What does First B Jackson teach about repentance?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First Baptist Jackson, the teaching on repentance starts with a clear-eyed look at who it is actually addressed to. Pastor Ray has been consistent that this is not primarily a message for people outside the church. When he opened the series in 1 John, he said plainly that if he is going to preach on repentance, judgment has to start in the house of the Lord. The ditch the church is most likely to fall into, he argued, is not licentiousness but legalism and religiosity, the kind of religion that looks sound from the outside but is patched over like a cracked pot rubbed with wax to hide the damage. Real repentance, the kind John is after, is not an outward performance. It is the difference between claiming fellowship with God and actually walking in the light.
The book of Joel gave the congregation a longer view of what that turning looks like. When Pastor Josh preached through Joel on the first Sunday of Lent, he paused at the words 'yet even now' before God calls the people back, and noted that the text had brought the listener exactly where it wanted them before delivering those words. Joel's call was not to tear garments but to rend hearts. That inward tearing, not the ritual, is what God was after. And the call was communal, not just personal: elders, children, nursing infants, a bride and groom pulled from their own wedding preparations, all gathered together to cry out. Nobody sat it out.
What holds all of this together in the preaching at First Baptist Jackson is the cross. Van worked through Joel 3 and the winepress imagery of God's judgment, then stopped and said that at communion the cup points back to exactly this: Jesus took the full weight of God's wrath, his body went through it and blood came out, and he drank the cup so that we do not have to. The only thing that separates anyone in the room from being on the wrong side of that judgment is Jesus, not effort, not appearance, not which side of the building they sit on. Repentance is not what earns anything. It is the honest turning of a person who has finally seen what the cross actually cost.
Taught from Joel 2:13 · 1 John 1:5-2:2 · Revelation 14:19 · Joel 3:13 · Joel 3:16
The passage taught · Acts 2
1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
World English Bible
The messages that teach on it
- March 1, 2026 Joel Chapter 3 - Pastor Van Jones Felix shares how First Baptist Jackson loved his family through his wife Guadalupe's illness, while Van closes out Joel with a look at judgment, mercy, and the hope of Christ.
- March 1, 2026 Come to the Valley of Judgment Felix and Guadalupe's testimony of healing and provision leads into Van's teaching from Joel 3 on God's judgment, mercy, and the hope found only in Christ.
- February 22, 2026 Yet Even Now: Return to Me Joel's three chapters move from locust devastation to Pentecost hope, with Pastor Joel calling his church to genuine repentance and trust in God's mercy.
- February 22, 2026 Yet Even Now, Return to Me Pastor Darren walks through the book of Joel, finding in its locust-ravaged landscape a call to return to God with a whole heart, not just outward grief.
- May 26, 2024 The Love Without Hypocrisy Pastor Ray preaches from Romans 12 on sincere, unhypocritical love, exploring what it means to hate evil, cling to good, and forgive rather than seek revenge.
- May 26, 2024 Love Must Be Sincere Romans 12 calls believers to sincere, unhypocritical love. Pastor Ray walks through what that really demands, from honoring others to blessing enemies.
- April 21, 2024 God Is Light and in Him There Is No Darkness at All Pastor Ray walks through 1 John 1:5, 2:2, showing how honest agreement with God about our sin is the path to forgiveness, fellowship, and walking in genuine victory.
- April 21, 2024 God Is Light and in Him There Is No Darkness at All Pastor Ray walks through 1 John 1, showing how confessing sin, walking in the light, and trusting Christ's forgiveness lead to real fellowship and freedom.
Mentioned along the way
- February 15, 2026 We Are All Gomer Hosea 4-14 traced in one sermon: Israel's unfaithfulness, God's relentless mercy, and what it means to truly know God rather than just know about him.
- February 15, 2026 All of Us Are Gomer Ray walks through all 14 chapters of Hosea in one sermon, showing how God pursues a spiritually unfaithful people with mercy rather than religion, and what it means to truly know Him.
