Repentance part 1

Introduction
- Under the Old Testament order of law and sacrifices the people confessed
their sin, offered a sacrifice & then often returned to repeat the sin.
- Gospel repentance is turning from sin & turning unto God. Acts 20:21 says:
“I have declared to both Jews & Greeks that they must turn to God
in repentance & have faith in the Lord Jesus.
- 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
- When they heard this, they had no further objections & praised God
saying “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto
life”.
- It is also called repentance unto salvation, as that is its object.
2 Corinthians 7:10
- Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- 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
1. Repentance is not merely sorrow for sin; there are many who weep over sin
but, without repentance, immediately return to the same sin.
Doing penance is not repentance, for it gives the sinner some merit to earn
in order to gain salvation & often hinders true repentance.
Judas Iscariot & Esau showed sorrow for sin but they did not repent.
Hebrews 12:17
- Afterward, as you know, when he (Esau) wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind though he sought the blessing with tears.
- Remorse & tears often accompany repentance, but they are not repentance
in themselves.
2. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of conduct.
Matthew 21:28-32
- What do you think? there was a man who had two sons. He went to
the first, and said, “Son, go & work today in the vineyard.’ “I will not
he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the
father went to the other son & said the same thing. He answered,
I will, sir, but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father
wanted? “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “ I tell
you the truth, the tax collector & the prostitutes are entering
the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show
you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the
tax collectors & the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this,
you did not repent and believe him.

II. Necessity of Repentance
1. All need to repent because all are guilty in God’s sight. Jesus first
sermon after the baptism & testing in the wilderness was on repentance.
Matthew 4:17
- From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent for the kingdom
of heaven is near.”
Luke 13:3
- I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
2. Repentance comes before believing.
Mark 1:15
- The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent
and believe the good news!
3. Repentance comes before forgiveness.
Luke 24:47
- and repentance & forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
4. Repentance comes before conversion.
Acts 3:19
- Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
5. God commands repentance.
Acts 17:30
- In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands
all people everywhere to repent.

III. Importance of Repentance
- 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 John the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of
Judea and saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.
- When Jesus sent forth His disciple to preach, He commanded them to
preach repentance.
Mark 6:12
- They went out to preached that people should repent.
- After Pentecost the disciple preached repentance.
Acts 2:38
- Peter replied, “Repent & be baptized, everyone of you, in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- This was the message of the Apostle Paul. Acts 20:21
“I have declared to both Jews & Greeks that they must turn to God
in repentance & have faith in the Lord Jesus.
- The burden of the heart of God is that all should repent.
2 Peter 3:9
- The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance.
- Failure to obey God here will lead to eternal damnation.
Luke 13:3
- I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Reference: One Hundred Bible Lessons By: Alban Douglas