Divine Persuasion

"I say to you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting."2

This word for repent is metanoéō (from metá, "changed after being with" and noiéō, "think.") Oh many have misused this word. We are changed after being with Jesus. The woman at the well was changed after being with Jesus. The Bible says repentance is of the will of God, without regret. This word for "without regret" means not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place. Repentance like faith, a Divine Persuasion.

Repentance is a change of mind that we do not change our minds about, or repent of. We know that the mind regulates the heart and the word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart thus it is through the mind the power of God is manifested in our hearts. Through the mind we are divinely persuaded or convinced of God.

"Indeed, according to God the heart-sorrow repentance without regret produces salvation, and the heart-sorrow of the world produces death."2

Grace is always a gift from God. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works"3 Jesus said to the woman at the well, "if you had known the gift of God and who it is saying to you give me to drink..." then she would have asked him for this drink. Jesus is the author of salvation and faith, he is the perfecter of our faith, thus His words divinely persuade, convince people to believe. He convince the woman at the well.

"And some indeed were persuaded of the things he was speaking, some however disbelieved."2 This word for persuaded is peithó, (from the root of pístis, "faith") properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith. To persuade is to convince, by truth, by analogy, to rely, agree, buy in, obey, trust. It has supernatural elements, of Spirit and Truth. So faith is defined as Divine Persuasion. This persuasion is at the core of obedience. God seeks to persuade mankind of His goodness. To repent is to change our mind about such. Condemnation, fear, shame... these things are not in Christ. We are given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, these things of God persuade men.

We are given a Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father! When we are divinely persuaded, there is joy before the angels of God. Another one persuaded, another one adopted into the kingdom of God. It is this witness in the heavens that the glory of God is being proclaimed, it is the manifold wisdom of God being shown to principalities and powers in the heavens and on earth, when one changes his mind. When God convinces us of His great love, when we are persuaded to change our minds, such brings glory to God. There is joy at salvation, and afterward when we are persuaded in truth, God's wisdom is made known, and there will be joy in the heavens.

Joy in the heavens continues as I am being saved, I am being persuaded as continue to grow in knowledge of Jesus. He is the author of my faith and salvation and he perfecter of my faith, he continues to save and persuade me. I am persuaded by the Word, Jesus, in who exists life which is light of men, In him we are given wealth, health, riches, glory, and love, spiritual blessings from the heavenlies.

We did not know love before, his love surpasses understanding, until he reveals it to us. Anything else is is a counterfeit, false. Love is true, kind, gentle, fore-bearing, it holds no wrongs, it up holds all things. By love God upholds all things. By love the world was created, by love the heavens shine. By love God sent his Son, by love we become His children, adopted into the family of God, children of God.

This authority we have in Him, an heir, a son of the Most High God. His Word cleanses, His blood cleanses, His Spirit seals us as his own and regenerates. Washed clean he works to make us whole in our soul, He doesn't see our sin, it is cast into the sea, purified by water. Upheld in glory, manifested in light, surely this is truth about His faithfulness love. Now, be divinely persuaded yourself.

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