Series: Demands of Christ
EXCEPT YE REPENT
Luke 13:1-5
In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception "that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance."
- C. Swindoll, John the Baptizer, Bible Study Guide, p. 16.
Observations on Repentance
1) Repentance is demanded by Christ
Core of the Coming of Christ
(Matt 3:1-2) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(Matt 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(Mark 1:14-15) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
2) Repentance is necessary for all men
3) Without repentance one will surely perish
THE ESSENTIALS OF REPENTANCE
Repentance is a changing direction of one’s thought and life
Repentance: metanoew: ýmetanoe/wý; ýmeta/noiaý, ýa$ ýf: to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness - ’to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’ Though in English a focal component of repent is the sorrow or contrition that a person experiences because of sin, the emphasis in ýmetanoe/w ýand ýmeta/noia ýseems to be more specifically the total change, both in thought and behavior, with respect to how one should both think and act. Whether the focus is upon attitude or behavior varies somewhat in different contexts. Compare, for example, Luke 3:8; Heb 6:1, and Acts 26:20.
(Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain. © 1988 United Bible Societies, New York. )
Repentance is the flip side of faith
Parable of the Prodigal Son
( Luke 15:17-21) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
1) Repentance Is Seeing Yourself and Your Sin As God Sees Sin
( Ps 51:3-4) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
(Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, December 7)
Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8 ). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight . . ." ( Psalm 51:4 ). ….. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, "I have sinned." The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes— a reflex action caused by self-disgust.
See Your Unforgiving Spirit as God sees it
Immorality
Deception
Wicked Tongue
Gossip
Self-righteousness
2) Repentance is a Brokenness Concerning One’s Sin
Against God
( 2 Cor 7:10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(Matthew 5:4) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. —
3) Repentance Will Always Result In Change
The definition of INSANITY is continuing to do the same thing while expecting the same results
The more I study repentance the more I come to understand that Repentance IS NOT WHAT YOU do, but it simply is an expression of WHO YOU ARE.
(Oswald Chamber, My Utmost for His Highest, August 22)
Repentance does not cause a sense of sin— it causes a sense of inexpressible unworthiness. When I repent, I realize that I am absolutely helpless, and I know that through and through I am not worthy even to carry His sandals. Have I repented like that, or do I have a lingering thought of possibly trying to defend my actions? The reason God cannot come into my life is that I am not at the point of complete repentance.
THE RESULTS OF REPENTANCE
1) Forgiveness of Sin
(Acts 3:19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
2) Freedom from the Burden of Guilt
3) Blessings of a Changed Life
The fruit of faith is repentance
The fruit of repentance is salvation
The fruit of salvation is a changed life
The fruit of a changed life is good works
The fruit of good works is joy of salvation
Repenting And Rejoicing
A Christian woman asked another believer how he was doing. With a broad smile he replied, "Repenting and rejoicing, sister!"
I believe this man was walking in a spirit of repentance—daily confessing and turning from sins and rejoicing in God’s forgiveness.
Because honest repentance involves sorrow, we may forget that repenting leads to rejoicing. When we first repent and become new believers, we experience great joy. But if we then choose to live with unconfessed sin, our joy is lost.
David believed his joy could be restored. After pouring out his prayer of repentance to God, he made this humble plea: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation" (Psalm 51:12). As David turned back to the Lord, his sense of purpose returned: "Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You" (v.13). Through his faith in a forgiving and merciful God, David began rejoicing again in his salvation (vv.14-15).
Do you sometimes lose the joy of your salvation because you fail to deal with your sins? If you’ll confess them, God will forgive you (1 John 1:9). He’ll restore your joy and help you overcome sins that trouble you. That’s what it means to be a "repenting and rejoicing" Christian. —Joanie Yoder
Conviction makes us sad—confession makes us glad.
THE URGENCY OF REPENTANCE
- Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
