Repentance 1
Notes
Transcript
Handout
God loves you too much to leave you the way that you are!
God loves you too much to leave you the way that you are!
And so, He brings us to a place of repentance!
Most of the beginning of this message we have talked extensively about in the last several month and so I won’t spend as much time on it
However, we do need good groundwork for where we are going!
Matthew 3:1–2 (NIV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:17 (NIV)
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
I will be taking several ideas from a book by Rob Reimer named “Soul Care”
The reference to the book is at the bottom of your notes sheet
“There is no entrance into the kingdom without repentance. There is no advancement in the kingdom without repentance (Reimer 74).”
This idea of repentance is a big deal! So, let’s take some time defining what we mean
Repentance - to change your mind - resulting in a change of direction. Hebrew understanding is the idea of coming back home - think of the prodigal son
Guy wanted his share of the inheritance, dad gives it to him, he squanders is to the point of eating pig slop
Luke 15:17 (NIV)
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
He realized that it would be better to be a servant in His house, than to be eating pig slop
Of course he goes home, his father runs to him and they throw him a party
So, this would represent the hebrew understanding of repentance, realizing you are in sin and coming home!
Repentance in the context of sin is to change our mind or to confess our sins and come back to God
So, what does the word Confess mean?
confess - acknowledge, admit, declare, agree with
Often, we think of confession just in relation to sin, but it is a bit more than that. There is scripture in regards to sin
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
And in,
James 5:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
But, there are other uses of the word confess:
Romans 10:9 (ESV)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
And,
Matthew 10:32 (NASB95)
32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
So, confession is more than just sin, it can mean declare, acknowledge, agree with, etc.
When we are talking about repentance, confession means to agree with God about our sin!
As a quick summary
Repentance to confess(acknowledge) sin, and to change our mind resulting in a change of direction - back to the way we were created to be in right relationship with God!
Let’s back up a little bit and talk about why this is important!
Why is sin bad?
Is it because God is a fun sucker?
Contrary to what some believe, no, God is not a fun sucker! He is a life giver!
Sin leads to death!
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
The consequence of sin from the beginning, from creation was death!
And this doesn’t change throughout scripture!
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Sin always leads to death! Though that may not be immediate, it is always the end result!
Is it more loving for God to convict you of your sin or to let you die in it?
This is why it is so important that we talk about sin and repentance.
Sin will kill you, but confession and repentance will give you life!
Sin will kill you, but confession and repentance will give you life!
One of the things that God needed to shift in my mind was the importance of staying away from sin. Now, I am not sinless yet, and we will talk about why, but when we understand and truly believe that God’s way is better, it will change our lives!
So, we recognize our sin, we confess it, and repent of it!
How do we come to a place of confession/repentance?
How do we come to a place of confession/repentance?
There are several ways, but I am only going to give you 3 this morning!
1. Understand our Nature
1. Understand our Nature
Since the time of the fall, the whole earth became corrupt, including our nature!
Ephesians 2:1–2 (NIV)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 2:3 (NIV)
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Because of our sinful nature, we sin! So, we understand that the reason we sin is because we have a nature inclined to sin!
It feels good in some way or is a triggered response!
We will talk more about triggered responses down the road here, but for now, by nature we want to sin!
The second way that we come to a place of confession/repentance is:
2. Understand the Gospel
2. Understand the Gospel
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9 (NIV)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13 (NIV)
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
So, understanding the gospel that sin separates us from God and leads to death, but believing in Christ and His work on the cross, makes us a new creation and confession and repentance brings life!
The third way that we come to a place of confession/repentance is:
3. The Holy Spirit Convicts Us
3. The Holy Spirit Convicts Us
We have to lay a little ground work here! And these are very important notes:
Conviction is not Condemnation!
Conviction is not Condemnation!
Okay, so what is conviction?
Conviction: rebuke or expose
Conviction: rebuke or expose
When I read about conviction, I like to use the word exposure
“Sin threatens to harden our hearts and get us out of the river of God’s presence. Conviction is designed to soften our hearts and bring us back into the river, so He pricks our conscience (Reimer 79).”
God is in the business of drawing us to Him and His holiness!
To the church in Laodicea, Jesus writes as they have gone astray and been apathetic, same church He talks about being lukewarm and spitting them out of His mouth!
Revelation 3:19–20 (NIV)
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Jesus is drawing those going astray back to Him!
Jesus talks about the coming Spirit in:
John 16:8 (ESV)
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
And Paul writes:
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (NIV)
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
It is important to understand the differences in conviction of the Holy Spirit and condemnation from the enemy!
Is the conviction from God or the Enemy?
Is the conviction from God or the Enemy?
Enemy:
Condemnation
Bad/Gross
Generic
Uncertainty
Guilt/Shame
Holy Spirit:
Exposure
Love
Specific
Certainty
Release/Peace
Let’s wrap up with:
What happens when conviction doesn’t work?
What happens when conviction doesn’t work?
There are consequences!
Reminder: God loves you too much to leave you the way that you are!
1. The Principle of Sowing and Reaping!
1. The Principle of Sowing and Reaping!
Galatians 6:7–8 (NIV)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Often times, God uses natural consequences as a means of drawing us to Him, His will, and His holiness!
If we continue to sow sin in our lives, we will continue to reap destruction, isolation, and ultimately, death!
God does not desire destruction in our lives, rather, He desires restoration, healing, and wholeness! And He will often allow natural consequences for this very reason!
2. The Principle of God’s Discipline!
2. The Principle of God’s Discipline!
Hebrews 12:3–5 (NIV)
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Hebrews 12:6–8 (NIV)
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Hebrews 12:9–11 (NIV)
9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
“The discipline of the Lord is not punitive; it is restorative. He is a good Father. He disciplines us not in wrath, not capriciously or whimsically, but lovingly for our good - to make us like Jesus. It is, of course, unpleasant, even painful. But it produces the fruit of righteousness and peace if we endure discipline (Reimer 81).”
Questions:
What is your view of confession/repentance? Is it a good thing?
What things do you need to confess and turn from?
What is stopping you from confessing and turning back towards God?
Do you understand our nature and the gospel?
What are you reaping and sowing?
What does God’s discipline look like in your life?
Reimer, Rob. Soul Care: Seven Transformational Principles for a Healthy Soul. Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2016.
