REPENTANCE FROM SIN
KEY VERSE:
Heb 6:1 2
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
NOTE - A better explanation of the phrase “repentance from dead works” can be found in the Greek translation. Repentance is a reversal of a decision. Dead works is labor that brings about death. Romans 6:23 states that the “wages of sin is death.”
PURPOSE:
To bring the student to the place of experiencing true and Godly repentance. Learning to live our lives in God’s holiness, rather than the corruption of the world.
INTRODUCTION:
Repentance can be easily defined as the turning from sin, followed by the turning to God. It is a change of mind, followed by a willful change in behavior.
1. In your own words, explain what repentance means to you.
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GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD REPENTANCE
Ezek 18:27 28
2. In your own words, explain what is meant by the passage found in Ezekiel 18:27-28.
REPENTANCE ALWAYS COMES FIRST
History records that whenever there have been national revivals, preaching on the subject of repentance has always been foremost. It has been proven that when the revivals took place, there was a foundation of genuine and lasting experience with God.
Repentance (in Hebrews 6) is the first of the foundation stones in the principles of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.
3. According to Hebrews 6:1, what is the first step we should take in pursuing the perfection (or, the maturity found in the Lord)?
IMPORTANCE OF REPENTANCE
This importance of repentance was emphatically stated by many people in the New Testament.
It was the first words of the following:
A. John the Baptist - Matthew 3:2
B. Jesus - Matthew 4:17
C. The Disciples - Mark 6:12
D. Peter - Acts 2:38
E. Apostle Paul - Acts 26:20
MAN MUST SEE SIN AS GOD SEES IT
A vision of God was revealed to the prophet, Isaiah, in Isaiah 6:1 through 5. Isaiah first sees God and recognizes His holiness.
It was then that Isaiah saw himself as being unholy.
Isaiah 6:5
Your decision whether or not to repent has definite results. Perhaps this fact is most clearly stated in the following verse:
Proverbs 28:13
4. What did Isaiah realize about himself when he viewed the holiness of God?
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REPENTANCE FROM “SIN” AND FROM “SINS”
A. When Adam sinned, in the garden, all of humanity fell into a posture of disobedience and rebellion against God.
Romans 5:12
B. Sinful actions are, in part, a result of the sin nature we have inherited from Adam. (Although we cannot blame Adam and Eve for our own actions.)
Rom 3:23
C. The result of sin is spiritual death.
Rom 6:23
5. In your own words, explain the difference between “sin” and the “sin nature” of man.
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REPENTANCE FROM SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Hebrews 6:1 has described our repentance being from “dead works”. Dead works are our own attempts to please God apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. When we commit our lives to Christ, we repent (or turn) from our dead works. In other words, we stop trusting in our own good works to save us and trust only in the finished work of Jesus Christ, in our behalf. So we are to repent not only from our sins, but also from our own self- righteousness. It is then that we will begin to experience the absolute righteousness of Jesus Christ.
PURPOSES OF REPENTANCE
A. Repentance is required of God.
Acts 17:30
(See also Acts 20:21 and 26:20)
B. Repentance is the first step towards conversion.
Acts 3:19
REPENTANCE IS FROM GOD
A. God grants the gift of repentance to man.
Acts 11:18
B. We should repent when God prompts us to repent.
Gen 6:3
REPENTANCE COMES ONLY BY ASKING FOR IT
A. Those who have sinned must go to God, confess their sins, and ask for repentance. God desires to give repentance to His children
Luke 11:9 10
People do not know, or experience, repentance because they do not ask for it from God.
James 4:2
PROVISIONS FOR SIN
God has made provisions for “sins” committed after a person has been forgiven. After being delivered from sin, with a one time experience of having our sin buried in the sea of God’s forgetfulness, we will also need to be delivered from sins we commit each day. Repentance is an ongoing attitude of life; it is a continual turning from evil to God.
A. Jesus was without sin, even though He was tempted in every way that we are today.
Hebrew 4:15
B. If a person commits a sin, God has already taken care of it when that person repents.
I John 2:1
TRUE AND FALSE REPENTANCE
There is a godly sorrow that leads to a godly repentance and there is worldly sorrow that provides only a remorse for wrongs done.
A. False repentance.
1. This is the attitude of “I am only sorry that I got caught.”
2. This is the sorrow of the world that causes death.
II Corinthians 7:10
3. Saul, the first king of Israel, is a good example of false repentance. He admitted his having sinned, but wanted only to be honored by the people.
I Sam 15:30
B. True repentance.
1. This is the attitude of someone who is truly sorrowful, and regrets what they have done that was wrong.
II Corinthians 7:10.
2. David, the second king of Israel, illustrated this for us in his story. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and caused the death of her husband.
II Samuel 12:13.
7. In your own words, define false repentance.
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8. In your own words, define true repentance.
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GENUINE REPENTANCE PRODUCES FRUIT
As a result of true repentance there will be other changes
in your life.
A. The forsaking of sin.
II Corinthians 5:17
B. The restitution from sin.
Luke 19:8
