I. Repentance

    A. Definition- The modern dictionary gives the definition as : to turn from sin. Stop sinning. Sorrow for sin.

Bible Def. “ Change of the mind, Attitude, emotions, will and disposition.”

It’s not reformation- turning over a new leaf. It’s not remorse.

You don’t get better to get saved, you get saved to get better.

Matt. 21: 28-29 But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.Mat 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

Bible Def. - “ Change of the mind, Attitude, emotions, will and disposition.”

Gen. 6:5-7 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Exo. 32: 7-14

Jon 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.

Num. 23:19 God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Psa. 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Mal 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

God does not repent of anything that He said that is fixed. God does change the way he deals with people.

    B. Bible Preaching- Repentance

ILL. What if you came to my church and all through my message, I would say...Repent , Repent!

Without telling you to Repent from what? Repent to who?

You could repent of buying a new car. Repent from spending to much money on Christmas.

Give the context Need to know the message. Repent from What?

        1. John the Baptist- Matt 3:1-3 Mal. 3:6-7; 4:1

        2. Jesus preached the same thing!- Matt 4:17 Matt 15:24 Mark 1:14

        3. The Twelve preached it- Question...Are we to go by every verse in the

Bible? Matt 10:1-6 Mark 6:6-12 Ex. Jesus went to Nicodemus (a Jew) John 3 then the next chapter John 4 he goes to the Samaritan Woman (a Gentile)

        4. Peter preached Repentance (Jews)- Acts 2:38 Gal 2:8

Remember who Peter is preaching to. No gentiles were present. This is John’s baptism.

16 different nations represented here in Jerusalem.

        5. Paul preached Repentance ( Gentiles) - Acts 20:21

        6. There is a general call to Repentance- II Peter 3:9

God don’t want people to go to hell, but he will let them if they want to.

Acts 17 :30 ” And the times of this ignorance God winked at”- the O.T times, when God tolerated or put up with image worship- ‘ but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”

    C. What Repentance is Not

           1. Not remorse for sin: if so, God repented for sin. Gen 6:6

Heb. 12:16-17 Esau

II Cor. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

This passage teaches the following truths:

        1. A person gets saved one time.(godly sorrow....is not to be repented of)

        2. This godly sorrow that works repentance to salvation cannot be repeated.

        3. Repentance is not merely sorrow for sin because the verse mentions two kinds of sorrow.

Worldly sorrow: You can repent and not get saved, but you can’t get saved unless you repent. You could repent of buying a new car. Repent from spending to much money on Christmas. You can repent because you got caught. You can repent about being a drunk.

            A. Judas Iscariot- Matt 27:3-5    

            B. Balaam- Num. 22:34

            C. Saul- I Have sinned- I Sam. 15:24   

            D. Pharaoh - Exod 9:27

Notice the difference: Luke 5:8 Peter --Job 42:6 --Isa. 6:5

The kind of repentance that is the sorrow of this world that worketh death is when you are sorry for what you have Done and confess it.

Bible repentance is being sorry for what you are and accepting Christ because you yourself are no good. That is the difference.

        2. Not reformation- A person does not get saved by wanting to do something good for God. He gets saved by believing God has done something good for him.

Rom. 10:1-3 Heb. 6:1

        3. Repentance is not trying to stop sinning.

When God tells people to repent he is not commanding them to do something impossible.

It is impossible for a lost man to stop sinning.

Rom. 3:10-11 Rom. 7:18

    D. What Repentance is

Gen. 6:5-6

Four aspects of repentance in Gen. 6:5

        1. Repentance is a realization of the exceeding sinfulness of sin (verse 5).

        2. Repentance is a change of mind and heart attitude which leads to change of actions (verse 6) It repented the Lord and it grieved Him at His heart; he therefore determined to destroy man. The Lord changed Hid mind about making man; this change of mind resulted in a change of actions- the flood.

        3. Repentance is accompanied by sorrow for sin. ( verse 6)

        4. It effects the Will and Disposition ( Changed)

Luke 18:13 The publican in Luke 18:13 smote upon his breast, indicating sorrow of heart and seeking of repentance.

Luke 15:17-21 The prodigal son of Luke 15:18 said, "I will arise… and he arose."

 

        5. Faith and Repentance are Inseparable

Ex. Coin--If you take the coin you must take the heads and tails.

No bible repentance without Bible faith.