Why Don't You Turn Around

This morning I would like to do a little follow-up from last Sunday

Last Sunday I talked a number of times about repentance.

Now I realize this morning that when we hear this word, repentance, that we bring all kinds of pictures and feelings to the table

For some, this word may evoke fear

For some, this word may seem judgmental

For others, this word may bring feelings of hope

And I know that our minds were kind of swirling last Sunday

But I hope that you didn’t miss what I was trying to say about repentance.

If you did, that’s OK.

It never hurts to say things again

My heart last Sunday was not say to one single person, “You need to repent.”

But rather, my heart was to include all of us in this, and say, “We need to repent”.

Because here is what I believe about repentance

For the follower of Jesus, repentance should be a way of life.

Repentance should be a way of life for all of us

I’ll talk about that more in a bit

But this past week, as I was thinking about this whole idea of repentance

A verse, or at least part of a verse came to my mind:

“The kindness of God leads you to repentance”

The kindness of God leads you to repentance

My heart was captured by this phrase: The kindness of God

And I didn’t have any idea where I would find that verse

So of course, I asked “Brother Google” (as I once heard a preacher say)

And I found out that it is in Romans 2.

So, this morning, I invite you to join me in turning to Romans 2. I will be reading verses 1-11.

But I want to take a moment and set the context for us.

Apostle Paul in chapter 1 has just reminded us of something that we know, but maybe aren’t as willing to admit

Apart from Christ, we have a deep problem—a sinful nature

A nature that tends self-serving

Left to our own devices, and going our own way, we really can make a mess out of things

there’s that saying, “We do what we do, because we want what we want”

And that’s Paul’s whole point in chapter 1, I believe. He wants to say, “Hey there is a deep problem here”

Because he wants to build on that and show us the wonder of what Jesus has done for us

And he starts to build that case for us in chapter 2

Romans 2:1–11 “1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 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? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.”

There is a lot to unpack in this passage

And these verses feel kind of bleak and sort of “in your face”

And in a way, they are.

But I think Paul’s heart is not to accuse and condemn, but rather to exhort and encourage

Because in these verse are these little gems of encouragement

Here is my summary of these verses

In light of what he has laid out for us in chapter 1,

That there is a problem called sin and we make a mess of things when left to our own devices

Paul is saying, OK, I trust that we recognize this, but I have to warn you about how we tend to think about this problem of sin

We tend to point our finger at others around us and say, “They are the problem. Me, i’ve got it together. If they would get it together too, this world would be a much better place.”

This is what he is saying in those opening verses

“Before you judge someone, you need to consider hard whether or not you do the same thing!”

Judge—condemn

And if we do the same thing, which we probably do, then that means we stand under God’s judgement along with the person that we are condemning.

And the reason that we stand under God’s judgment is because

Yes, there is probably a specific sin that He needs to take care of in my life—an action perhaps

But, also because of our attitude toward Him

or the way we view Him and His sacrifice for us

and we read about this in verse 4

Romans 2:4 “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?”

The reason that we stand under God’s judgement when we have a judgmental spirit is

because we are “presuming on His kindness and forbearance and patience”

the word translated “presume” means to despise or look down on”

So, when we judge others for the same things that we do ourselves, we are actually despising the kindness of God

The very kindness which is meant to lead us toward repentance.

And repentance is what I want to focus on for a few minutes this morning

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What is repentance? What does it mean?

First of all, it is a major theme in the Bible.

Repent: The words “repent”, or “repentance” appear around 70 times in the Bible

Again and again in the OT, God calls His people to repentance

But that doesn’t change in the NT

It is the very concept or action on which the ministry of Jesus was built

Mark 1:4. John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

John’s baptism was much more than a purification ceremony, or getting wet.

it was a baptism that signified that something was happening in someone’s heart

And then, Jesus appeared on the scene and he began to preach repentance.

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[fn] repent and believe in the gospel.”

So what does repent mean?

two parts:

recognition that there is sin or a problem

Turning away from that sin

So, why should I repent? Why is it important for us to make repentance a regular part of our lives?

it is a response to God’s kindness toward us Vs. 4

Have you experienced the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance and patience towards you?

Then your response should be a life of repentance

And when I think about repentance as a response to God’s kindness,

for me, it becomes something that I desire rather than something that I fear

why would I fear something that shows God that I recognize his kindness towards me?

I don’t know about you, but I want God to know that I recognize and and humbled by how kind and patient He has been towards me

And the way taht I can do that is live a life of repentance,

And that doesn’t have to be a life of fear, but a life of

But if I’m not willing to repent then,

possibly the opposite is true.

