REPENTANCE

The Necessity of Repentance

The Bible is clear that repentance is necessary to be saved and is central to the Gospel message.

Mark 1:14–15 “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

Luke 24:46–47 “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.” (See Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Acts 1:8)

Luke 13:3 “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

What is Repentance?

Repentance is a radical change of mind that stems from a sorrow over sin. This sorrow causes a longing to be free from sin and to have the forgiveness and righteousness that only Christ can provide. So repentance causes you to turn to Christ and trust in Him as your only hope of salvation.

See Acts 20:17-21...

1 John 1:8–9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

See 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10...

Acts 14:15 ““Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

Acts 26:15-18...

The Road of Repentance

Trembling at the Word (Verse 8)

Isaiah 66:2 “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

Feeling a godly grief (Verse 9)

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Contrite- 1) caused by or showing sincere remorse. 2) filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Matthew 5:3–6 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Coming to repentance (Verse 10a)

John 16:8 “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”

Romans 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

Repentance leads to salvation (Verse 10b)

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”

Acts 11:18 “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.””

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned; Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Worldly grief produces death (Verse 10c)

See Hebrews 12:15-17 and Genesis 27:31-41...

See Matthew 27:3-5...

The Fruits of Repentance

See Matthew 3:7-10...

Earnestness- an urgency to be forgiven and made right with God

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?””

Acts 16:29–30 “And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?””

Eagerness to clear yourselves- a desire to rectify the wrong’s you have done and the hurts you have caused.

Luke 19:8–9 “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.”

The Law only required you to restore it in full with 1/5 added to it. (Leviticus 6:1-6)

Indignation- an outrage and hatred of sin; especially your own.

Psalm 119:104 “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”

Job 42:5–6 “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.””

Fear- a fearful reverence of God that leads to a desire to be made right with Him, worship Him, and follow Him.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Longing- A longing for Christ, forgiveness, holiness, and righteousness

Psalm 42:1 “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”

Matthew 5:6 ““Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Zeal- a passion for Christ and for what is pure, holy, right, and good.

Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

See Matthew 13:44-46...

Psalm 69:9 “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.”

Acts 17:16 “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.”

Punishment- a desire for justice to be done; and willingness to face the earthly consequences of your actions.

Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Luke 11:42 ““But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Revelation 6:10 “They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?””

See Revelation 19:1-3...

Fruit like that proves that you are innocent (pure, clear, or holy). In other words, your repentance has been genuine.