What does repentance (change of mind) look like when you discover you cannot save yourself from your sins and have been believing a false gospel that salvation depends on you to some degree or someone other than God through Jesus Christ?
THE TAX COLLECTOR
Luke 18:9-14
And He also spoke this parable to some of those relying on themselves, that they are righteous, and despising the rest:
Comment- Please notice there were some that thought their self righteousness compared to others wasn’t a menstrual cloth Isaiah 64:6
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee was standing, praying these things to himself: God, I thank You that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
I fast twice in the week; I tithe all things, as many as I get.
And standing at a distance, the tax collector would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner!
I say to you, this one went down to his house having been justified, rather than that one. For everyone exalting himself will be humbled. And the one humbling himself will be exalted.
Comment– please notice the tax collector referred to himself as “ The Sinner” There was no pointing fingers at anyone else. Jesus said in the verse below in
Matthew 18:3
And He said, Truly I say to you, Unless you convert and become as the little children, not at all can you enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
We see in John 3:3,5,8 this happens by the Grace of God to whom He chooses to mercy
Romans 9:16,18
THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
Matthew 27:35-44
And having crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting a lot, that might be fulfilled that spoken by the prophet, “They divided My garments to themselves, and they cast a lot over My clothing.” Psa. 22:18
And sitting down, they guarded Him there.
And they put up over His head His charge, it having been written: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one off the right, and one off the left of Him .
But those passing by, blasphemed Him, shaking their heads,
and saying, You destroying the Holy Place and building it in three days, if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And in the same way, the chief priests with the scribes and elders, mocking, said,
He saved others; he is not able to save himself. If he is the king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him.
He trusted on God. Let Him rescue him now, if He desires him. For he said, I am Son of God.
And also the robbers ( Plural) crucified with Him reviled Him, saying the same.
Luke 23:39
And one of the hanged criminals blasphemed Him, saying, If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.
But answering, the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, for you are in the same judgment?
And we indeed justly, for we receive things worthy of what we did. But this One did nothing wrong.
And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.
And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
Comment– The criminal called Jesus Lord. He knew both He and Jesus were going to die that day. That means he now knew He was Lord of all.
Comment– Why the sudden change of heart by 1 of 2 criminals? Scripture answers in John 3:3,5,8 and 1 Corinthians 4:6, Romans 9:7-33
It was God’s sovereign will to give a new heart which brings a change of mind in order to believe the truth that God through the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness alone to be the only conditions to save His people from their sins that He gave to Jesus Christ to be saved and raised up in the last day.
All of God’s promised people that will be saved from their sins will come to this knowledge through God worked faith which is the knowledge that salvation is conditioned on what Jesus Christ did alone. That knowledge will be received sometime between conception and death.
John 6:37-39, Matthew 1:21-23, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 3:23-27, Revelation 5:9, 20:15, Acts 20:28, Acts 13:48, 2 Thessalonians 2:13
THE WOMAN WITH THE EXPENSIVE OINTMENT
Mark 14:3
And He being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He reclined, a woman came, having an alabaster vial of pure, costly ointment of nard. And breaking the alabaster vial, she poured it down His head.
And some were being indignant to themselves, and saying, To what has this waste of the ointment occurred?
And some were being indignant to themselves, and saying, To what has this waste of the ointment occurred?
For this could be sold for over three hundred denarii, and to be given to the poor. And they were incensed with her.
But Jesus said, Let her alone. Why do you cause her troubles? She worked a good work toward Me.
For you have the poor with you always, and when you wish, you can do well toward them. But you do not have Me always.
What this one held, she did. She took beforehand to anoint My body for the burial.
Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in all the world, what this one did will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Luke 7:37-50
And a certain one of the Pharisees asked Him that He eat with him. And going into the Pharisee’s house, He reclined.
