The Evidence of Repentance (& Communion)

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TEACHING

An elderly man in Italy, who had been secretly carrying a guilty conscience for several years. Unable to bear it any longer, he went to the local priest and said, "Father, I need to find peace over a private matter in my life."

"What is it, my son," the priest responded.

"Well," the old man said, "during World War II, I hid a refugee in my attic."

"That's nothing to be guilt-ridden over," the priest said. "What you did actually saved another person's life. Why, only God knows how great was the good that you have done. The devil is just trying to torment you for a good deed done to another."

"Yes, Father, I'm sure you're right," the old man replied, "but I charged him rent."

"Oh, I see," said the priest. "That clearly wasn't the best thing to do, but I'm sure the Lord has forgiven you after all these years."

"Well," the old man concluded, "then do you think I should tell the guy in my attic that the War is over?"

Have you ever wondered if God has REALLY forgiven you for your past?

Forgiven: a word that offers hope and restoration of relationships.

But...ARE you forgiven? Many people would respond, “I sure hope so.”

Genuine forgiveness is the result of real repentance.

Based on THAT...Are YOU forgiven?

And if genuine forgiveness is the result of real repentance...

then WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE of REPENTANCE? Today we discover how you can KNOW that you are forgiven.

Sadly, some people live as if God’s forgiveness is just a free pass to forgiveness without any change nor expectations on their end.

This is simply not the case as a 1st century prophet is about to demonstrate, a guy we know as John (the Southern Baptist).

PRAY

Luke 3:2a–3 (CSB)

...God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

God’s word came to John: This doesn’t mean that someone gave John an Old Testament Bible. Instead, this is a common OT phrase used for God giving a message to a prophet so he can speak God’s words to the people.

This is how John would prepare the way for the Messiah. He moved up and down the Jordan River, offering to baptize anyone who would turn from their sins. John preached about repentance & forgiveness - warning of God’s wrath AND offering God’s peace.

He warned of God’s wrath because God is JUST.

He offered God’s peace because God is GRACIOUS.

Luke 3:4–6 (CSB)

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, and everyone will see the salvation of God. [Is 40:3-5]

John was the one written about 700 years beforehand through the prophet Isaiah, preparing PEOPLE for the Lord’s coming.

John wasn’t doing road construction, filling in holes, blowing up mountains, and moving dirt to prepare an interstate.

This is metaphoric language for the role John would play: to remove obstacles and prepare the people to receive the Messiah & His message. It would be through the Lord that everyone will see the salvation of God.

And so John baptized those who came [pic of hands coming up out of water].

Baptism did NOT YET represent the death, burial, & resurrection of Jesus, as that was future. Instead baptism was for Gentiles who were converting to become covenant Jews to follow the one true God.

While Jews did dip themselves under water before entering the temple grounds, they weren’t baptized...until now.

But Mark’s gospel says:

Mark 1:5 (CSB)

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

These Jews from all over Israel came to be baptized by John and confessing their sins, acknowledging that they were no better than Gentiles. They too needed forgiveness and this baptism represented that washing away of sin.

And it wasn’t like folks were making their way to the luxury hotels to be baptized in their pools.

Instead, these people walked away from all the ordinary daily concerns, and walked to the Jordan River to fix their minds and hearts on their spiritual condition, while listening to John’s message of forgiveness.

Have YOU taken the time to get away from the daily distractions and consider your spiritual condition? Have you considered how your disobedience has caused you to wander - looking for purpose & hope?

But if the only outcome of that was the action of baptism, I pray you realize that BAPTISM doesn’t force God to forgive.

This washing on the OUTSIDE means nothing without washing on the INSIDE. You see...

There is NO FORGIVENESS without REPENTANCE.

Washing the outside of the body doesn’t cleanse us of sin.

600 years earlier the prophet Jeremiah warned the Jewish people with these words...

Jeremiah 2:22 (NET 2nd ed.)

You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent. You can use as much soap as you want. But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,” says the Sovereign LORD.

Now the last OT prophet. the one preparing the way of the Lord - John the Baptist - gives a similar warning.

Luke 3:7–8a (CSB)

He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.

Real repentance doesn’t lead us back to the sin He has forgiven.

Proverbs pictures a person who goes back to sin as a dog that returns to lick up his own vomit (Proverbs 26:11). GROSS!

John isn’t trying to get everyone baptized because baptism somehow mystically cleanses the soul of sin.

Baptism - washing the outside - wasn’t enough. It only symbolized washing on the inside. As we’ve already heard,

Genuine forgiveness is the result of real repentance.

Repentance means ‘change of mind’. This change of mind leads to a change of action. We agree with God about what is good and what is evil, and this change of mind results in a change of action.

How do you know if you have really repented? Or said another way, “What’s the EVIDENCE of Forgiveness?”

The Evidence of Repentance is Obedience

That’s what John is saying.

People who have repented are going to produce fruit consistent with repentance.

So, here’s a question for you: Is the sin in your PAST...or PRESENT?

Do you keep going BACK to it...like the dog? Or, when the desires arise, do you obey out of your gratitude for forgiveness & trust in God’s commands?