- November 2, 2025 Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters Amos called God's people to justice and humility, not religious pride. The preacher's sermon traces the prophet's warnings, visions, and the hope waiting at the end of the book.
- August 17, 2025 The Book of Jonah - Guest Speaker Van Jones Jonah ran from God's call to love his enemies. A sermon from First Baptist Jackson on obedience, repentance, and the mercy we resist giving others.
- July 13, 2025 Who Are You Acts 19: miracles, a mob, and a silversmith's riot in Ephesus. What happens when the gospel upends business, pride, and everything people thought they controlled.
- November 17, 2024 Sunday Nov 17th Sermon from Pastor Ray Peter and John heal a man lame from birth, and Pastor Peter traces what happened, why it mattered, and what it means to receive grace you could never earn.
- November 17, 2024 Silver and Gold Have I None A lame man healed at the temple gate opens a question every believer faces: are we trying to be Peter, or do we need to see ourselves as the one who was lifted up?
- November 17, 2024 Silver and Gold Have None Peter and John stop for a lame beggar at the temple gate. A First Baptist Jackson sermon on Acts 3, seeing people who suffer and giving what you have.
- April 14, 2024 Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead Luke 24 traces the risen Jesus from an empty tomb to the Emmaus road, showing confused disciples how Scripture always pointed to a suffering and risen Christ.
- April 14, 2024 Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead Luke 24 sermon on the resurrection and the road to Emmaus: why the disciples struggled to believe the good news, and what it means to be witnesses today.
- January 7, 2024 His Mercy Is More Pastor Peter walks through 1 Peter 1, calling believers to hope fully, live holy, fear God, love deeply, renounce sin, and grow in God's Word.
- December 31, 2023 Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance Pastor Russ unpacks 2 Corinthians 7:8-13 to show why godly sorrow leads to repentance and restored relationships, while worldly sorrow leads only to death.
- December 31, 2023 Godly Sorrow Versus Worldly Sorrow A New Year's Eve sermon from 2 Corinthians on how godly sorrow leads to repentance and restored relationships, while worldly sorrow leads only to death.
- October 18, 2023 Women's Bible Study - October 18th, 2023 Deborah teaches on revival, repentance, and staying on fire for Jesus, sharing personal stories of answered prayer and what it means to live a life that matters.
- June 11, 2023 Lost and Found: Joy in Heaven Over One Sinner Three parables from Luke 15 show a God who actively searches for the lost and throws a party in heaven when even one sinner turns back and comes home.
- June 11, 2023 He Was Lost and He Has Been Found Jesus tells three parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son to show how God joyfully welcomes every sinner who turns and comes home.
- April 16, 2023 Repent or Perish: Five Warnings and Two Alternatives Five warnings from Luke 12 on hypocrisy, greed, worry, division and judgment, paired with Jesus's call to repentance and trust in a patient, providing God.
- April 16, 2023 Repent or Perish: Two Alternatives from Jesus Jesus warns His disciples about hypocrisy, greed, and unpreparedness, then closes with two stark alternatives: repent or perish. A close reading of Luke 12.
- March 27, 2022 The Book of Jonah - Sunday, March 27, 2022 - 11am Service The pastor walks through the entire book of Jonah, showing how God's mercy toward enemies challenges our own willingness to share the gospel with people we would rather see judged.
- March 6, 2022 Her Sins Which Are Many Have Been Forgiven A sinful woman washes Jesus' feet with her tears while a proud Pharisee looks on. The pastor explores what true contrition, forgiveness, and faith look like.
- March 6, 2022 Her Sins Which Are Many Have Been Forgiven A sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet at a Pharisee's table. Pastor explores pride, humility, and what it means to truly grasp how much we've been forgiven.
- January 31, 2022 Monday Night @ Frist B Jan 30th Jesus confronts religious leaders focused on rituals while ignoring the heart. Pastor Mark explores what truly defiles us and how only Christ can transform us from within.
