Repentance

Repentance

1. What must I do to be saved?. Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
2. Many believe that because repentance was not mentioned in this verse that believing is all that is involved in salvation
3. Repentance is turning from sin
4. Repentance means "a change of mind or purpose"
5. It is a sincere and thorough changing of the mind and disposition in regard to sin
   1. It is a change of view
   2. It is a change of feeling
   3. It is a change of purpose
6. The three elements of repentance
   1. The Intellectual Element
      1. Sin is not a mistake or a weakness it is personal guilt
      2. Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
      3. Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
      4. It is seen not only as guilt before God but a defiling and polluting agent of self
      5. We need to be cleansed Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
   2. The Emotional Element
      1. Follows the intellectual element
      2. Repentance is a Godly sorrow
      3. 2 Cor. 7:9-10. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
      4. There is a vast difference between feeling shame and sorrow for being exposed and Godly sorrow because of the sin itself
   3. The Voluntary Element
      1. There must be an act of the will - Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and in verse 20 - and he arose, and came to his father
      2. When repentance touches the will the following results can be expected.
         1. Confession - Psalms 38:18 - For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
         2. Forsaking Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
         3. Turning to God - When we turn from sin we must at the same time turn toward God - Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
      3. Repentance is not a "work" that earns salvation; it is a necessary act that coincides with faith in Christ. God’s grace still saves us, but his grace should produce a sorrow over sin

1. The importance of repentance
   1. Jesus emphasized it - Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
   2. Matthew 9:13 - But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
   3. The disciples preached it - Mark 6:12 - And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
   4. The Great Commission - Luke 24:47 - And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
   5. Peter preached it - Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   6. Paul preached it - Acts 20:21 - Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Repentance is a gift
   1. Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things, they held their peace,and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
   2. When God urges us or the Holy Spirit convicts us it is time to repent
   3. Repentance comes to us by divine means such as believing God’s word - Jonah 3:5.-6 - So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. It also comes through preaching, brotherly reproof, and God’s goodness (Rom. 2:4; 2 Pt. 3:9)

Study Questions:

1. Define repentance.
2. What are the three elements of repentance? Explain.
3. Why is sin not simply a mistake?
4. Why is repentance important?