Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical. net.

Matthew chapter 4 verse 17

from that time Jesus began to preach saying

repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

This is the central message

that we see all throughout the Gospels. It's summarized here in one short

simple verse. Jesus came preaching and what was he preaching first word repent

turn

this is the essence of Jesus message to you to me to everyone on earth. Turn, turn from your sin, turn from yourself, turn from all your attempts to earn your way to God, your attempts to find a fulfillment, turn in all

these ways from sin, self, from even your good deeds.

I mean, what Jesus is preaching in many ways

and all throughout the Gospel of Matthew

to religious people, like, turn from all your attempts to try to earn the favor of God.

Turn to God, trust in God, repent, turn from sin yourself, your attempts to earn your way to God, and turn to Him.

For, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Or some translations say,

For the kingdom of heaven is near.

In other words, the king has come.

Jesus is the king.

We've already seen this in Matthew chapter one, Matthew chapter two,

Matthew chapter three, like Jesus is God in the flesh who has come face to face to say to men and women turn from your sin yourself and trust in me.

To reconcile you to God, to save you from your sin, to bring you into the kingdom of God, not by your works but by my grace.

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