The importance and glory of repentance shown from the scriptures.
Introduction:
Recent editorials in our local “Greenville News” about sodomy helped prompt this sermon, for Dr. Bob Jones, III wrote of Jesus Christ’s inclusive love of sinners … but did not mention repentance.
Let us be clear … there is only room at the cross for Muslims or sodomites, if they truly repent!
Let us be clear … Jesus only befriended and ate with repentant sinners (Matthew 9:9-13; etc.)!
Let us be clear … the identifying mark of the sinners Jesus came for was their godly repentance!
But there are other reasons that demand this study of a very common word and concept in scripture.
Repentance is absolutely necessary to please God, so His blessing or cursing is dependent on it.
Repentance is ignored or rejected more and more in evangelical churches and Christian media.
Repentance is increasingly denied as essential for the salvation event of the Arminian scheme.
Repentance is often overlooked when making Biblical and practical judgments about sinners.
Repentance is a forgotten word and concept, and we need a good definition and application of it.
The Arminian scheme of salvation has been watered down to where it is far worse than mere heresy.
It is bad enough to reject God’s sovereign election of sinners and offer decisional regeneration.
They are so intent on making this “decision” easy for everyone that they reject Christ’s lordship.
Of course, if you need not own Jesus as Lord, you certainly need not bother with repentance!
There is nothing like a Bible study of repentance to destroy self-righteousness in your heart or mind.
Like Pharisees of old, the self-righteous gaze down from their ivory towers ignoring repentance.
There can be no discussion of sin in hardly any context without carefully considering repentance.
Any sin or sinner can be forgiven and fully cleared through repentance, no matter your feelings.
For 30 years, II Chron 7:14 has been used like a mantra for America’s ills, but it demands repentance!
Repentance is much more difficult than saying the word, for it involves your total self and total life.
We can begin with the first entrance of sin into the world, when Adam and Eve would not repent.
Instead of repenting, they sought to cover their shame by fig leaves and guilt by hiding from God.
Instead of seeking the LORD to confess their sin and beg for His forgiveness, they hid from Him.
Instead of accepting His reproofs and repudiating their wickedness, they blamed others for it.
All decay, failure, pain, rust, sickness, trouble, and death can be traced back to two unrepentants!
If you despise these two rebels, and you should, then think of what God wants you to repent of!
If you feel distant from the Lord and without His blessing, then humble yourself and repent! Today!
It Is Important!
Repentance is key to the true religion of God, for it is emphasized in both testaments, with texts far too numerous to mention here, but some of which are listed in the following points.
There is no practical mercy, peace, or blessings from God without godly, true repentance.
There is no claim, assurance, evidence, or proof of eternal life without godly repentance.
It is how sinful men must deal with a holy God, and through Jesus Christ, God accepts it.
John the Baptist’s ministry, the greatest born of women, was for repentance (Matt 3:1-2).
Since it is so important, it is our great ambition for every elect sinner to repent (Rom 10:1)!
What Is It?
Repent. To feel contrition, compunction, sorrow, or regret for something one has done or left undone; to change one’s mind with regard to past action or conduct through dissatisfaction with it or its results. [OED]
The English repent is from Latin re- for going back again and Latin penitent. [OED]
Penitent. That repents, with serious purpose to amend the sin or wrongdoing; repentant, contrite. [OED]
Thus, repentance is to return back to where one should be by deep sorrow and regret for errors, with the intention to make necessary amends to rectify the condition or situation.
It is related to conversion, or turning from error and sin to truth and righteousness, for the Bible connects the two closely (Acts 3:19; Jas 5:19-20; John 12:40; Psalm 51:13).
Convert. To turn (a thing or oneself) about, to give a different (or specific) direction to. To turn in mind, feeling, or conduct; to bring into another state (of mind, etc.). To cause to turn to and embrace a (specified) religious faith, usually implying that the turning is to truth from error or ignorance. To cause to turn from a sinful or irreligious life to one marked by love of God and pursuit of holiness; to turn to godliness. [OED]
It is more than sorrow for sin, for sorrow for sin should lead to repentance (II Cor 7:9).
Contrite. Crushed or broken in spirit by a sense of sin, and so brought to complete penitence. [OED]
The Holy Spirit gave a very thorough definition and explanation in one text (II Cor 7:9-11).
There is repentance, and there is repentance. You must identify false and true repentance.
The sorrow they felt from his first epistle resulted in godly sorrow and true repentance, which was no damaging result at all, but rather their salvation and clearing of themselves.
Salvation here is not election, justification, regeneration, or glorification, but conversion.
Godly sorrow saves from a sinful course of life, without regret or rejection: there is no damage in godly repentance that causes a converted person to regret or withdraw it.
Worldly sorrow brings death by sadness at getting caught or fear of loss or punishment.
The inspired definition of godly repentance has no peer in Scripture or anywhere else.
