Basic Christianity 101 Series

Basic Christianity 101

Basic Christianity

#2 in a series of 7

#2 Repentance from dead works

Reverend David Doherty

First Baptist Church

Pie Town, NM

April 2007

Hebrews 6

1. Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about Christ, let us continue to be carried along to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith toward God,

2. instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3. And this we will do, if God permits.

Acts 17:30

"Truly these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent."

Repentance from dead works means to realise that works without the faith, life and love of God in them are wrong, and to turn away from them from the heart. It involves renouncing all religious pride, all independence from God and all unclean or dishonest practises. It involves a change of heart and a change of lifestyle. It is done by putting total faith in Christ - who He is and what His Word tells us. Repentance happens as we yield to the conviction of the Spirit of God.

re-pen’-tans:

I. OLD TESTAMENT TERMS

1. To Repent--"to Pant," "to Sigh"

2. To Repent--"to Turn" or "Return"

II. NEW TESTAMENT TERMS

1. Repent--"to Care," "Be Concerned"

2. Repent--"to Change the Mind"

3. Repent--"to Turn Over," "to Turn Upon," "to Turn Unto"

Greek- Repentance

Strong’s Number: 3341

Transliterated: metanoia

Phonetic: met-an’-oy-ah

Text: from 3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision): --repentance.

Greek-dead

Strong’s Number: 3498

Transliterated: nekros

Phonetic: nek-ros’

Text: from an apparently primary nekus (a corpse); dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun): --dead.

Greek-works

Strong’s Number: 2041

Transliterated: ergon

Phonetic: er’-gon

Text: from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act: --deed, doing, labour, work.

Hebrews 10

26. For if we choose to go on sinning after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

27. but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God

28. Anyone who violates the law of Moses dies without mercy "on the testimony of two or three witnesses."

29. How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on God’s Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace?

30. For we know the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

31. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32. But you must continue to remember those earlier days, how after you were enlightened you endured a hard and painful struggle.

33. At times you were made a public spectacle through insults and persecutions, while at other times you associated with people who were treated this way.

34. For you sympathized with the prisoners and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, because you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.

Dead Works

Lusts of the Flesh

Galatians 5

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20. idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,

21. envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 1

28. And, according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly; 29. having been filled with all unrighteousness, whoredom, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers,

30. evil-speakers, God-haters, insulting, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31. unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

32. who the righteous judgment of God having known - that those practicing such things are worthy of death - not only do them, but also have delight with those practicing them.

· Fornication – harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry: --fornication.

· Uncleanness – impurity (the quality), physically or morally: --uncleanness.

· Lasciviousness - from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices): --filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness. Lust for things we don’t have.

· Idolatry - image-worship (literally or figuratively): --idolatry.

· Sorcery - medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively): --sorcery, witchcraft.

· Enmities - hostility; by implication, a reason for opposition: --enmity, hatred.

· Strife - of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling: --contention, debate, strife, and variance.