And, behold, a woman who was a sinner in the city, knowing that He reclined in the Pharisee’s house, taking an alabaster vial of ointment,
and standing at His feet, weeping behind Him , she began to wash His feet with tears. And she was wiping with the hairs of her head. And she ardently kissed His feet and was anointing them with the ointment.
But seeing, the Pharisee who invited Him spoke within himself, saying, This one, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what the woman who touches him is ; for she is a sinner.
And answering, Jesus said to the man, Simon, I have a thing to say to you. And he said, Teacher, say it .
There were two debtors to a certain creditor: the one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty.
But they not having a thing to pay, he freely forgave both. Then which of them do you say will love him most?
And answering, Simon said, I suppose the one to whom he freely forgave the most. And He said to him, You have judged rightly.
And turning to the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give water for My feet, but she washed My feet with tears and wiped off with the hairs of her head.
You gave Me no kiss, but she from when I entered did not stop fervently kissing My feet.
You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with ointment.
For this reason I say to you, her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, he loves little.
And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven.
And those reclining with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?
But He said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.
THE APOSTLE PAUL’S CONVERSION BY JESUS
Acts 9:1-31
1 But still breathing threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, coming to the high priest,
2 Saul asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any being of the Way, both men and women, having bound them he might bring them to Jerusalem.
3 But in the going it happened! He drew near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the heaven shone around him.
4 And falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute Me?
5 And he said, Sir, who are You? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute; it is hard for you to kick against the goads.
6 Both trembling and being astonished he said, Lord, what do You desire me to do? And the Lord said to him, Rise up and go into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.
7 But the men traveling with him had been standing speechless, indeed hearing the voice (the sound) (KJ3), but seeing no one.
8 And Saul was lifted up from the earth, but his eyes being opened he saw no one. And leading him by the hand they brought him to Damascus.
9And he was three days not seeing, and did not eat or drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold, Lord, I am here .
11And the Lord said to him, Rising up pass along on the street being called Straight and seek a Tarsian, Saul by name, in the house of Judas. For, behold, he is praying.
12 And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting a hand on him, so that he may see again.
13 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many bad things he did to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all the ones calling on Your name.
15 And the Lord said to him, Go, for this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel.
16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.
17 And Ananias went away and entered into the house. And putting hands on him hesaid, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus, the One who appeared to you in the highway on which you came,that you may see and be filled of the Holy Spirit.
18 And instantly it was as if scales fell away from his eyes. And rising up at the thing happening, he was baptized.
19 And taking food he was strengthened. And Saul was with the disciples in Damascus some days.
20 And at once in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that this One is the Son of God.
21 And all those hearing were amazed and said, Is this not the one destroying those who have called on this Name in Jerusalem, and he had come here for this, that binding them he might lead them before the chief priests?
22 But Saul was more filled with power, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ.
23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews plotted together to do away with him.
24 But their plot was known to Saul. And they carefully watched the gates both by day and by night so as to do away with him.
25 But taking him by night, the disciples let him down through the wall, lowering in a basket.
26 And Saul arriving in Jerusalem, he tried to be joined to the disciples. And all feared him, not believing that he is a disciple.
27 But taking hold of him, Barnabas led him to the apostles and told them how he saw the Lord in the highway, and that He spoke to him, and how in Damascus he spoke boldly in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them, going in and going out in Jerusalem, and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.
29And he spoke and disputed with the Hellenists, and they took him in hand to do away with him .
30But knowing, the brothers led him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, having been built up and having gone on in the fear of the Lord. And they were increased in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22: 1-21
Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense now to you.
And hearing that he spoke in the Hebrew dialect to them, they showed more quietness. And he said:
Indeed I am a man, a Jew having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, having been trained according to the exactness of the ancestral law, being a zealous one of God, even as you all are today.
I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering up both men and women to prisons,
as also the high priest and all the elderhood witnesses to me. And having received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled into Damascus even to lead those to Jerusalem being bound there, in order that they might be punished.
