Intro: There are people that look at the church today and cry hypocrites. One reason is they don’t understand we are sinners that are saved by grace. It is the grace of God that makes us saints not the acts of men. Another reason is that the church has become superficial! Paul told timothy that in the end times that people would gather around them preachers that would tickle their itching ears.
If you are a sinner lost without Christ outside his grace never having confessed and repented of your sins, I am not here to tickle your ears I am here to trouble your heart!
There are preachers all across this country that say nothing about sin. There are places that say the blood of Jesus is too gory and we are too sophisticated to need it. Oh my! What has the church of Jesus Christ come to when we no longer need the blood of Jesus! I’m not here to tickle your ears I am here to tell you the truth.
At the Mo Baptist Convention they said loud and clear what preaching is all about. Preaching that is biblical will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
What we see in the superficial culture and even the church today is we have forgotten about sin and never heard about repentance!
What is biblical repentance? Is it crying tears because you were caught doing wrong? Is it a physical attempt to control the spiritual source of sin? Is it merely saying I’m sorry?
No. None of those are the complete picture of repentance. Repentance is the forgotten fruit of the grace of God!
I. Its command
Dr James Merritt Aptly said it, “Repentance is the call of the Old Testament and the Command of the New.”
Jesus began His ministry repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. When he first sent out the 12 in mark 6.12 they were going out preaching repentance. Jesus clearly declared in Luke 24.47 “and t hat repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.”
Acts 2.38 the first sermon from the Holy Spirit filled called out ones of Christ, the church, was repent in the name of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul with His historical sermon on Mars Hill in response to the altar to an unknown God said in Acts 17.30 “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,”
The command does not only apply to sinners but to saints. The 2nd and 3rd chapters of the book of revelation record the Lord Jesus’ letters to His church.
Rev 2.4, 5
Ephesus had left her first love and had to repent and return to her first works, or lose the privilege of witness.
Rev 2.16
Pergamum forgot her spiritual calling became guilty of sensuality and priesthood, and had to choose between repentance and judgment.
Rev 2.21,22
Thyatira tried to undo the adultery and abominable practices of Jezebel, and had to repent or suffer tribulation
Rev 3.3
Sardis, like so many today had a name to live, but was dead. Repentance or retribution was left to her choice.
Rev 3.19
Laodicea, type of the organized apostate church of today, was taken up with her own possessions. Her greatest Possession had been crowded out, and left on the doorstep. Repen tance is her only road to spiritual recovery.
It is clear to me that we are not much different than the early church. The church was filled with hypocrites, with liars, with all different types of sins. But what you find in the early church was when they truly were gripped with God’s grace and repented of their sins placing faith in Jesus Christ they did not live superficial lives they led supernatural lives!
So what does repentance look like?
A) It involves conviction of sin
It means we are convinced we are sinners. We see God in all his holiness and ourselves in our dirty sinfulness. The truth of our condition before God is revealed. It is not enough to be under conviction. A person can be convicted to tears but never leave their seat or sin to confess Jesus.
B) It involves confession of sin
Exodus 9.27, 10.16 Pharaoh confessed his sin but never turned from it. He never repented of it. It is still happening today. People get caught in sin and they confess. It is not because they want to turn from it, it is instead because they are caught in it.
C) It involves contrition (sorrow) of sin
This is a deep sorrow over sin. Contrition is a complete understanding that you have fallen short of God’s glory. Because sin is displeasing to God you turn from it in sorrow and shame. It is not enough to be sorry because someone uncovered your sin.
David was broken when Nathan revealed his sin of selfishness. Peter was broken by his rejection of his master. Paul was broken by his sinful self righteousness. Have you ever been so broken by you sin that you turned from it. That is what repentance means. It means to turn from sin and turn toward God!
II. Its companion
Acts 20.21 “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.”
Paul was saying what Charles Haddon Spurgeon said so clearly. Faith and Repentance are Siamese twins. One cannot be born without the other.
Repentance is not merely something we decide to do. When the Holy Spirit penetrates our hearts with the Gospel it will produce faith towards Jesus Christ and turning toward God the Father. Both happen when Gods grace grips our hearts. There is no repentance that is not based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. There is no faith that does not produce a sickness in the heart and soul of man. Some of you have experienced this faith and repentance. No matter the cost to you, sin was revealed as dirty and disappointing to God. Some of you have not. Faith and repentance do not mean perfection.
I read in Billy Graham’s new book a pastors story. In their church they called for a time of prayer and repentance. Behind him as the pastor was praying he heard something like this. “Oh God forgive me of my sins, God I surrender myself to you so that you can make me the man of God you want me to be.” That man was none other than Billy Graham.
Repentance cannot save by itself, but faith that does not lead to repentance as James said is dead. Spurgeon said it so elegantly turn or burn.
III. Its renovation
In Luke 3 John the Baptist is baptizing people and calling for repentance. John was calling the nation to turn to God. God is not calling for mere religious curiosity. He is calling those inside and outside the church to faith and repentance. The Pharisees came to him and what did John say, come on in brothers. No he said 3.8 “bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
James Merritt said it this way, “Real repentance not only clears a man’s head and cleanses a man’s conscience and connects with a man’s will. It gets into a man’s hands and feet and affects they way you live.
Illustration: Boy that played in the mud and or boy in the cookie jar.
Here is a truth for today. People want to experience God’s forgiveness without exiting their sinful lifestyle.
Ephesians 2.10 tells us that we are in Christ Jesus for good works. Faith is demonstrated by repentance. That causes lifestyle change. That involves Romans 12, 2 Timothy 2.25 a change of mind, it involves a change in judgments Jonah 2.9, Acts 26.9, Action and attitude are changed. Redeeming faith produces repentant lives.
IV. Its celebration
Luke 15.7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
According to Warren Wiersbe tells of a fourfold celebration when someone is given the gift of salvation by way of faith through God’s grace resulting in repentance.
In the story of the lost sheep the sheep’s feelings are not given. However, if we use our sanctified imagination we can see the celebration that happens when someone repents.
A) The person repenting
If you have trusted Christ by faith alone through grace alone causing repentance you know the joy of salvation. Acts 3.8, 8.39 scripture tells us of the joy of salvation. David asked for his joy to be returned.
B) The person used to lead others to repentance
Outside the joy of salvation there is not much than leading a person to saving, redeeming, repenting faith.
C) Other people
The family of faith should rejoice when a soul receives Christ and that causes their life to be transformed.
D) Heaven
More joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. In that statement is the value of the soul. 2 Peter 3.9 God desires that all would come to repentance. God’s desire is our directive.
Conclusion: The world sees the church as superficial. Jesus calls the church to be sacrificial, and supernatural. What is the bridge that gets us from our superficial nature to what God has called us to be? We need faith that bears the fruit of repentance.
