Repentance — Doorway to a New Day

_{Romans 2: 3 - 4 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?}

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I. Repentance — Turning to God

                A. Any time you turn toward God, you automatically turn away from sin.

                B. To repent means “to change” “to turn” not to just feel sorry.

                C. Repentance requires change in the heart, mind, actions, and deeds

                D. It means to change our minds.

                E. It purifies us.

II. Repentance is foundational and vital in a disciple's life

Heb. 6:1   Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Heb. 6:2   of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

A. Repentance is not a one-time event in our lives, but a regular foundational truth that we must apply often

B. It is a way of life. Mature believers love repentance and do it smoothly. They are not slow to repent.

Mark 1:15   and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

                Matt. 3:2  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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

                Mark 6:12 And they went out and preached that {men} should repent.

Acts 2:38   And Peter {said} to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 20:20   how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,

Acts 20:21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. Repentance is not your choice. It is a gift from God.

Acts 5:31   “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18   And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance {that leads} to life.”

2Tim. 2:25   with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

                Acts 17-24 — Simon the Sorcerer

IV. Repentance is a key to relationships

Matt. 6:14   “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matt. 6:15   “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matt. 18:35   “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

                A. We no longer justify our attitudes

                B. We no longer blame others for our actions

                C. We are willing to accept responsibility

                D. We become refreshingly humble

V. What Repentance is not

                A. Conviction or feeling of guilt, with no action.

                B. Condemnation or feeling of guilt, with no way out.

                C. Being sorry with no change.

                D. Will power

                E. Performing a religious action such as confession

                F. Turning over a new leaf, New Year’s resolution, trying harder to do better.

                Matt. 5:3   “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

VI. Evidence of Genuine Repentance

                A. Fruit meet for repentance, actions, deeds, attitudes, and motives.

                Matt. 3:8 therefore bring fort fruit in keeping with repentance.

                B. Godly sorrow— not just sorry I got caught

2Cor. 7:9   I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to {the point of} repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to {the will of} God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

2Cor. 7:10   For the sorrow that is according to {the will} {of} God produces a repentance without regret, {leading} to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2Cor. 7:11   For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything, you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

                C. Confession of Sin

1John 1:9   If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

                D. Forsaking of Sin

                Prov. 28:13   He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confessess and  forsakes (them) will find compassion. 

                E. Hatred of Sin

Ps. 97:10   Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Prov. 8:13   “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.

Rev. 2:6   ‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaiions, which I also hate.

Amos 5:15   Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

ZEC. 8:17   ‘Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”

                F. Restitution where Possible

                Lev. 6:1   Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev. 6:2   “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted {to him} , or through robbery, or {if} he has extorted from his companion, 

Lev. 6:3   or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do;

Lev. 6:4   then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or  the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found,

Lev. 6:5   or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full, and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day {he presents} his guilt offering.

Lev. 6:6   “Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without defect  from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering,

Lev. 6:7   and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD; and he shall be forgiven for any one of the things which he may  have done to incur guilt.”

G. Earnestness, Vindication, Indignation, Fear, Longing, Zeal, Avenging wrong, Innocence.

2Cor. 7:10   For the sorrow that is according to {the will} {of} God produces a repentance without regret, {leading} to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2Cor. 7:11   For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything, you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

Steve Youngblood