The Evidence of Repentance
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Every born again Christian will give evidence of their salvation in Christ by a changed life! People are watching our lives and we are on the witness stand in the courtroom of life. When people hear our testimony that we are Christians they will watch our lives to see the evidence. If we are truly saved we will give evidence of our conversion.
Repentance is a change of mind, heart and the will. Proof of repentance is turning from our sin, turning to God, followed by a life of good works.
Are you giving “Evidence of Repentance” to a watching world that you are a Christian?
Text; Acts 26:19-23
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—
23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Prayer
Paul has been explaining his conversion experience, [repentance in Christ] to Festus and King Agrippa as he stood before them on trial, defending himself from the accusations of the Jews. Paul gave a summary of who he was as a Pharisee and what happened to him when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
1. Repentance Requires Obedience; 19-20
1. Repentance Requires Obedience; 19-20
One of the greatest evidences of repentance in a persons life is their obedience to the Lord!
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Paul began to give evidence of his conversion immediately. Paul didn’t rebel against the word of God nor the will of God—he surrendered his life to God. The Lord Jesus told Paul what He wanted him to do and he did it!
[v.20] Paul spent time in Damascus praying while waiting on Ananias to come to give him his sight and receive the Holy Spirit. When this was done, Paul wasted no time being baptized and preaching Jesus as the Son of God, repentance and good works!
Regardless of where Paul went he preached the same message. This message tied Paul to John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter. They all called for repentance—a change of heart and mind that showed itself in a change of direction.
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” …
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John MacArthur said,
“Obedience … accompanies true salvation, acknowledges God’s authority, is an expression of trust in God, and is the proof of believers’ love for Him.”
If we are obedient to the call of God on our lives we too will proclaim what He has done for us.
2. Repentance Has Its Challenges; 21
2. Repentance Has Its Challenges; 21
When a person comes to faith in Christ and is obedient to the Lord’s call to serve Him, there will be challenges we will face because not everyone likes to be told the truth about themselves and their SIN!
Paul was on trial because he preached the truth about repentance and faith in Christ. Even Festus got uncomfortable in his sin as Paul preached [vs. 24-25]
We can expect some backlash for being faithful
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Many believers today neglect proclaiming the works of repentance. Yet, a changed life is the very foundation of salvation: it is what salvation is all about. There is no salvation apart from a life of righteousness. It is this message that must be proclaimed loudly and clearly; for multitudes are deceived and resting in the false security of religion, ritual, ceremony, church membership, baptism, worship attendance, heritage, good parents, morality, and a host of other ideas.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again
Repentance means a changed life and all change has challenges!
3. Repentance Relies on God’s Power; 22-23
3. Repentance Relies on God’s Power; 22-23
One of the great things about repentance is that it relies on the power of God from the beginning to the end! It is God who draws us to repentance and God who sustains us in it!
Witness- [martyr], testify, declare, proclaim, make known, insist; even to the point of death
Only by the help of God could Paul stand before them on trial and testify of Jesus Christ and the need of man to repent, knowing it may cost him his life. Look at what Paul was a witness too.
Scriptures- Paul witnessed of Jesus from the Old Testament/Moses and the Prophets [Road to Emmaus]
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Christ’s death- Paul declared that Christ [Messiah] was ordained by God in eternity past to suffer [die] for man’s sin.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
Resurrection- the resurrection of Christ is the first-fruits of eternal life and victory over death
23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The witness of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the light that shines in the darkness that brings man to repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Close;
I Love To Tell The Story/Katherine Hankey
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story because I know tis true
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
The Evidence of Repentance is the desire to tell His story to others.
To be Obedient to Christ, Regardless of the Challenges, Relying upon God’s Power!
