sins through the Virgin Mary with the Holy Spirit, not inheriting the sins. And eventually He bore the sins of the world on the cross at Calvary became the atoning sacrifice. In order for us to be freed from sins and receive salvation, we should repent and believe in Jesus as Savior rather than make any efforts.

1. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
1) Humanistic phenomenon in religion
① Legalistic acts - condemnation and judgment
② Formalistic rituals - worshipping idols
- Though humans try to be freed from sins and reach salvation on their own, we cannot help but being chained to the corruption of humans in despair.
2) God-centered salvation
① Salvation is given for free by grace of God.
② Only through faith, not human efforts, we receive salvation as a gift.
3) Repentance, the road to faith
① Admitting and confessing one's wrongdoings and looking back on his life
② Reflecting on one’s inner beings with the help of the Holy Spirit, doing away with the sins of betraying God and becoming the master of one’s own life, and returning to God

2. Receive the Holy Spirit through repentance and be transformed
- The commandments as criteria for repentance: sins are not revealed without the law.
1) You shall have no other gods before me.
2) You shall not bow down to idols.
3) You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5) Honor your father and your mother.
6) You shall not murder.
7) You shall not commit adultery.
8) You shall not steal.
9) You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor.
10) You shall not covet your neighbor’s.

3. Repent and live a humble life
1) Be true to yourself in making a self-appraisal.
- Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
2) The pride of pointing fingers at others instead of oneself for everything
3) Stand before God and other human beings with a repenting heart always.
4) Practice on understanding, sympathy, forgiveness, and love.

Conditions for receiving salvation are repentance of disbelief, belief in Jesus as Savior, and confession of faith. Then we receive salvation as a gift of grace. In order for us to take the resemblance of Jesus, however, we must continue with self-examination and repentance. As we follow the Word and commandments of God and the lessons of the Holy Spirit at all times, we come to repent and be transformed. We should repent of and do away with our sins that keep us from communion with God and church members and come before God with a humble heart so as to have communion with God, get our prayers answered, and be healed and blessed. Repentance is the starting point of faith. Faith grows through ceaseless self-reflection. And faith through repentance completes faith.