The Truth about Repentance

1
The Truth about Repentance
2

• Do you understand
  what it means to repent?

3
Refuting False Notions about Repentance.

• Repentance is not equivalent to emotional sorrow
  or merely feeling sorry.
• The world offers this definition
  Repentance - 1. Deep sorrow,
  compunction, or contrition for a past sin,
  wrongdoing, or the like. 2. Regret for any past
  action
  -
  Dictionary.com Random House Dictionary

4

• Often in the religious world today, there is an
  excessive appeal to the emotions to get people to
  repent.

5

• The truth is, our tears and sorrow has no value
  for our salvation unless our sorrow leads to
  actual repentance.

6
2 Corinthians 79-10 (NASB)

• 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, in order
  that you might not suffer loss in anything
  through us. 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.

7
Refuting False Notions about Repentance.

• Repentance is not equivalent to emotional sorrow
  or merely feeling sorry.
• Repentance does not demand perfection or flawless
  conduct afterwards.

8

• If a person commits the same sin again after he
  or she repents, does that mean the person
  never truly repented in the first place!?!

9

• The truth is, as often as one sins, repents, and
  asks for forgiveness, so often may he or she be
  forgiven! (Mat. 1821-22 Luke 173-4).

10
Matthew 1821-22 (NASB)

• 21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how
  often shall my brother sin against me and I
  forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to
  him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but
  up to seventy times seven.

11
Luke 173-4 (NASB)

• 3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins,
  rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. 4
  "And if he sins against you seven times a day,
  and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I
  repent,' forgive him."

12

• God does not measure repentance by how
  frequently a person commits the same sin,
  He keeps no score of
  wrongs (1 Cor. 136 cf. Heb.
  812).

13
Refuting False Notions about Repentance.

• Repentance is not equivalent to emotional sorrow
  or merely feeling sorry.
• Repentance does not demand perfection or flawless
  conduct afterwards.
• Repentance is not achieved by attempting to undo
  all the wrongs you have committed.

14

• Burdened by a guilty conscience, many seek relief
  by vainly attempting to set right
  or remedy every sin they
  ever committed.

15

• Repentance is not about going back to undo all
  the evil that you have done, but the hearts
  resolve not to sin in the future.

16
Example Acts 238

• Peter did not say to the Jews, Go
  and rectify everything you have ever done and
  then come back to be baptized.
• But, he did say, Repent and let each of you be
  baptized which would demand a commitment of
  change of heart and life for God.

17
Refuting False Notions about Repentance.

• Repentance is not equivalent to emotional sorrow
  or merely feeling sorry.
• Repentance does not demand perfection or flawless
  conduct afterwards.
• Repentance is not achieved by attempting to undo
  all the wrongs you have committed.
• Repentance is not about proving ourselves to God
  as worthy of His forgiveness or an earning of
  Gods favor.

18

• Repentance is not the means
  (i.e., agent, instrument)
  of Eternal Life, Jesus is!

19
Hebrews 59 (NASB)

• And having been made perfect, He
  (Jesus) became to all those who obey Him the
  source of eternal salvation.

20
Ephesians 17 (NASB)

• In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
  forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the
  riches of His grace.

21

• We are not saved
  by repentance (Titus 35).
  That
  would be the same as earning our way to heaven by
  our works which is impossible (Eph. 28-9).

22
The True Meaning of Repentance.

• To change ones mind.

23
To Change Ones Mind

• In the OT, repent is from NACHAM Hebrew
  (translated comfort or repent depending on
  context) Change of the heart or disposition, a
  change of mind, a change of purpose, or an
  emphasis upon the change of one's conduct -
  Vines Expository Dict.

24
Exodus 3214 (KJV)

• And the LORD repented (changed his mind, NASB)
  of the evil which he thought to do unto his
  people.

25
To Change Ones Mind

• In the NT, repent comes from the compound Greek
  word METANOEO
  META Change (like the metamorphosis of a
  butterfly)
  NOEO to perceive from
  the root word NOUS Mind
  - cf. Vine, Thayer

26
To Change Ones Mind

• When God commands repentance, it is a choice that
  each person makes (e.g., 2 Pet. 39).

27
2 Peter 39 (NASB)

• The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
  count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
  wishing for any to perish but for all to come to
  repentance.

28

• All change (or repentance) for God begins first
  within the mind (e.g., Prov.
  237a Mat. 1234-35 Mark
  721-23 Phil. 48).

29
Proverbs 237a (NASB)

• For as he thinks within himself, so he is

30

• Repentance is changing your mind from a former
  position to a new
  and much better one.
  It is about yielding your
  will to God!

31
The True Meaning of Repentance.

• To change ones mind.
• To change ones mind or purpose.

32

• Through the gospel, the sinner is taught to
  change his mind, will, and purpose in life
  (Mark 114-15 cf. Mat.
  32 417).

33
A new way of thinking and
a new purpose!

• Mark 114-15(NASB) 14 And after John had been
  taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee,
  preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The
  time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
  hand repent and believe in the gospel."

34
The True Meaning of Repentance.

• To change ones mind.
• To change ones mind or purpose.
• Genuine repentance will lead us to turn from sin
  to God.
• Those who repent will turn from sin to God or
  will be converted.

35
Acts 319 (NKJV)

• Repent therefore and be converted, that your
  sins may be blotted out, so that times of
  refreshing may come from the presence of the
  Lord. cf. Acts 2620
• Converted from Greek word EPISTREFOO to turn
  to specifically to GOD.