If you seek evidence of whether a person has been truly converted or not, come here!
The “selfsame thing” is that the Corinthians illustrated the very thing described – godly sorrow working salvation not to be repented of – in contrast to the sorrow of the world.
The seven things that wholly cleared this church from wickedness form a holy standard.
Carefulness! Anxious, concerned, fearful, and worried efforts to amend error and sin.
Clearing of yourselves! Reversal of spirit and actions proving different character.
Indignation! Anger at the foolishness and profanity of sin and their protection of it.
Fear! Intimidation and reverence of God’s holy standards and need to correct things.
Vehement desire! They were passionately inflamed and adamant to set things straight.
Zeal! They had intense commitments and conduct without procrastination to do right.
Revenge! They did anything and everything necessary to make up for their failure.
The glory of the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ is its total clearing of repenting sinners, which puts it in stark contrast to the merciless, long memories of wicked men.
Though this church had been notoriously at fault, they were totally clear of the matter.
Jesus freely and fully forgave sinners that came to Him in humble repentance for sins.
Whether David or Peter, both great sinners, repentance cleared them for great usefulness.
In fact, Paul’s conversion was to be a perpetual pattern of forgiveness (I Tim 1:12-16).
Holy Spirit inspired synonyms and related expressions found in the Bible should help further.
Daniel exhorted Nebuchadnezzar to break off his sins and show mercy (Daniel 4:27).
Three thousand Jews repented, were baptized, and committed to the church (Acts 2:38-47).
Ephesus believed and confessed, but also showed and burned their books (Acts 19:18-20).
Thessalonica turned from idols to the true God and began waiting for Christ (I Thess 1:9-10).
Inadequate Repentance
Temporary sorrow is not true repentance; true repentance is lasting (II Cor 7:10; John 8:31).
Sorrow for getting caught is not true repentance, for the real pain should be offending God.
Adam did not repent, though he should have; he hid and blamed Eve for the sin (Gen 3:8-12).
Eve did not repent, though she should have; she hid and blamed the devil for it (Gen 3:13).
Cain did not repent; he excused himself and complained of his punishment (Genesis 4:8-14).
Judas did not truly repent, or he would have sought the Lover of sinners, who had forgiven many others before his very eyes, rather than commit suicide (Matt 27:3-10; Acts 1:15-20).
Singing, “God Bless America,” after America’s tragedy of 9/11 is not repentance in any way.
Outward affliction without reformation of character and life is vain (Isaiah 1:10-20; 58:3-7).
Seeing how much of the world you can have and still be God’s is not repentance (Jas 4:40).
If you think you can hide your sins and get away with it, you are terribly wrong (Prov 28:13).
Faith without works is dead; devils tremble before God, but they do not repent (Jas 2:14-26).
Making up excuses for what you did or did not do is not true repentance (I Sam 15:14-35).
Adequate Repentance
A broken and contrite heart and spirit is a sacrifice God will not reject (Psalm 34:18; 51:17).
God sees and dwells with those who have a contrite heart and spirit (Isaiah 57:15; 66:2).
Anything short of II Corinthians 7:10-11 must be suspect, for this is the Spirit’s definition.
True repentance is of such a nature that it could swallow a person in his grief (II Cor 2:6-8).
True repentance includes amending your ways as described above, not just saying words.
Fasting, sackcloth, and ashes can be appropriate, but only if they represent the heart and life.
True repentance requires it of those under your authority, as Josiah and Asa (II Chr 15:8-18).
No natural man wants to be told he must repudiate, reject, and stop doing something he likes in order to do something else that God requires.
No natural man wants to humble himself before his Creator and acknowledge Him to be right and his own thoughts, proclivities, and actions to be unacceptable and worthy of damnation.
Preaching repentance thins crowds, for most people want to be soothed, not condemned.
It is not spoken or taught by seeker-sensitive types, for their unregenerate crowd would leave.
CCM artists do not speak or sing it, for their unregenerate market would not buy their goods.
Church growth gurus do not speak or suggest it, for it never increases attendance numbers.
Repentance is so unpopular, the salvation mantra has been reduced to ignore Jesus as Lord.
Decisional regeneration has been dumbed down in Arminian schemes until it is nothing.
You do not have forever to repent, for the LORD does not owe it to you (Pr 29:1; Rev 2:21).
Enemies of Repentance
Pride that will not fall before God or man for wrongdoing … but loves to find fault in others.
Self-righteousness that measures ones standing with God by their own imagination and rules.
Bible ignorance about the horrible terribleness of sin, which proper preaching will declare.
Deistic denial that God requires obeying His will and conforming our lives even in details.
Humanistic religion that does not deal with sin and God’s holiness makes it unnecessary.
Lack of authority with teeth that demands performance and perfection makes it unbelievable.
