Repentance
“Repentance” translated in the NT from the Greek word metanoeo = to change the mind, will.
– (Isa 55:7) Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
– (Mat 3:2) and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
– (Mat 4:17) From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
– (Luke 13:3) I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
– (Luke 15:10) In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
– (Luke 24:46-47) He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
– (Acts 2:38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Repentance is…
- Some Definitions:
1) To change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with the abhorrence of one’s past sins -Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
2) Repentance is a change of WILL, caused by a SORROW for sin, and leading to a REFORMATION of life – J.W. McGarvey
- A Biblical Illustration:
– (Luke 15:13-20) “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. {14} After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. {15} So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. {16} He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. {17} “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! {18} I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. {19} I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ {20} So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
1) The Son ACKNOWLEDGED his Sin (vss. 17-18)
2) The Son Makes a RESOLUTION (vs. 18)
3) The Son TAKES ACTION (vs. 20)
- Repentance Must Be PRECEDED By…
- A Proper Knowledge of Sin
– (Rom 7:7) What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
– (Acts 2:36-37) “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” {37} When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
– (Hosea 4:6) my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
- A SORROW for Sin
– (2 Cor 7:10) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
1) Worldly sorrow leads to death – this is sorrow that results from being caught or because your actions have resulted in undesired consequences.
2) Godly sorrow leads to repentance and life. It is a true sense of guilt for having displeased the Lord.
– (Mat 26:75) Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
- A LOVE for God
– (Rom 2:4) Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
– (1 John 4:19) We love because he first loved us.
- Repentance Must Be Followed By…
- OBEDIENCE
– (Acts 2:38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
– (Acts 26:20) First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
- A Changed LIFE
– (2 Chr 32:26) Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
– (Mat 3:8) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
– (Rev 2:5) Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
- The IMPORTANCE of Repentance
- It is Essential for FORGIVENESS
– (Acts 8:22) Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
– (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
- It is Necessary to Avert the WRATH of God
– (Luke 13:5) I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
– (Amos 4:6-12) “I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. {7} “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. {8} People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. {9} “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. {10} “I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. {11} “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. {12} “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”
- It is Needed to PLEASE God
– (Psa 51:16-17) You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
– (Prov 28:13) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
– (2 Chr 7:14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.