The Joy Of Repentance

INTRODUCTION

Romans 2:1-5

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”

I want to steal one phrase out of our text for today (in verse 4).

“not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

If the goodness of God is meant “to lead us to repentance” (Rom. 2:4)

Then I pray that we may experience “the love and goodness of God”

that “leadeth us to repentance.”

So we can not only repent,

but learn to love every chance to repent!

Repent, “metanoeo” (Greek) “meta-noel”

It means “change your mind or purpose”—

to see differently, to think differently, to act differently –

It is a transformative change of heart –

that will embrace the Truth that Transforms us.

It means to change one’s mind;

or to expand it in such a way

as to have a new perspective based on Truth (God’s Truth).

Repentance is like a child learning to ride a bicycle,

who decides to lets her daddy steady her bike,

Repentance is like a lost person (man) who decides to use the GPS,

Repentance is like a double-faulting tennis player

who decides to take some lessons,

To repent is to learn a different & better way from a higher wisdom.

It is God’s goodness,

It is His kind/good intentions for our best,

that allows for our repentance.

May we decide to repent (to change our way of thinking/acting)

Not under threat of the judgment of God

but compelled by the kindness/goodness/love of God.

God’s kindness/goodness/love is meant “to lead us to repentance)

Luke 15:11-24 (The Prodigal Son)

The younger brother was arrogant, self-centered, demanding,

abusive to his family (in particular – his Father).

He didn’t want to work for his father, learn from his father,

submit to his father, or have anything to do with his father.

He demanded “his” inheritance from his father (who was not yet dead).

(I’d have given him a knuckle sandwich & a swift kick,

but the father gave the inheritance)

Then he proceeded to live a life “he” wanted/demanded.

He scandalized his family

He ruined his families’ name

He soaked himself in sin of every and all descriptions

He squandered all of his inheritance

Until, he finally hit rock bottom.

How low can you go when you are fighting pigs for food?

You’ve gotten pretty low when you go from the special son

to a common, unpaid worker of a foreigner.

He had gone about as far as someone can go from decency.

So, what to do now?

1 Continue fighting pigs for food?

2 Give up and end it all?

3 Or ----- go home?

In defeat, in shame, in scandal, in sin, in humility…..

But, let’s look this morning at what drew this young man to go home.

Verse 17, “And when he came to himself……”

He finally owned his sin.

He took stock, analyzed, knew, and admitted his sin (to himself).

But that didn’t move him from fighting pigs for food

that didn’t move him to give up and end it all.

that didn’t move him to seek path back to sonship,

he blew that some time ago. Big time!

Was he in fear of his father’s judgment if he went home?

Actually, believe it or not, NO – it was just the opposite.

He knew his father…

He had lived with his father almost all his life,

He had been taught by his father since he could remember,

He had been corrected by his father deliberately and lovingly,

He had watched his father in all kinds of situations,

Seen how he handled his workers

Seen how he handled his household.

Seen how he managed his affairs of life

Seen how he related to his neighbors and community.

Did you ever do something wrong in your house growing up?

Were you surprised at how your parents reacted?

Or did you know – because you knew them…..

Let’s finish verse 17, “How many hired servants of my father’s have

bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

My father’s servants, the workers, the household staff, were not starving.

They have plenty of food and much to spare.