136. Repentance Necessary
136. Repentance Necessary
136 REPENTANCE NECESSARY Acts 17:30; Acts 20-21
INTRODUCTION Every since man sinned, God has been calling upon him to repent. The fundamental note that Paul sounded to Jew and Gentile in every place wasREPENTANCE. John in Revelation, writing to the seven churches, calls upon five of them to repent.
I. REPENTANCE IS ALWAYS TOWARD GOD (Acts 20:21) 1. All sin is against God, even a sin against self, fellowman or Christ is against God, the author of all law tran sgressed; therefore th e repentance is toward God . (Numbers 32:23; Luke 15:18.) 2. Faith is in Christ.
II. WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
1. It is not just godly sorrow . (2 Corinthians 7:10.) 2. It is not gloomy despair-Judas.
3. Just to quit a sin doe s not help one , it must be repented of.
4. To cover the sin will not do. David tried that, but God exposed his sin. (Numbers 32:23.) Published it to the world. (Luke 12:2.) We know of it today. (Like covering up spilled corn to hide it. It comes up and exposes you.) 5. David prayed after his sin. (Psalms 51.) 6. His sin was against God.
Ill. THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT IS A GREAT BLESSING (Acts 11:18;Revelation 2:21) 1. A man once said: "I am thankful for three things---I was born white; I have access to the Bible; and have the chance to repent when I sin ."
2. It is bad to sin, but it is worse to sin and not repent.
3. The opportunity is given to all. (2 Peter 3:9.) 4. It may be taken from those who will not repent. Thyatire (Revelation 2:21); Esau’s case (Hebrews 12:17;
Hosea 13:14.) 5. When God shut the gate of paradise again st Adam, he opened the door to repentance.
IV. MUST REPENT OR PERISH (Luke 13:3;Luke 13:5) 1. Pride, social condition, money and worldly honor keep one from repentance.
2. You reflect on the goodness of God when you say you cannot. (Romans 2:4.) 3. Better cut off an y memb er of body or even life here than be lost.
4. There are many things sweeter than life-rest and peace from a haunted conscience-story of a murderer trying to keep his secret. Prison, even death sweeter to him, he said .
5. It is a PERSONAL matter ; no one can repent for another.