An overview of repentance
THE BIBLE WARNS US IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES AND WAYS THAT ADDING CHRIST AND KEEPING SIN WILL NOT WORK.
a) In Mt. 3:2 John the Baptizer told people to “repent.”
b) Jesus (Mt. 4:17) preached this same message: repent
c) In Lk. 24:46-47 Jesus said the prophets had predicted “repentance.”
d) In Lk. 13:3 Jesus said “repent or perish.”
e) The apostles, in places such as Acts 3:19, said “repent.”
f) Later in the New Testament (2 Pet. 3:9) Peter said God wants all people to “repent.”
2) Repent is a key word in the scriptures.
3) What does this key word mean?
a) Some would say repentance means “sorrow for sin.”
b) Others say it is “regret” (remorse).
4) Repentance goes deeper.
5) This fact might cause some to think that repentance must be confession.
6) As important as confession is, it is still not quite repentance.
7) If all the preceding things do not adequately describe repentance, what about cessation from sin?
8) Maybe repentance means a person is doing something bad and they quit that activity.
9) Repentance does involve the cessation of sin.
a) Repentance is a recognition of sin, a turning from sin, and embracing what is right.
10) The jailer in Acts 16 typifies repentance.
11) People at Ephesus had some books that were not consistent with the gospel (Acts 19:19).
12) Think of the wayward son in Lk. 15 – he had sorrow; he was ready to apologize.
13) The people of Ninevah “repented” (they turned from sin and turned to God).
a) Repentance applies to the non-Christian; it is a step in becoming a Christian.
b) When a Christian becomes involved with sin, he or she also “repents.”
14) There are some motivations to encourage repentance.
a) God’s love motivates us to repent as do God’s blessings.
b) Concern about punishment will also cause people to repent.
15) Repentance is really a process that involves all people (Acts 17:30).
a) 2 Cor. 7:9-10 as “godly sorrow.”
b) With the human race there is “wordly sorrow” and there is “Godly sorrow.”
16) Ps. 51:4.
17) Rom. 1:16 says the gospel is God’s “power” to salvation.
18) Eph. 6:17 refers to the Bible as the “sword of the Spirit.”
19) Heb. 4:12 says the word of God is “living, active and sharper than any two edged sword.”
20) God’s word “works” in people’s lives (1 Thess. 2:13) and the scriptures urge people to repent.
21) When we repent, the result is forgiveness.
a) Lk. 15:10.
22) Jesus once told a story about a man who had two sons (Mt. 21:28-32).
23) Jesus also said this son later “repented” (he changed his mind for the better).
24) Repentance is one of the least understood and applied commands in the Bible.