Rosh Hashanah: A Time of Reflection and Repentance

Christians, let us reflect on our own lives and understand the importance of repentance, for there is a prevailing belief in the church today that says: "I know I am saved because I confess Jesus as Lord and am covered by the blood, and however I live is under grace. The Law is Old Covenant, legalistic, and Pharisaic." The spirit behind this movement is the refusal to deny self and transform.

The Bible on Holiness

Let’s look to scripture, the singular measure and standard of truth:

John 3:36 – Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

1 John 2:4-6 – Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which Jesus walked.

James 2: 14, 17, 19-20 – What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

1 John 3:9 – No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

1 John 5:18 – We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

Matthew 7:18-20 – A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Romans 2:4-5 – Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Romans 6:1-2 – What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:15-18 – What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Hebrews 10:26-31 – For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Failure to Comply

If we fail to live in the Word, we will accept demonic doctrines that tickle our ears (2 Tim 4:3), follow another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4), and be justly sent to hell for rejecting the true Jesus (John 14:6), who is as much just and wrathful (Romans 2:5) as he is merciful and loving (1 John 4:8).

The Bible is clear (recommended reading: Romans 6-7) that we are to die to sin and live as servants to righteousness (Romans 6:18); for "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). As Jesus said, "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48), and the Word of God, who is Jesus (John 1:1) leads us into that perfection (2 Tim 3:16-17).

A Self Examination

Will your own works save you? No! (Eph. 2:8-9), but your repentance, obedience, and works are evidence of your salvation. Many who believe they are in Christ are not (Matthew 7:21-23) – don't let that be you! Reflect on your own life and the scriptures above. The path is straight and narrow (Matthew 7:14), and God desires that you choose life! (Deuteronomy 30:15).

Let us heed the warning of the prophet Jeremiah, who said, “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so!” (Jer. 5:31).

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