Reflections: On Repentance (2022)
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Does anyone like to talk about repentance?
Does anyone like to talk about repentance?
In our series we have talked about some good things, some good news and yes, sin, one of the subjects people get squirmy about, just like repentance.
In our series “Reflections” we have been asked to think, consider, ponder, meditate, think about things (Php4:8-9)
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Oh yes, and to practice these things.
We have discussed the Bible (2Tim3:16)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
We have reflected on God (Act17:24-25)
24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;
We have considered Jesus (Jn14:6)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
We have pondered the Holy Spirit (1Cor2:10-11)
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
We have contemplated the gospel (Rom1:16)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
And we reflected on sin (Isa59:1-2)
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Responding to the Gospel because of sin we discussed.
There are facts to believe
Commands to obey
And promises to receive
One of the commands to obey is to repent, that is our focus this morning.
When you think of repentance what do you think about?
I. How about these considerations?
I. How about these considerations?
Jesus wants us to repent
He told us such during His ministry (Mt4:17)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He instructed such (Lk24:46-47)
46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Jesus gave a warning of losing our first love (Rev2:4-5)
4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
So you lose your first love, you need to repent; this is further expanded on (Rev3:15-19)
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Repentance is vital according to Jesus words. To the alien sinner He came to save, or the erring sinner, he calls us to repent.
Peter commanded people to repent too
He told us such (Act2:38, 3:19)
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And then again
19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Not only did he command, he exhorted the erring Christian (Act8:22)
22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
But, let’s not leave Paul out.
Paul, also, commanded people to repent
Paul said so in (Act17:30; Rom2:4)
30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
Because God is good, men should repent
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
In light of the pending judgment of the Lord and the goodness of the Lord that is available now, all men should repent. To know exactly what is being asked, what is being commanded we need to reflect, expand on repentance.
II. Reflecting on Repentance
II. Reflecting on Repentance
First some misconceptions about repentance.
It is saying “I’m sorry”
It is saying “I won’t do it again” because you got caught
Repentance is exampled in a changed life (Act3:19)
19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Is an isolated scripture that people point to.
A proper concept of repentance
Vine’s bible dictionary says “change of mind; involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.”
It is changing your mind to change, to turn from sin and turn to God. Change your mind, change your direction, all part of changing your destination
“Repentance is a decision, preceded by sorrow and followed by a changed life.” - Mark Copeland
Repentance properly produces
According to scripture repentance is produced by sorrow (2Cor7:9)
9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
Sorrow, in and of itself is not repentance. Repentance has to be produced by godly sorrow (2Cor7:10)
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Godly sorrow is directed towards God for it realizes we have acted, sinned against God (Ps51:1-4)
1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
First and foremost when we sin, we sin against God, then we can sin against man, but when we realize we have broken God’s law, and sinned against god, it leads to a changed mind and a changed direction leading to salvation.
Repentance’s proof
Repentance leads to a changed, transformed life (2Cor7:11)
11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
Through earnestness, eagerness godly sorrow in you produced a changed, a transformed life (Act2:36-38)
Repentance brings forth true surrender
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
You will share the Good News (Act26:20)
20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
Your works will speak of your repentance (Eph2:10)
Your sorrow, your surrender, your transformed life. It has been established in the beginning for you to fulfill now
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
God gave His best; Christ gave His all; so don’t hold back let your life speak and show a transformed life that includes true repentance.
III. Summing it up
III. Summing it up
Repentance is a changing of the mind, changing of direction, that leads to a changed life, a transformed life, a conformed life into the likeness of the Son.
Repentance is preceded for godly sorrow knowing that you are a sinner that has sinned against God and needs to be reconciled to Him.
(invitation Slide)
To the one who has not come to godly sorrow and true repentance do not hinder, do not delay, make that decision today.
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
To the erring Christian to the asleep Christian may we remember what was said in Rev3:14-19 and
22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
or
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So, if you need to surrender, now is the time, if you need to return, now is the time . . .
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