- Jesus Preached it
Matthew 4:17 ESV
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Repentance is a gift from God
Acts 11:18 ESV
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Although repentance is something we do, it is a gift that comes from God Himself.
Romans 2:4 ESV
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
*The Nature of a good God draws us to the gift of repentance. *
*3. The 2 base meanings of repentance. *
a. To have remorse or regret.
2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death
*Godly Sorrow is where repentance begins.
*
b. To Change your mind.
- 3 Levels of repentance
a. Sorrow
b. Cleansing
c. Turning
Sorrow without cleansing leads to shame and cleansing with turning will lead to Performance.
- Repentance is not a single act but a lifestyle.
*1 Peter 1:16
For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” *
*James 2:10 Living Bible
And the person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is. *
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
**
6. Repentance is not just turning from what you have done but from turning to the very reason of what Jesus came for. **
*a. Shedding of blood brings forgiveness of sins. *
Hebrews 9:22-ESV
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
b. The Blood of Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice
*Hebrews 9:12-14 ESV
He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[a] for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our[b]conscience from dead works to serve the living God. *
*c. We are made Righteous when we believe. *
*John 3:16- 18 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.*
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
We are made Righteous because of our relationship, not our behavior.
7. 2 Myths of repentance
a. Myth #1 If I already repented once, then why do I need to do make it a lifestyle?
i. He cleanses our Conscience.
*Hebrews 10:22 ESV
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
*
ii. Healing comes when we confess our sin.
*James 5:16 ESV
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. *
*b. Myth #2 Repentance doesn’t require a life change. *
*Daniel 4:27 ESV
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
*Matthew 3:8 ESV
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
*
Acts 26:20 ESV
but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
This week:
1. Examine your heart to see if you have had any wrong perspective of repentance and what it means for you today.
- Ask God to show you what fruit He wants you to bear in keeping with repentance.
Discussion questions:
1. Read Romans 2:4. Describe a time in your life that you recognized His goodness bringing you to a place of change.
- Repentance means to not only have sorrow, but to change. Many people have a hard time walking out the change. How have you found success in changing your mind, that results in going a different direction?
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. If Jesus has made us righteous, why do we have such a hard time believing it?
- The enemy wants to keep us in shame, guilt and haunted by what we have done. How have you silenced these thoughts and believe in what Christ says?
- Read James 5:16. What is one thing that you need healing for in your life? Pray for one another, believing that our prayers accomplish much.
- In keeping with the fruit of repentance, what is one thing practically that you can do in your life in response to turning a new direction?