And it happened to me, traveling and drawing near to Damascus: suddenly, about midday, a great light out of the heaven shone around me.
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?
And I answered, Who are you, Sir? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you persecute.
But those being with me indeed saw the light, and were alarmed, but did not hear His voice speaking to me.
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rising up, go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all things which are appointed to you to do.
And as I did not see, from the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those being with me, I went into Damascus.
And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, testified to by all the Jews living there ,
coming to me and standing by, he said to me, Brother Saul, look up. And in the same hour I looked up on him.
And he said, The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice out of His mouth;
for you shall be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
And now what do you intend? Rising up, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
And it happened to me, returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple: I became in an ecstasy,
and I saw Him saying to me, Hurry and go out quickly from Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.
And I said, Lord, they understand that I was imprisoning and beating the ones believing on You throughout the synagogues.
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was poured out, I myself also was standing by and consenting to his execution, and holding the garments of those killing him.
And He said to me, Go, for I will send you to the nations afar off.
Philippians 3:1-9
For the rest my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you truly is not tiresome to me, but safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil workers, look out for the concision party .
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, and who glory in Christ Jesus, and who do not trust in flesh.
Though I also might have trust in flesh; if any other thinks to trust in flesh, I more;
in circumcision, the eighth day, of the race of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; according to Law, a Pharisee;
according to zeal, persecuting the church; according to righteousness in Law, being blameless.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss because of Christ.
But, nay, rather I also count all things to be loss because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them to be trash, that I might gain Christ
and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness of Law, but through the faith of Christ, having the righteousness of God on faith,
Galatians 1:15-16
But when God was pleased, “He having separated me from my mother’s womb” and having called through His grace, Isa. 49:1
to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood, Matthew 11:27-30
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
God promises to save His people from their sins solely conditioned on the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness alone without effort or work from those for whom He represented in His death and perfect life lived in thought word and deed which was consummated in His bodily resurrection.
Jesus said just before He gave up the spirit while on the cross “ It is finished” (Paid in full). All the people The Father gave Him will come to the knowledge of the truth sometime between conception and death and show they have been saved from their sins John 6:37-39, Matthew 11:27-30 Luke 1:41- ( John the Baptist)
Matthew 1:21-23 Hebrews 9:22, Romans 3:9-27 Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-10, John 19:30, Hebrews 10:1-18
Romans 4:4-8
Now to one working, the reward is not counted according to grace, but according to debt.
But to the one not working, but believing on Him justifying the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even as also David says of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
blessed the man to whom the Lord will in no way charge sin.” LXX-Psa. 31:1, 2; MT-Psa. 32:1, 2
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, if one does not receive birth from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.
John 3:8
The Spirit breathes where He desires, and you hear His voice; but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes; so is everyone who has received birth from the Spirit. John 6:37-39
2 Corinthians 4:6
Because it is God who said, “Out of darkness Light shall shine,” who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Isa. 42:6, 7, 16
Comment
He gives His people repentance. They are awakened to the fact they don’t have any righteousness of their own and only God is good. They know they can’t satisfy God’s justice and the needed holiness and righteousness. They know that salvation from their sin is no way dependent on what they can think or do.
Luke 18:19 Romans 3:10-12 Psalm 51:5
God reveals himself to His people through Jesus Christ and they come burdened down looking for mercy
They know that salvation from sin is conditioned solely on Jesus Christ work and person alone received by God given faith.. John 6:29 Romans 9:15,16,18
2 Timothy 2:25
in meekness teaching those who have opposed, if perhaps God may give them repentance for a full knowledge of the truth,
John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes the One who has sent Me, has everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 6:47-50
Truly, truly, I say to you, the one believing into Me has everlasting life.
I am the Bread of life.
This is the Bread coming down out of Heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.
I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever. And indeed the bread which I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Highlights, italics added for emphasis by me unless italics originate in verses.
God’s Word Interprets God’s Word 
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