Topical Sermons                                                                                                          Power Point Show

Scripture Reading:  Luke 15:1-7

Basics of Repentance (1)

Intro.

1.  Repentance must be preached:

    a.  God’s prophets to Israel – Jer. 3:11-14; Ezek. 14:6; 18:30-32.

    b.  John the baptizer – Matt. 3:1-2.

    c.  Jesus – Matt. 4:17 (Mk. 1:14-15).

    d.  12 disciples sent out by Jesus – Mk. 6:7, 12.

    e.  Great commission to preach the gospel & salvation – Lk. 24:46-47.

    f.  Day of Pentecost – Acts 2:37-38, 41.

    g.  Spread of the gospel included it – Acts 3:19; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Rev. 2:5.

2.  One would hope there to be a clear understanding of repentance among those who profess Christ, yet it is not always so.   1 Pet. 1:12

I.  WHO MUST REPENT?

  A.  Sinners – Lk. 5:31-32.

  B.  Every Sinner – Rom. 3:23.

    1.  All:  Outside of Christ & erring Christians – Acts 2:37-38; 8:22.

    2.  The nature of repentance is not different for Christian & alien.

    3.  God requires all in sin to repent (no respecter of persons) – Acts 17:30.

II.  REPENTANCE IS NOT…

    -(Satan deceives many into redefining & misunderstanding repentance, 2 Cor. 11:3).

  A.  …Denial or Cover-up of Sin – Gen. 3:8 (4:10); Num. 32:23; Prov. 28:13 (Achan, Josh. 7:20-21).

    -Sin is only truly “covered” when they are forgiven (Psa. 32:1-5) – Blotted out when there is repentance – Acts 3:19.

  B.  …Just Being Sorry for Sin.

    1.  Judas was remorseful, but not unto salvation – Matt. 27:3.

    2.  Herod was sorry for rash vow; beheaded John anyway – Mk. 6:26.

  C.  …Just a Promise to Quit Sinning – Lk. 3:8, 10-11.

    1.  Certainly an element of determination not to sin exists when one truly repents.

    2.  But it is more that making a promise not to sin; it bears fruit.

  D.  …Just Confessing Sin.

    1.  Repentance bears the fruit of confessing sin (to self & God).

    2.  Drunkard, liar, adulterer, idolater:  Can acknowledge sin but not repent – cf. 1 Ths. 1:9.

    3.  “Going forward” is not repenting of sin.

    4.  Confession of sin without repentance is reporting, not repenting!

  E.  …Just Being Afraid because we have Sinned – Acts 24:25 (Jas. 2:19).

    -Fear over our sins ought to move us to repent, but it is not repentance.

  F.  …Just Reformation (stopping the sin).

    1.  Thief can stop because he is arrested w/o repenting; drunkard can stop because of liver disease but never repent.

    2.  Rev. 9:20-21 – Ceasing sin will occur whenever there is repentance.

  G.  …Prayer – Acts 8:22.

  H.  …Baptism – Acts 2:38.

  I.   …Forgetting about Sin – Heb. 6:1.

    -(Isa. 29:15 – “Who knows us?” - Cf. “in-sliding”)

III.  REPENTANCE IS…

  A.  …Produced by Godly Sorrow – 2 Cor. 7:9-10.

    -A broken & contrite heart (Psa. 51:17).

  B.  …A Change of Mind Toward Sin.

    1.  metanoeo - “to change one’s mind” (Thayer, 405).

    2.  Implies a purpose of will about the sin one has committed.

  C.  …That Which Produces a Change in Life.

    1.  Repentance causes a turning to God – Acts 26:20.

    2.  God’s order:  Sin -- Godly sorrow -- Repentance -- Turning to God (the fruit of repentance) – 2 Cor. 7:10-11; Rev. 2:5.

    3.  No, it is the change of mind that produces turning!

  D.  …Commanded by Christ – Lk. 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30. 

    -Not optional if you want to be saved!

-Tonight, Part 2:  The Difficulties of Repentance-

Conclusion

1.  God desires every sinner’s repentance – Ezek. 18:30, 32; 2 Pet. 3:9.

2.  Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents – Lk. 15:10.

3.  Do not harden you heart & refuse to repent by believing the devil’s lies about repentance – Heb. 3:7-11.  Do not “go astray in your heart” (3:10)!