36
Acts 2620 (NASB)

• 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.
  - cf. Acts 319

37

• Once we understand the truth about sin (Isa.
  592), it will make perfect sense to turn away
  from sin in order to turn to God!

38
Jeremiah 84-5 (NASB)

• 4 "And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the
  LORD, "Do men fall and not get up again? Does one
  turn away and not repent?
  5 "Why then has this people, Jerusalem,
  turned away in continual apostasy? They hold fast
  to deceit, they refuse to return

39
Jeremiah 86 (NASB)

• 6 "I have listened and heard, They have spoken
  what is not right No man repented
  of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?
  Everyone turned to his course, like a horse
  charging into the battle.

40

• The penitent believer in Christ who is baptized
  into Christ is changing the
  course of their life
  by turning back to God!

41
Acts 238 (NASB)

• And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of
  you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
  the forgiveness of your sins and you shall
  receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

42
Gods Expectations for Repentance.

• A change for the better Repentance from sin.
• A new mind or heart (i.e. a changed mind or
  repentance) will involve the commitment of
  turning away from all our sins.

43
Ezekiel 1830-32 (NASB)

• 30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of
  Israel, each according to his conduct," declares
  the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your
  transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a
  stumbling block to you. 31 "Cast away from you
  all your transgressions which you have committed,
  and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
  For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 "For
  I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who
  dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent
  and live."

44

• Repentance is to reform
  your life for God
  to change your life
  by giving up your practices of sin.

45
2 Corinthians 1221 (NASB)

• I am afraid that when I come again my God may
  humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over
  many of those who have sinned in the past and not
  repented of the impurity, immorality and
  sensuality which they have practiced.
  -
  cf. Rev. 221-22 920-21 1611

46
Gods Expectations for Repentance.

• A change for the better Repentance from sin.
• Bear fruits of repentance.

47
Acts 2620 (NASB)

• 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.

48

• Real repentance will lead to
  real changes in life or
  fruits of repentance
  The evidence that our
  professed repentance is sincere!

49
Luke 37-8 (NASB)

• 7 He therefore began saying to the multitudes
  who were going out to be baptized by him, "You
  brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the
  wrath to come? 8 "Therefore bring forth fruits in
  keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say
  to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,'
  for I say to you that God is able from these
  stones to raise up children to Abraham.

50
Luke 39-11 (NASB)

• 9 "And also the axe is already laid at the root
  of the trees every tree therefore that does not
  bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
  fire." 10 And the multitudes were questioning
  him, saying, "Then what shall we do?"
  11 And he would answer and say to them, "Let
  the man who has two tunics share with him who has
  none and let him who has food do likewise."

51
Luke 312-14 (NASB)

• 12 And some tax-gatherers also came to be
  baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what
  shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no
  more than what you have been ordered to."
  14 And some soldiers were
  questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what
  shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take
  money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone
  falsely, and be content with your wages."

52
Gods Expectations for Repentance.

• A change for the better Repentance from sin.
• Bear fruits of repentance.
• Repentance or change is an ongoing process, not
  an isolated event.

53
Repentance (change) is an
ongoing process

• When we repent or change our minds before
  baptism (Acts 238), there will still be many
  more changes to make as a Christian.
• We will still struggle against sin and make
  mistakes (e.g., Acts 813, 22).
• The goal is to be like God all of us fall short
  of reaching His standards (Rom. 323) there is
  always room for improvement or change
  (repentance).

54
Romans 122 (NASB)

• And do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
  you may prove what the will of God is, that which
  is good and acceptable and perfect.
• Note Transformed is from Greek word
  METAMORPHOO to change into another form, to
  transfigure, transform

55
Ephesians 422-24 (NASB)

• 22 that, in reference to your former manner of
  life, you lay aside the old self, which is being
  corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
  23 and that you be renewed in the
  spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self,
  which in the likeness of God has been created in
  righteousness and holiness of the truth.

56

• The inner man is being renewed day by day as we
  walk by faith and makes changes in order to
  please God (2 Cor. 416-59).

57
Gods Expectations for Repentance.

• A change for the better
  Repentance from sin.
• Bear fruits of repentance.
• Repentance or change is an ongoing process, not
  an isolated event.
• Repentance is a condition we must meet to inherit
  eternal life in Heaven.

58
Answer Jesus Call of Repentance!

• Luke 532 (NASB) "I have not come to call the
  righteous but sinners to repentance.
• Luke 133 (NASB) I tell you, no, but unless you
  repent, you will all likewise perish.

59
Repentance is a condition we must meet to receive
forgiveness of our sins.

• Luke 2447 (NASB) and that repentance for
  forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His
  name to all the nations, beginning from
  Jerusalem.
• Note For is from Greek word EIS into, to,
  toward, for, among. (Thayers Greek Lexicon)
  The same word translated in Acts 238 for the
  forgiveness of sins

60
Acts 238 (NASB)

• And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of
  you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
  the forgiveness of your sins and you shall
  receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

61

• God requires all people everywhere to repent in
  order to be saved on that last great Day of
  Judgment.

62
Acts 1730-31 (NASB)

• 30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of
  ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all
  everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed
  a day in which He will judge the world in
  righteousness through a Man whom He has
  appointed, having furnished proof to all men by
  raising Him from the dead. "

63

• Genuine Repentance Brings Change
  to Your Heart and Life for God. Remember the
  Joyful Anticipation of Heaven is Your Repentance!

64
Luke 1510 (NASB)

• "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in
  the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
  who repents."