Repentance

Purpose: After believing grace, the biblical response is to repent and be baptized for forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:36-38). The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, means "to change ones mind or purpose". OQ: How are you? How do feel about having confessed your sins? Is there anything more you want to confess? C: Today we will do the repentance study. Do you know what is the meaning of repentance? It means, "to change ones mind or purpose". That is what you must do. It is not enough just to confess your sins, but it very important you "to change ones mind or purpose" (repent) of your sins. Many feel repentance is a feeling. They say repentance means you just truly feel bad about your sins. But Bible teaches more than just a feeling. That is what we will study out today about true repentance according to the Bible. 1. Luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." God gives us only 2 options: 1) Repent or 2) Perish 2. Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. A) Paul preached repentance wherever he went. B) True Repentance is not just to give up sin but one must turn back to God. C) God and others will know one have repented by our deeds.[Change in words, thoughts and actions] 3. Matthew 5:28-30 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. A) We have to look at sin as sin. No small or big sin. Even lust is adultery. B) We have to "cut-off" our sins. You have to hate your sin only then you will change. Is there any sin in your life you still don't hate? WARNING: If you have any liking towards any sin still, you may give it up temporarily but will go back to it again!. 4. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Generally we always feel bad about sins. Bible says we can have 2 different types of sorrow towards sin. 1) Godly sorrow is that you really feel bad for your sins and it brings true and lasting changes and you never do it again. This leads to salvation. 2) Worldly sorrow is you feel bad for the sins but you don't change. You do the same sin again. This leads to death (hell) ILLUSTRATION: CAUGHT WITHOUT A TICKET 5. Ephesians 4:22-32 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Scripture specifically says we need to "put-off" old self with its desires and practices. It is not enough to put-off or stop our old sinful desires and practices. We need to "put-on" new self. In other words we need to replace our old bad habits with new right habits or attitudes. Replace bad thoughts by righteous thoughts[renewing our mind]. Eg: v.25 Put off falsehood or lies and replace it [by putting-on ] by speaking the truth. V.28 Put off stealing[old practice] replace it by getting a job and by sharing with those in need. V 29 Put off unwholesome talk and replace it with talk that will build and benefit others. V 31-32 Put off bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, and malice and replace it with [put on] kindness, compassion and forgiveness. This is how we can change. Now what do I do after repentance? 6. Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. C: First repent and then get baptized, only then your sins will be forgiven, are you ready for this? 7. Psalms 51:1-17 1 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Read this Psalms as a prayer at the end of the study and encourage the seeker to be broken before God about his sins like David was about his sins. Let us pray. Extra Repentance Lesson Luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." God gives us only 2 options: 1) Repent or 2) Perish just like Heaven or Hell, you are in light or in the darkness. There is no gray area for God. If you don't repent you will perish! Which option you like? I. What Repentance is not 1. Not just feeling guilty 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." Felix felt guilty but did not repent. We feel guilty about our sin. This feeling comes before repentance, but is not repentance itself. 2. Not just being sorry for your sin 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Some people are sorry because of the consequences of their sin or because they have been caught. Many are sorry not for what they have done wrong, but for the penalty they receive for being caught. 3. Not just trying to be a good person Isaiah 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. 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 for God and of repentance from sin. 4. Not becoming religious Luke 18:9-14 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." The Pharisees were extremely religious in behavior and in practice. They fasted and prayed and attended many religious ceremonies and tithed; yet never repented. 5. Not just knowing the truth James 2:19-20 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? Having intellectual head-knowledge of truth does not necessarily guarantee that truth has become a living reality in one's life. Believing with the head and believing with the heart are different.[Rom 10:9-10] II. What true repentance is 1. Being sorry to God for your sins Psalm 51:1-4 1 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Psalm 38:8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. True repentance is a sorrow not just toward one's self, or toward another person, but first and foremost it is true sorrow towards God. 2. Being truthful about your sins Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 3. Renouncing your sin Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 4. Hating sin Matthew 5:29-30 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 5. When possible, paying back to others what you owe Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." III. What Repentance involves 1. Turning from sin Galatians 5:19-21 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Zechariah 1:4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 2. Turning from the world 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 3. Turning from yourself 2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. 4. Turning to God Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Zechariah 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. 5. Putting off old-self and putting on new self Ephesians 4:22-32 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Colossians 3:5-14 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Conclusion: Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. C: First repent and then get baptized, only then your sins will be forgiven, are you ready for this? Useful Scriptures to help people repent specifically These scriptures are to be used to deal with specific areas of repentance. Our goal is to make them see how their specific sins have hurt others and hurt God. In this study and help them to see how their sin has affected their character and challenge them to make those character changes. No. Particulars Scriptures 1 People who refuse to repent Romans 2:4 - Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? 2 People who love the world James 4:4 - You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 3 People who love money Luke 16:13-15 - 13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. Proverbs 15:27 - A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. 4 Difficult to forgive Matthew 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 5 Abortion Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Psalm 139:13-16 - 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 6 Womanizing / Weak-willed women James 4:4 - 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Ephesians 5:15-17 - 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 7 People who are lazy / Who do not want to work 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 8 Sexual abuse of children Mark 9:36 - He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, Luke 17:1-2 - 1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 9 Homosexuality 1 Corinthians 6:9 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders. 10 Self righteousness / Looking down on others Luke 18:9-14 - 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 11 Pride Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Proverbs 13:10 - Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. 12 Deep rooted selfishness 2 Timothy 3:1-5 - 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 13 Deep rooted bitterness Hebrews 12:15 - See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Colossians 3:5-8 - 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 14 Marriage issues Colossians 3:18 - Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Ephesians 5:22-31 - 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 15 Deceit Proverbs 15:4 - The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. 16 Relationship with boy friend / girlfriend Ephesians 5:3 - But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.