Some of you say, "Well, we should hear more stories about yourself." I’ve only got a few minutes, and I want to talk about Jesus, but I do have a story that I think will help us understand something in this message in multiple ways. So I’ll be very brief, but I want to tell you this story.

About a year ago, we decided, as a family, to go on a cruise. Many of you have probably been on a cruise or at least know how it works. We got everything ready. And if you know me, I’m pretty good at planning. The kids, for many years, have let Dad handle it because I don’t schedule too much, I don’t schedule too little—I get everything planned just right.

So we got everything together—passports for the kids, all the paperwork—and we headed over to Port Canaveral. We got there around 11:30 or 12:00, checked in, and, as you know, everything is digital now. The SetSail pass is on your phone, and we’re rifling through all the documents—family information, kids’ details—just making sure everything is in order.

Then, we get up to the counter, and the lady says, "I just need to see your passports or birth certificates."

And I reach for my bag… and suddenly, I’m like, "Oh no. What did I do with the kids’ passports?"

I had left them.

And if you know me, you know I don’t leave stuff. That’s what pastoring does to you—you get used to keeping things in order. But somehow, I had left them.

I looked at the lady and said, "Look, there’s no way I can drive back to Sarasota and get back in time before the ship leaves. Is there anything we can do? Could I have someone go to the house, take copies of the birth certificates and passports, and send them over? Would that be enough?"

She said, "Well, just send them over, and we’ll see."

It was funny because we have a lot of kids, and here comes this flood of documents—birth certificates, passports, random pages, probably even copies of the Tampa Tribune—just everything coming through.

She looks at it all, and she lets us go.

Everything worked out perfectly.

Now, the reason I tell you this story is that if I tried to convince you that the reason we got on that cruise—the reason we ate the food, had the room we stayed in, and went on the excursions—was simply because we showed them some pictures and a passport, you’d say, "No, that’s not what got you on the cruise."

What got us on that cruise was that we had already paid for it.

We had paid for the cruise, the room, and the excursions. The passports and pictures just proved who we were.

I want you to hold that thought, because I’m going to come back to it later to help make sense of something important in this message.

The Current Series: First Things

We’re in a series called First Things, which we started last weekend. I want to explain why I think this series is so important right now.

As your pastor—and I understand that people have different opinions, and that’s fine—but I firmly believe that what we need right now, especially in the American church, isn’t just Christians who know how to talk about faith, argue theology, or debate biblical doctrine.

I believe the greatest need in the American church today is Christians who actually live out their faith.

One of the early church fathers once said, "Wherever you go, preach Christ, and if necessary, use words."

The way we live, the way we conduct ourselves, the way we respond to situations, the way we treat people—even those we disagree with—matters more than just what we say.

I’m convinced that when I read the book of Hebrews, I see the same message: How we live is greater than just what we know.

Now, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know things—I absolutely believe in studying theology, and I’ve spent most of my life doing so. But we all know this to be true: You can know things about God without actually knowing Him.

The devil quoted Scripture when he tempted Jesus.

Knowledge alone isn’t enough—it’s about a relationship with God.

That relationship changes you. Christianity is transformational.

People should see a difference in us. They should notice: "You’re not like you used to be. Something has changed in you."

The Challenge in Hebrews

In Hebrews, the writer challenges the audience:

"By now, you should be teachers, but instead, we have to go back and teach you the first things all over again."

At the end of chapter five, the writer says:

"Solid food is for the mature, who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Who are the mature in the book of Hebrews?

Is it the people who know the most? Is it the ones who can argue theology? No.

The mature are those who have trained themselves through practice to distinguish between good and evil.

That means their faith isn’t just something they talk about—it’s something they live.

The Need for Repentance

So, in chapter six, verse one, the writer says:

"Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity..."

Not leave Christ—just the elementary things, because we’re expected to grow as Christians.

And how do we grow?

The first thing listed:

"Repentance from dead works and faith toward God."

Repentance is foundational, yet many Christians don’t fully understand what it means.

The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means a change of mind or a change of allegiance.

When Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," He was saying, "Change your allegiance. Stop living for yourself and follow Me."

This wasn’t just a suggestion—it was a call to leave behind the old way of life and surrender to the rule of Christ.

Repentance and Salvation

Now, listen carefully.

Repentance is a prerequisite for salvation, but it is not the basis of salvation.

You don’t get into heaven because you repented.

You get into heaven because Jesus paid for your salvation.

Just like on the cruise, the payment had already been made. But to board the ship, you had to show identification.

Repentance is that identification—it’s the response to what Christ has already done.

And here’s where American Christianity has sometimes created a false gospel:

We’ve made Jesus into a self-help coach.

We’ve told people, "You can live however you want, do whatever you want, and it’s all good—Jesus loves you just as you are."

Yes, He meets us where we are.

But He does not leave us where we are.

When Jesus met the woman caught in adultery, He did not condemn her—but He also said, "Go and sin no more."

There has to be a turning—a change.

Dead Works

Why does Hebrews say "repentance from dead works"?

Because dead works are anything we do to try to earn God's favor.

Nothing we do—whether it's religious rituals, good deeds, or personal morality—can earn our way into heaven.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1:

"You were dead in your trespasses and sins."

Dead people can’t make themselves alive.

Only Jesus can do that.

This is why the gospel isn’t about what we do—it’s about what He has already done.

Closing Thoughts

So, let me leave you with three questions:

  1. Have you ever had a true, honest, come-to-Jesus moment of repentance?
    Not just believing in Jesus, but surrendering to Him?

  2. Are there areas in your life that you know you need to repent of?
    Maybe in how you treat others, in your relationships, or in your priorities.

  3. Are you willing to put God first in every area of your life?

Now is the time to turn our hearts fully toward the Lord.

Because when we seek Him first—everything else will fall into place.

Let’s pray.


Last modified: Monday, February 3, 2025, 12:21 PM