Geniune Repentance

Introduction

One of the most commonly used terms in any evangelical church is the word “repentance.” However, I often wonder if it’s also one of the most misunderstood words.

In Hebrew, there are two words often translated as repentance, sheen vaf bet, which means “to go or come back to a place, condition, or activity where one has been before.” The other word is knee hawm, which means “to be sorry, to change one’s mind, or to be grieved.”

In the NT, the word often translated as “repentance” is μετανοέω which means “to have a change of self that abandons former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.”

This NT use is particularly important for us as Christ followers because it stems from the OT understanding, but focus more attention on the need for change and that the results of repentance is a new self, new behavior, and regret over former sins.

I mention this at the outset, because I believe for too many today, repentance simply means feeling bad about something. Too often, the regret is focused on much more than the new self and behavior.

Even worse, all too often today, as people talk about getting saved, they leave out the cry for repentance. It is not possible to preach the Gospel of Christ Jesus and not emphasize the call to repent. Jesus didn’t.

Matthew 4:17 ESV

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 5:32 ESV

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 12:41 ESV

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 13:3 ESV

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luke 24:46–47 ESV

and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

I could go on, but I hope you get the point. The call for repentance cannot be separated from the call to salvation. And, unfortunately, far too many today are still enslaved to their sin because they were convinced of their need to “get saved” but never responded to the call of the Holy Spirit to repent.

As John Piper once wrote, “This is the demand of Jesus to every soul: Repent. Be changed deep within. Replace all God-dishonoring, Christ-belittling perceptions and dispositions and purposes with God-treasuring, Christ-exalting ones.”

This morning we are going to see an old testament example of repentance and in doing so, we are going to see what true repentance looks like when the Holy Spirit stirs up the conviction in our hearts to turn from our sins and turn to Jesus.

Body: Genesis 44:1-34

Verses 1-13

Why does Joseph do this to Benjamin?

It’s a test for the ten brothers. Will they support Joseph’s full brother, or will they treat Benjamin in a similar fashion they treated Joseph? That’s the test.

Isn’t this deceptive on the part of Joseph?

What is divination?

Did Joseph truly practice divination?

Verse 13 is the key verse of this first section...

Verses 14-15

Joseph’s test is now before the brothers, how will they respond? Specifically, how will Judah respond?

Verses 16-34

Signs of Judah’s repentance:

“God has found out the guilt of your servants...”

“If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.”

“…please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord...”

“I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

So What?

Judah, for the first time, shows signs of true repentance in this passage. It may be spurred by fear, but God will use various circumstances to give us the opportunity to repent of our sins. And that’s exactly what happens here in the life of Judah.

What can we learn about genuine repentance in this chapter?

The only appropriate response to sin is confession and repentance.

When faced with the consequences of his sin, Judah confesses and we see true signs of repentance.

It should be true of us as well!

One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict people of sin:

John 16:8 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

This reminds us that repentance isn’t something that simply comes from us. It starts as the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. But, He doesn’t force us to respond. In fact, we can stifle or quench the Holy Spirit:

1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV

Do not quench the Spirit.

That’s why I said that the only appropriate response to sin is confession and repentance.

Genuine repentance is exemplified through self-sacrifice.

Judah proved his contrite, repentant heart to Joseph by, being willing to take his brother’s punishment and being more concerned about his father than himself. In simple terms, he was willing to sacrifice for the good of others.

The greatest picture of genuineness and love is a willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of another person. But this is true also of repentance.

In repentance, we sacrifice our perceived authority, our self-justifying nature, our excuses, our vices, and often our pride because we recognize that God’s version of the truth is the only valid version of truth and we stand before Him guilty.

Hear this: We will never truly repent until we become convinced that we need to repent. That might not sound profound, but it’s nonetheless true. See, too many people are willing to feel bad about sin (if they even call it sin anymore), but when we say that repentance is a recognition of the need for change that results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former sins, then people become resistant.

Why? Let me use an illustration: Team Policy Debate…the hard part of TPD is arguing for the affirmative because you are trying to convince people to change the status quo. What’s so hard about that? We usually like the status quo, and even if we don’t, we typically dislike change more than we dislike the status quo…especially if we don’t know what the change might cost us in the long-run.

Life is the same way! We prefer the status quo because it’s easier, often comfortable, and rarely scary. But, one of the most difficult parts of turning away from the status quo is we might have to give up something we like! That’s what makes repentance hard!

But, like most hard things, it is well worth it. Why?

True healing and blessing is a result of genuine repentance.

It is only after a complete loss of his selfish reasoning that Judah experiences true healing and blessing.

When we stop putting our confidence in what we can accomplish and put our total trust in what God can do in us that we realize God’s purpose for our life.

Chuck Colson: ““It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn't want our success; He wants us. He doesn't demand our achievements; He demands our obedience. The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self.”

In short, with repentance comes the healing we are seeking and blessing we couldn’t possibly comprehend.

In Judah’s case, he has no idea that in mere minutes his long-lost brother, whom he sold into slavery, would reveal himself as this Egyptian high official. He has no idea that Joseph is going to rescue Judah’s entire family from this horrible famine and give them a place to live out the famine. No idea that his father’s broken heart is about the be mended. No idea that the greatest promise of God is going to continue on through his family line as God preserves his generations until the long Promised Messiah will come from his family.

But, through his repentance, he will now see the healing and blessing come to pass he no doubt longed for.

If you’re here this morning and your heart is troubled with unrepentant sin, healing and blessing is available...

If you are weighed down with a load of care, healing and blessing is available...

If you’ve never turned from your sin and turned to Christ Jesus, He stands ready to forgive you, to heal you and to bless you...

But it starts with repentance.