- January 23, 2022 Your Words Have the Power of Life and Death Steve Landis opens with conviction about the power of words, then walks through why surrendering to repentance and transformation matters for every believer.
- June 9, 2019 The Lord Is Not Slow in Keeping His Promise Peter warns that judgment is coming, but God is patient. The pastor walks through 2 Peter to show why repentance is urgent and what holy living looks like while we wait.
- June 9, 2019 Not Slow, But Patient A Wyoming pastor walks through 2 Peter 3 on God's patience, coming judgment, and the call to live holy lives while waiting for Christ's return.
- June 2, 2019 Y'all or a They Peter warns about false teachers who promise freedom but deliver slavery, while God's patience invites everyone to repentance before judgment comes.
- June 2, 2019 Patient With You Peter warns of false teachers who entice believers away from the gospel, while reminding us that God's patience is not slowness but mercy, calling everyone to repentance.
- May 19, 2019 Beware the Reluctant Permission of God Pastor Carl walks through the story of Balaam in Numbers 22-24, warning against pursuing what God has already refused and the danger of His reluctant permission.
- August 5, 2018 He Saved Us, Not Because of Works Titus 3: Paul reminds us we were once foolish and disobedient, but God saved us by His mercy and grace, not our works, renewing us through the Holy Spirit.
- April 1, 2018 Knowing and the Resurrection Easter sermon on Luke 24 and Acts 1: two disciples walk to Emmaus not yet recognizing the risen Jesus, and what it means to truly know the resurrection.
- November 5, 2017 The Cross Is Not Sugarcoated Gary Geek shares a direct message on the gospel of Christ: why the cross is offensive, what true repentance costs, and why every believer is called to share their faith.
- November 5, 2017 The Fabric of Our Faith Gary Geek shares why every Christian is called to proclaim the full gospel of Christ boldly, without fear, and what that message truly costs and demands.
- March 6, 2016 Thou Art Inexcusable, Oh Man Romans 2:1 shows no one escapes God's righteous judgment by pointing at others. Pastor Ray walks through Paul's hard words about self-righteousness and God's kindness.
- January 3, 2016 One Last Loving Defense Paul closes 2 Corinthians with a parental warning, a call to self-examination, and a benediction grounding Christians in God's faithfulness and restorative love.
- January 3, 2016 One Last Loving Defense Paul closes 2 Corinthians with a loving but firm warning, calling the church to self-examination, repentance, and trust in God's power to restore.
- November 1, 2015 Good Grief The pastor explores 2 Corinthians 7, showing how godly grief leads to repentance and life, while worldly grief leads only to death, using Peter and Judas as examples.
- November 1, 2015 But God Paul's letter to Corinth shows how godly grief leads to repentance and salvation, while worldly grief leads only to death. A study in 2 Corinthians.
- March 16, 2014 Swift to Hear, Slow to Speak, Slow to Wrath James 1 calls us to look honestly at ourselves and act on what we see. Pastor Gary traces that mirror principle through Van Gogh's life and letters.
- December 29, 2013 Futile Sin Management Without the Cross Acts 18 sermon on Apollos, who preached repentance powerfully but knew only John's baptism. What is sin management without the cross of Christ?
- December 29, 2013 He Only Knew John's Baptism Acts 18 traces Apollos, a gifted teacher who knew repentance but not the cross, and asks what sin management looks like without the redemption Christ alone provides.
- November 11, 2012 Sin, Sorrow, and Salvation A Wyoming pastor connects Moses lifting the bronze serpent in the wilderness to the cross of Christ, tracing sin, sorrow, and salvation through John 3 and Numbers 21.
- November 20, 2011 The Sign of Jonah Ron Turpin walks through the book of Jonah to show how God pursues the disobedient, waits patiently for repentance, and points every detail toward the death and resurrection of Jesus.