When the world repents they feel sorrow. But, feeling sorrow over one’s sins isn’t enough. We must turn from our sin and change our life and the way we live.
WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
In Matthew 3:2-9, John the Baptist acknowledges that the Pharisees were Followers of the law, but that semblance of Godliness was not enough. He said that they had to repent and turn from their sin. Repentance actually has three parts:
- A turning from sin: This turning must be both in heart (emotion) and mind (thinking). We must both feel sorrow in our hearts and support that sorrow with the resources of our minds.
- A spirit of abhorrence to sin: A desire to turn away from our old ways and find new ones. A hatred for the thought of sin as well as a desire to be holy.
- A spirit of honor toward God: God told Abram: “I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect. And again he said: I am holy, be ye therefore also holy.”• Romans 2:4 tell us that the Goodness of God leads us to repentance.
• II Corinthians 7:10 – Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.
• John 6:44, 45, 65 – “No man can come to me, except the Father.., draw him… Every man therefore that hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” Repentance must be an outward and inward confession (Romans 10: 10). The Jews (Acts 5:31), the Gentiles (Acts 11:18) and the rest of the world (Luke 24:47) must repent through the name of Jesus.
NINEVEH – This vast city in the country of Assyria repented at the preaching of Jonah the prophet (Jonah 3:5-10, Matthew 12:41).
1. The people fasted: both man and beast did went without food for three days.
2. They turned from their wickedness: this is the only way we can find true repentance.
3. They turned from violence: God saw that they had the right spirit within and spared them.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES ON REPENTANCE
1. Mark 1:14-15 – Repent ye and believe the gospel
2. II Peter 3:9 – God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 3. Romans 2:4-9 – Tells us that the Goodness of God leads us to repentance
4. Acts 17:30 – Commands all men everywhere to repent
5. II Timothy 2:25 – Peradventure God will give them repentance
6. Luke 13:3 – Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish
7. II Corinthians 7:10 – Godly sorrow worketh repentance
8. Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, “repent”
9. Mark 2:17 – Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.
10. Luke 24:47 – States that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations.
11. Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted.
12. Acts 11:18 – God has granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life.
REPENTANCE FOR THE SAVED
After you are born again there will be times of failure and mistakes and yes, even sin! We must manage these times in our lives just like we did when we first came to the Lord; we repent! Paul said, “I die daily.” He meant that he repented daily and tried to live in the spirit and not in the flesh. No one is perfect.
We must strive for perfection. When we fail, the following Scriptures instruct us on what to do:
• There are ways to be reconciled to our brother (Matthew 5:23-34).
• We can learn how to handle trespasses against us (Matthew 18:15-17).
• When we confess our sins He forgives and cleanses us (I John 1:7-9).
• Confession and forsaking of sin brings mercy (Proverbs 28:13).
• Repentance of the Christian is his/her admission of guilt.
• (I John 1:9 John declares believers confession of sin; I Corinth 5:1-5 Paul spoke to the believers of the Corinthian Church about fornication);
• Isaiah calls the backslider to return to God (Isaiah 55:7 Isaiah spoke to God’s chosen people, the Jews to return to God)
• Peter said believers must lay aside all filthiness (I Peter 2:1);
• Deals with sins, and wrongdoing (James 5:16);
• That is the key that unlocks to him/her all the storehouse of God’s abundance (I John 3:18-22; I John 5: 14-15);
• If our hearts do not condemn us, we cannot repent. (I John 3:21);
• Job, who was a righteous man, repented and abhorred himself before the Lord (Job 42:6 repented of his rebellious ways);
Repentance is not the final act of the sinner, one must go on to water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit in his life (Acts 2:38)
REPENTANCE OF THE UNSAVED
• This is known as evangelical repentance or gospel repentance.
• The individual is made to see and be sensible of his/her sin.
• The individual is grieved and humbled before God. This grief arises from the love of God and is accompanied by a hatred for sin and a love for holiness.
• The individual makes a fixed resolution to forsake sin and live for God.
• The sinner repents unto eternal life (Acts 11:18 Peter ministered to the Gentiles). It is his/her admission on his/her lost estate (Rom 3:23).
• Without repentance it is absolutely impossible for a sinner to receive forgiveness of sin.
• Repentance is absolutely necessary to salvation. (1’Peter 1:15-16).
• Repentance requires confession. (Psalm 51:3 David acknowledged his sin. Luke 18:9-1 4 Story of the Pharisee and Publican, verse 13 the Publican prayed “God be merciful on me a sinner”) • Repentance was commanded:
– Jesus commanded His 70 disciples (Luke 10:9-12)
– Jesus commanded His Apostles (Luke 24:4 7)
– Luke commanded all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30-31).
– Peter said all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).
- It was preached:
- Jesus preached it (Matt 4:17).
- Peter preached it (Acts 2:38).
- Paul preached it (Acts 20:21).