Relation to Salvation
The church at Jerusalem was surprised to hear that Cornelius had repented (Acts 11:1-18).
They said, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (11:18).
Repentance is not the condition for eternal life, for Cornelius was already born again; the salvation Peter brought was of claim, conversion, evidence, and assurance (11:14).
Repentance is not the condition for eternal life – God’s ordination is instead (Acts 13:48).
The preposition unto makes repentance the claim, evidence, and assurance of eternal life.
The strait gate and narrow way leads unto life, but this path is not a condition (Mat 7:14).
Those losing their lives in this world would keep them unto life in the next (John 12:25).
Jude wrote about keeping ourselves in the love of God unto eternal life (Jude 1:21).
God may or may not give repentance, but He did so to some Gentiles (II Tim 2:25-26).
God had long left Gentiles ignorant, but now commanded repentance (Acts 14:16; 17:30).
Repentance is part of conversion, for both are turning or returning from one way to another.
Therefore, repentance is part of the practical phase of salvation and no other phase.
Convert. To turn (a thing or oneself) about, to give a different (or specific) direction to. To turn in mind, feeling, or conduct; to bring into another state (of mind, etc.). To cause to turn to and embrace a (specified) religious faith, usually implying that the turning is to truth from error or ignorance. To cause to turn from a sinful or irreligious life to one marked by love of God and pursuit of holiness; to turn to godliness.
Repentance is a result of hearing of God’s mercies and changing our lives (Rom 12:1-2).
Repentance and conversion is something Peter did after denying Jesus Christ (Lu 22:32).
Repentance has no meritorious or instrumental value in obtaining eternal life as a free gift.
Without works, faith and repentance are vain; works cannot save us (Jas 2:14; Acts 26:20).
The natural man is at enmity with God, and he will not believe the gospel, let alone repent and do righteousness (Luke 16:31; I Cor 1:17; 2:14; Rom 3:9-19; 8:7-8).
We categorically reject decisional regeneration as having any basis in the Bible or in reality.
A man with grace in his heart to properly repent is already elect, justified, regenerated, etc.
Relation to Faith
Faith without the works of repentance is dead, for it is alone and worthless (James 2:14-26).
Devils believe and tremble in their knowledge of God, but they do not repent (James 2:19).
Adam and Eve believed there was a God, but they hid because they refused to repent to Him.
Paul explained his ministry to the elders of Ephesus as repentance and faith (Acts 20:18-21).
Assistants or Means of Repentance
The more we learn of God and His ways from His word, the more we are bound to repent.
The greatness of God should move us to abhor ourselves and repent (Job 40:3-5; 42:5-6).
The terror of the Lord and coming judgment should persuade us to repent (II Cor 5:9-11).
The mercy of God and His abundant pardon should also move us (Ps 130:4; Is 55:6-9).
The riches of God’s goodness to us should cause us to delight in repentance (Rom 2:4).
General sinfulness like Daniel and Isaiah for the sinfulness of their nation (Da 9:1-19; Is 6:5).
Ezekiel gave the lesson that God sees those who mourn for the sins around them (Ezek 9:4).
Job confessed the sins of his sons, as the Spirit chose to illustrate his goodness (Job 1:4-5).
Burden to Repent
The more we learn of God and His ways from His word, the more we are bound to repent.
The greatness of God should move us to abhor ourselves and repent (Job 40:3-5; 42:5-6).
The terror of the Lord and coming judgment should persuade us to repent (II Cor 5:9-11).
The mercy of God and His abundant pardon should also move us (Ps 130:4; Is 55:6-9).
The riches of God’s goodness to us should cause us to delight in repentance (Rom 2:4).
Compare presumptuous sins of knowledge against sins of ignorance (Ps 19:12-13; Lu 12:48).
Once we learn of repentance, we must never despise or judge repentant sinners, because Jesus Christ forgave the worst of sinners as an example for us (I Tim 1:12-16; Mat 18:21-35).
We should remember that the greatest sinners are often the greatest saints (Luke 7:36-50).
We should remember the repentant love Him more than the self-righteous (Luke 15:25-32).
Holier than thou attitudes miss the mark: they measure themselves by themselves (Is 65:1-7).
Judging motes in other eyes while having beams yourself is sickening hypocrisy (Mat 7:2-5).
We should never have the despising spirit of the Pharisee about the publican (Luke 18:9-14).
Balance of Repentance
Repentance cannot be made too difficult or too easy. We must be as balanced as scripture.
Catholic penance is heretical and folly, for God does not require our pain to forgive us; when He does chasten us with pain, He does it out of love and care, not taking payment for sins.
Cutting or lashing yourself as prophets of Baal or superstitious Catholics is pagan and heresy.
Long seasons of groveling in misery for your sins is not necessary i.e. Acts 16:32-34, etc.
God does forgive, and He forgives more easily than we, as the scripture declares (Is 55:6-9).