Do you run back into the sin that only satisfies temporarily, but ultimately leaves you empty? Or, are you refusing to live for the stuff Jesus died to pay for?

When I ask people about their spiritual condition, some point back to the faith of their parents, their experience in church, or a prayer they prayed.

But none of these are evidences of forgiveness.

Many of the Jewish people in John’s day thought they could lean back and say, “We’re God’s chosen people! We have special favor simply because of our race. He MUST forgive us.”

God doesn’t give a family discount...

Luke 3:8b–9 (CSB)

And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

That doesn’t sound good. By the way - that’s the same kind of language Jesus uses to speak about hell to His Jewish audience.

Jews didn’t DESERVE God’s forgiveness.

Jews didn’t get a free pass because of their family tree....AND NEITHER DO YOU!

Whether in this life or the life to come - you will not slip God’s justice. This ought to cause you and me to be MUCH MORE CONCERNED about what God thinks than what anyone else thinks.

Later in his writing Luke quotes Jesus saying these words.

Luke 12:4–5 (CSB)

I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the One to fear: Fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear!

I often hear well-meaning Christians who say or repost this on social media, “God doesn’t send people to hell. People send people to hell.” That is NOT true. The person on trial doesn’t send himself to prison, the JUDGE does. We must fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death - GOD.

When we respect the JUDGE and His authority, we should do what He says. And if He offers us FULL FORGIVENESS we should respond to whatever He says!

Those who were listening to John were awaiting the One he was preparing the way for - the One who would bring salvation from God’s judgement.

Until He showed up, how should they be living and what is the evidence of repentance?

Luke 3:10–11 (CSB)

“What then should we do?” the crowds were asking him. He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

Do you have more than you need? People who repent shouldn’t be stingy. God didn’t give you all that to sit in your closet & never get worn. Know someone who is legitimately hungry? People who repent give from their excess instead of letting it spoil.

People who have repented care about and share with others in need.

Then came the social outcasts, those who were typically viewed as dishonest.

They approached John with a question about how they could be genuinely forgiven after their dishonest living.

Luke 3:12–14 (CSB)

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.” Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?” He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

Tax collectors often cheated their own Jewish people and were considered thieves.

These soldiers were likely Jewish mercenaries recruited to protect tax collectors or working for King Herod Antipas like police. These guys were known for mistreating their own people using force or false accusation. [F1]

Notice what John DID NOT say.

He didn’t say, “tax collectors, soldiers - leave your jobs because they are inherently wicked occupations.” NO.

He simply tells them to be the most honest & trustworthy people on the payroll. He challenges them to be content instead of mistreating others for their own comfort.

This is repentance - a change of mind that results in a change of action.

People who have repented treat others with integrity & are content with God providing for their needs.

How could these people…how can WE...trust that WE are fully forgiven? What is The Evidence of Forgiveness?

The Evidence of Repentance is Obedience

Let’s conclude our study by looking at this powerful passage from King David.

Psalm 32:1–4 (CSB)

How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah

When David kept silent, when he refused to confess his sin and turn from it, there was a heaviness in his life - a sense of wasting away - purposeless

Ever experienced THAT?

But David finally humbled himself and brought his sin to God.

Psalm 32:5 (CSB)

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

God would graciously forgive David and the Jews at the time of John’s ministry, but many would NOT have the privilege of knowing to what great lengths God would go to make payment for our sins to be fully forgiven. They could not yet see the future as WE see the past.

We know the that ONE John prepared the way for - the Messiah - would go to the cross...for OUR SIN! We see how the death of Jesus - proved both God’s JUSTICE & God’s GRACE.

How can you trust that God has forgiven your PAST?

Because your sin is IN THE PAST. You have repented - you don’t see sin the way you used to. You have offered Jesus your life & He has given you His.

The Evidence of [your] Repentance is Obedience

You don’t obey TO be forgiven. You obey because you ARE forgiven.

And you can lean on passages like this:

1 Peter 2:24 (CSB)

He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB)

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 1:7–8 (CSB)

In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Is there EVIDENCE of REPENTANCE in your life?

Followers of Jesus

What is it in YOUR life that needs to be dealt with? Tell another believer - ask them to pray for you, check on you, & celebrate with you.

When you share Jesus with others, don’t give them a cheap, flimsy, false gospel. God will forgive them right where they are BUT...they must turn from their sin and trust Jesus. This is not about getting them to pray an insincere prayer. It’s calling them to wave the white flag & surrender their lives.

Those who aren’t yet followers of Jesus

Aren’t you tired of feeling like David did? Covering up your sin, acting like it’s not a big deal - yet having the heavy hand of God’s conviction on your life?

AW Tozer “People on earth hate to hear the word repent. Those in hell wish they could hear it once more.”

Don’t wait while you still have time to repent.

Call your STAFF & DEACONS (or another believer)

And I can’t think of a better way to lead into “The Lord’s Supper”.

Remind people WHO this is for - those who have REPENTED.

Luke 22:14–18 (NIV) When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Luke 22:19 (NIV)And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Luke 22:20 (NIV) In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

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John Nolland, Luke 1:1–9:20, vol. 35A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 150.