Repentance

Repentance

INTRODUCTION

Under the Old Testament order of law and sacrifices the people confessed their sin, offered a sacrifice and then often returned to repeat the sin.

Gospel repentance is turning from sin and turning unto God Acts 20:21, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord. . ." It is called "repentance unto life," because the new mind is not merely to depart from evil, but to obtain the life that is found in Christ.

Acts 11:18, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." It is also called repentance unto salvation as that is its object. 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of. " As it is not to be repented of again it means that one is not to return again to that sin; it infers a changed attitude toward sin; not going back to iniquity.

I. DEFINITION OF REPENTANCE

Doing penance is not repentance, for it gives the sinner some merit to earn in order to gain salvation and often hinders true repentance. ft.. Judas Iscariot and Esau showed sorrow for sin but they did not repent.

Hebrews 12:17. "He (Esau) found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Remorse and tears often accompany repentance, but they are not repentance in themselves.

Matthew 21:28-32, the boy at first refused to work in the vineyard but later repented, t changed his mind and then went and actually worked in the vineyard

Jesus’ first sermon after the baptism and testing in the wilderness was on repentance.

Matthew 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Luke 13:3, Jesus preaching said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Repentance is a very prominent subject in the Scriptures, being mentioned over one hundred times in the Bible.

Repentance was the theme of John the Baptist. Matthew 3:1-2, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye." When Jesus sent forth His disciples to preach, He commanded them to preach repentance. Mark 6:12, "And they went out, and preached that men should repent."

After Pentecost the disciples preached repentance. Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you." This was the message of the Apostle Paul, too. Acts 20:21, quoted in the introduction. The burden of the heart of God is that all should repent. 2 Peter 3:9, "... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Failure to obey God here will lead to eternal damnation. Luke 13:3, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Repentance is a revolution touching our attitude and views toward sin and righteousness. Repentance teaches us to hate sin and learn to love holiness and purity. The prodigal son repented; he changed his mind about living in a far country and decided to return to his father’s household as a servant. When Peter at Pentecost asked the Jews to repent, he meant for them to change their minds about the Person of Christ. From considering Jesus a mere man, a blasphemer or an impostor, to recognizing Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Redeemer of the world.

Very often feelings play a great part in repentance; repentance is a hard battle.

Luke 10:13, "They (Tyre and Sidon) had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes."

Luke 7:44, "... but she hath washed My feet with tears. . ." (demonstrating repentance). The publican in Luke 18:13, smote upon his breast indicating sorrow of heart. The Greek word for repentance means to cause one great concern. The Hebrew word for repentance means to pant, sigh, or moan (expressing grief).

Psalms 38:18, "For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin."

Luke 15:18; Luke 15:20, the prodigal said, "I will arise. . . and he arose." Repentance is a crisis with a changed experience in view.

Paul taught repentance as an experience rather than a single act (rising and going). Repentance is a twofold act:

(1) Turning from sin and (2) turning unto God.

Turning from sin without turning to God is reformation without regeneration.

1 Thessalonians 1:9, "... how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. "

Acts 26:18, "... and from the power of Satan unto God. "

Basically it is a gift of God. Acts 11:18, "... saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

1Tim. 2:25, "If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." Repentance is a privilege granted to us by God the Father. As people hear the message of the Gospel the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin and a great desire to repent comes over the individual as a result.

Jonah preached repentance to Nineveh; they believed the message and turned to God.

Romans 2:4, "... not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

God often uses chastisements or rebukes to cause us to repent of our sins.

Luke 15:7; Luke 15:10, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. "

Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

Repentance does not cause one to merit forgiveness; repentance is merely a condition. Repentance prepares a man for pardon but it does not entitle him to it. (After repentance we are still unworthy of the Lord’s love and forgiveness.)

CONCLUSION All the blessings of lesson 49 follow the true believer’s initial repentance Godward. A redeemed sinner should never cease to be penitent.

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