True Repentance
INTRODUCTION.
A. In 1 John 2:1-2, the apostle John wrote, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2, NKJV)
1. It is God’s will for His children that they do not sin. This is God’s expectation. However, recognizing that we face temptations daily and that we do not always exercise proper control, John reminds us that we have an advocate, Jesus Christ.
2. We are not supposed to engage in sin. However, we often do. Consider the following list of sins that often plague many Christians. (Romans 1:24-32; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-11, 1 Peter 4:1-3)
a. Sexual Sins - homosexuality, fornication, adultery, licentiousness, uncleanness, passion
b. Sins Against God - idolatry, sorcery, haters of God, evil desires, wickedness, evil-mindedness, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, revelries, undiscerning, drunkenness, drinking parties
c. Sins Against Others - hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, maliciousness, covetousness, anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lying, strife, deceit, whisperers, backbiters, violent, disobedient to parents, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful
B. If you allow yourself to get caught up in any of these sins, what are you supposed to do?
C. The purpose of this lesson is to examine what the Bible has to teach on the subject of repentance.
I. WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
A. Repentance is a change of mind.
1. In Matthew 3:8, John told the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.”
2. The Greek word translated as repentance is metanoia {met-an’-oy-ah} which means “1) a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
3. The word repent, as used in Matthew 3:2, is translated from a similar Greek word, “metanoeo {met-an-o-eh’-o} which means “1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent, 2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins” (Ibid.)
4. To truly repent, one must change their mind away from the sin.
B. Repentance is a change of action.
1. John told the Pharisees and Sadducees to “bear fruit worthy of repentance.” (Matthew 3:8)
2. Paul told the Jews and the Gentiles that they should “repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” (Acts 20:26)
3. To bear fruit worthy of repentance, you must have a change in one’s actions. You cannot say, “I’m sorry” and continue in the same action and call it repentance. We will talk more about this later in the lesson.
II. WHEN MUST A PERSON REPENT?
A. When one initially turns to God.
1. Luke 13:3-4
2. Acts 2:38; 3:19
3. Romans 6:1-4
4. Make a change like the apostle Paul. (Galatians 2:20)
B. When one has sinned against God.
1. Confess your sin to the Lord.
a. Psalms 32:5
b. Proverbs 28:32
c. Psalms 51:1-5 - David after being rebuked for his sin with Bathsheba.
2. 1 John 1:8-10
3. Consider the case of Simon. (Acts 8:18-23)
C. When one has sinned against a brother.
1. Matthew 18:15-22
2. Luke 17:3-4
III. REPORTING YOUR SIN IS NOT THE SAME AS REPENTING OF YOUR SIN.
A. At the end of each lesson, we generally offer an opportunity for one who has brought reproach upon the local church to solicit the prayers and the forgiveness of the church.
1. When should a person seek the forgiveness of the church? When you sin against a brother, you must repent of your sin. If you sin in a public way, it is likely that the world may associate your sinful deed with the church. If that happens, you have brought reproach upon the church and have done potential harm to the church.
2. Although you may ask the church to forgive you, it is also good to let the church know that you have confessed your sin to God and have repented, turning away from your sin. This way, the church, who likely knows of your public sin, will have the confidence that you have settled the matter with the Lord.
B. However, coming down front to report your sin is not the same as repenting of your sin.
1. If a person reports their sin, but they do not change, then no repentance has taken place.
a. Maybe they feel guilty because they were caught.
b. Maybe their walk down front was a “form of punishment.”
2. If, however, you have already repented to God and have determined to change, then asking the church to forgive you of your sin against them is a sign of your repentance. It is part of the fruit worthy of repentance.
C. If you need the prayers of the church to help you overcome your sins, you can ask for that as well.
1. Simon solicited the prayers of Peter. (Acts 8:24) However, Simon still bore the responsibility of repenting or turning away from the sin.
2. James wrote, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16, NKJV)
CONCLUSION.
A. As long as we live in this world, we will face sin.
1. It is certain that we have all sinned.
2. It is likely that we all will sin again.
3. Knowing this, it is every more crucial that we fight to overcome sin.
B. If we do give into, then we must repent and turn away. When we turn away from sin, we turn from our path to hell and back to the path to Heaven.
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True Repentance -- May 4, 2003 -- File # 508 - Repentance
by John Duvall - Lawton, OK