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Scripture Reading:  Matthew 21:28-32

No Regrets

Intro.

1.  We all have experienced regret over some attitude, word or action.  Those who haven’t are either hardened of heart, prideful, self-righteous (Lk. 18:9).

2.  Regret:  “Sorrow or remorse, especially over one’s acts or omissions…sorrow over a person or thing gone, lost, etc.”  (Webster); “to feel sorry or unhappy about (something you did or were unable to do)” (Cambridge Dictionary of American English, Online).

3.  Regrets can be good or bad, depending on how we use them:

  a.  Produce godly sorrow & repentance – Matt. 21:29.

  b.  Can ignore them & harden our hearts – cf. Matt. 21:32.

4.  When we come to life’s end, what contentment to be able to truly say, “I have no regrets” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

I.  WE OUGHT TO REGRET:

  A.  Our Past Sins – 1 Cor. 15:9.

    1.  Respond like Judas - Matt. 27:3-5 (remorse, but not repentance).

    2.  Or, respond like Paul (Acts 9:9, 11) / Peter (Lk. 22:31-32, 62).

    3.  Acts 2:36-37 – Until regret causes godly sorrow…no conversion.

  B.  Lost Opportunities – Eph. 5:16; Rom. 13:11-12.

     -“As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do.”  (Zachary Scott)  [“I should have…I could have”]

    1.  To obey the truth – Jas. 1:22, 25 (4:17); 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:7-8, 13.

    2.  To grow in grace & knowledge – 2 Pet. 3:18.

    3.  To teach the gospel to others – Acts 20:25-27.

    4.  To live morally – Rom. 13:13-14.

    5.  To love / respect your spouse – Eph. 5:33.

    6.  To nurture your children – Eph. 6:4.

  C.  Let Us Examine Ourselves – 2 Cor. 13:5.

    1.  Regret our sin so much that we repent of it.

    2.  Remove regrets & replace with joy of salvation.

    3.  Sorry of the world produces death – 2 Cor. 7:10.

II.  SOME THINGS YOU WILL NEVER REGRET:

  A.  Urging a Sinner to Repent – 2 Cor. 7:6-9.

    1.  Not always easy or pleasant task, but act of love (7:8; 2:4).

    2.  Save a soul from death…no regrets!  (Jas. 5:19-20)

  B.  Obeying God & Removing Sin – cf. Matt. 21:28-29; Josh. 24:15.

    1.  Becoming A Christian (cf. Saul).

      a.  When he discovered sin – Sought remedy & obeyed gospel – Acts 9:6; 22:16.

      b.  Conviction of sin prompts obedience – Acts 9:6, 9, 11.

    2.  Never regret living by faith, obeying God & putting away sin – Matt. 7:21-23; cf. Prov. 22:8.

  C.  Being Compassionate & Forgiving of Others.

    1.  As we give, we shall receive – Lk. 6:37-38 (w/o limits, Matt. 18:21-22, 23-35).

    2.  Requires the heart of Christ – Lk. 23:34; Col. 3:12-13.

    3.  Merciful will obtain mercy – Matt. 5:7.

  D.  Showing Small Acts of Kindness – Matt. 10:42 (5:44-48); Heb. 13:2; Eph. 4:32 (goodness, helpful, generosity, considerate, thoughtful…love).

  E.   Keeping a Clean Conscience – Acts 23:1.

    1.  Avoid what we know to be sin, & train conscience to hate all sin.

      a.  Conscience is a tool God has given us to avoid sin.  When trained properly it is a great asset.

      b.  Don’t ignore it & violate it – Rom. 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:2.

    2.  Object of the gospel is love…from good conscience (1 Tim. 1:5).

  F.   Standing Up for the Truth of the Gospel – Jude 3 (1 Pet. 3:15).

    1.  Preaching it, defending it, living it – 2 Tim. 4:2-5 (3:10, 14).

    2.  Without shame, trying to save some (Rom. 1:15-16).

  G.   Sacrificing for Christ – Phil. 3:7-8 (Matt. 19:27; Lk. 5:11); Acts 21:13.

      -Illus.  Nathan Hale:  “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”  (21 yrs. old schoolteacher, hanged – last words, 22Sept1776)

    1.  Means to put Christ & His will first – 3:4-6.

    2.  Means we must value Jesus more than all else (Matt. 6:21).

    3.  Means having endurance – 3:12a, 13a.

      a.  Haven’t arrived yet; haven’t yet laid hold of the goal.

      b.  Come what may, to be faithful to Jesus (2 Cor. 11:23-27).

    4.  Means growing – 3:12b, 13b-14.

      a.  Press on…stretch forward…determined growth – 3:15.

      b.  By learning & living truth – 3:16.

Conclusion

1.  2 Tim. 4:7-8 – Apostle Paul:  No regrets, because he repented, ceased his sinning & corrected his wrongs, was forgiven, & lived for Jesus.

2.  You won’t regret obeying the gospel & living for Christ, either.

3.  A heavenly reward…NO REGRETS!  (Rev. 21:4)