rjones
Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 314
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance".
Repentance is the first step we take in personally receiving the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. Repentance is the gateway into all the blessings God has prepared for us.
Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord".
Repentance causes great joy in heaven (Luke 15:7). But before we can understand true repentance, we need to understand what repentance is not.
Not just feeling guilty - feeling guilty about our sin comes before repentance, but is not repentance itself. No one repents unless they first feel guilty about their sin, but not all who feel guilty actually repent.
Acts 24:25 " As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."
Not just being sorry for your sin - some people are very sorry because of the consequences of their sin. They are not really sorry for the sin, but for the penalty they receive in being caught.
2 Cor. 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death".
Not trying to be a good person - many people try in their own strength to become a better person and change their way of life. Any self-effort has a root of self-righteousness in it, which does not acknowledge the need of repentance from sin.
Isa. 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."
Not becoming religious - the Pharisees were extremely religious. They fasted and prayed and had many religious ceremonies, yet never repented.
Mt. 3:7-10 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
Not just knowing the truth - having an intellectual head-knowledge of truth does not guarantee that the truth has become a living reality in one's life.
James 2:19-20 "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
TRUE REPENTANCE
Genuine repentance is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Several things mark this kind of repentance:
Being sorry to God for your sin (Psalm 51:1-4; 38:8).
Being truthful about your sin (Psalm 32:5).
Changing focus to the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Receiving the forgiveness of God (1 John 1:9).
Taking responsibility before God (Luke 19:8; Lev.6:1-7).
To repent means "to turn around, to change direction." Repentance means turning from four things:
Turning from sin (1 Peter 3:10; Gal.5:19-21; Eph.5:5).
Turning from the world (1 John 2:15; James 4:4).
Turning from yourself (2 Corinthians 5:15; Luke 14:26).
Turning from the devil (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13).
But just turning from these things is not enough. It is what we turn to that makes the difference.
Turning to righteousness (Romans 6:13).
Turning to God (Acts 20:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Repentance is the first step we take in personally receiving the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. Repentance is the gateway into all the blessings God has prepared for us.
Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord".
Repentance causes great joy in heaven (Luke 15:7). But before we can understand true repentance, we need to understand what repentance is not.
Not just feeling guilty - feeling guilty about our sin comes before repentance, but is not repentance itself. No one repents unless they first feel guilty about their sin, but not all who feel guilty actually repent.
Acts 24:25 " As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."
Not just being sorry for your sin - some people are very sorry because of the consequences of their sin. They are not really sorry for the sin, but for the penalty they receive in being caught.
2 Cor. 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death".
Not trying to be a good person - many people try in their own strength to become a better person and change their way of life. Any self-effort has a root of self-righteousness in it, which does not acknowledge the need of repentance from sin.
Isa. 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."
Not becoming religious - the Pharisees were extremely religious. They fasted and prayed and had many religious ceremonies, yet never repented.
Mt. 3:7-10 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
Not just knowing the truth - having an intellectual head-knowledge of truth does not guarantee that the truth has become a living reality in one's life.
James 2:19-20 "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
TRUE REPENTANCE
Genuine repentance is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Several things mark this kind of repentance:
Being sorry to God for your sin (Psalm 51:1-4; 38:8).
Being truthful about your sin (Psalm 32:5).
Changing focus to the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Receiving the forgiveness of God (1 John 1:9).
Taking responsibility before God (Luke 19:8; Lev.6:1-7).
To repent means "to turn around, to change direction." Repentance means turning from four things:
Turning from sin (1 Peter 3:10; Gal.5:19-21; Eph.5:5).
Turning from the world (1 John 2:15; James 4:4).
Turning from yourself (2 Corinthians 5:15; Luke 14:26).
Turning from the devil (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13).
But just turning from these things is not enough. It is what we turn to that makes the difference.
Turning to righteousness (Romans 6:13).
Turning to God (Acts 20:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