Lack of repentance in my life would demonstrate that maybe I haven’t experienced, or I haven’t recognized God’s patience in my life.

again it shows that I don’t really value his patience and kindness toward me

Repentance is more than a feeling. It is an action

Repentance is more than just saying “I’m sorry.”

repentance is more than simply feeling bad about something that I have done

Now, most times there is a feeling that comes with that.

many times we feel guilty

We may call this feeling regret

we might even feel shame, though I would argue that God does not place shame on us

But I would also say that it is possible for me to be in sin, and not feel guilt or shame about it because

I don’t realize it is sinful

I have hardened my conscience against it, and I simply don’t feel anything about it

but it’s this feeling that indicates to us that something is wrong

But that feeling in itself is not repentance

some people can live their entire lives feeling badly about things

And continuing in sin or destructive behaviors

That feeling just prepares us to take action and actually do what Jesus wants us to do as His followers

that is, repent

The action is, I turn away from whatever I have been doing that is sinful or hurtful

Along with this point,

Repentance needs to be specific

We need to be specific about the things that we are turning away from

The thing is, the Deceiver has this thing that he likes to do with us

he likes to make us feel guilty, but not really tell us why we should feel guilty

And we go around just feeling guilty and condemned about...something.

But God isn’t like that.

He is a loving Father and as our loving Father, He is specific with us.

“You have pride in your heart, and this is how it showed up”

“You have anger in your heart, and this is an example of that”

you’re right, Lord. I need to repent of that

He is always specific with us.

If you just walk around always feeling generally guilty about something, it’s probably not your Father

Repentance Should be, or should become a way of life

What is it that marks us as being spiritually mature?

Is sinlessness a mark of spiritual maturity?

could look at it that way, depends a bit on what you believe

It’s true that We are supposed to be transformed by the Spirit of God from glory to ever increasing glory into the image of God

And sin should have less and less of a hold on our lives

But in that journey, at least the way that I believe, there will always be some sin that we are battling

We will never acquire perfection

And so, in that journey, as we battle against sin, and strive for holiness, I would say that it is actually repentance which should become a regular part of of our lives as Believers

it is repentance which actually is more a measure of spiritual maturity than “perfection” or sinlessness

Because you know it and I know it. Repentance is really hard to do, isn’t it

recognizing sin, asking the Holy Spirit to help us desire to turn away from that sin, then actually turning away from that sin

this is something that goes against what we are “bent” to do as humans

it is something that requires a work of God’s grace in our hearts, which is something that we can’t manufacture

But I hope that you have also experienced this: that when we turn away from that sin which He is pointing out to us, we find His grace and mercy to be sufficient.

or to borrow the word from today’s passage, we find His kindness to be sufficient

So, to be on this journey that we call following Jesus, and always have things in our life that He wants to change

And for us to be able to say, “Lord, I see what you are seeing, and I want to turn away from that”, should become something that is increasingly, maybe “easy” is not the right word, but it should be increasingly expected

and we should be increasingly willing to run toward repentance

it should become increasingly a part of our lives

Because here is the statement that we are making when we repent

Jesus, I want you more than I want this “thing” in my life

because here is the thing. When we are living in sin, there is that separation that results

we withdraw from God like Adam and Eve did, and we hide from Him in shame

but repentance is a statement that says, I want Jesus more than anything else

to be in fellowship with Him

I want fellowship with you much more than I want this “thing” in my life

I love you more than any of my idols or treasures

I desire you more than any of these things

and whatever it is that is keeping us apart

I want to turn away from that in order that our relationship can once again become the most important thing in my life

But repentance is also a statement about what we believe in regard to our fellowship with our brothers and sisters.

sin causes a rift in our relationship with our brothers and sisters.

We withdraw from each other when our relationships are not right

Repentance is saying, brothers and sisters, I want fellowship with you more than anything else in my life

You are more important to me than, well, whatever else I think is important

And it’s these two things:

fellowship with Jesus

Fellowship with our brothers and sisters

which I believe should cause repentance to be something that is practiced regularly in our lives

Because this is what we want, isn’t it?

Maybe to summarize this point,

what I’m saying is that repentance, or lack of repentance is a strong indication of where my heart is

If I’m quick to repent, seek forgiveness, and turn away from that which causes a rift in relationship,

it indicates that I have a heart which is towards Jesus. It is towards my brother or sister

No, I don’t claim perfection, and I probably will mess up in the same area again and cause pain in the same area again

But my heart is being trained by the Holy Spirit to turn away from the sin and turn back to relationship and unity

Repentance should bear fruit

But if I’m not quick to ask for forgiveness and I’m reluctant to turn away from the things which are causing pain

then, could we not say that the opposite is true

it also says something about my heart, doesn’t it?

it indicates that my heart is not towards Jesus or my brother or sister

rather, it is focused inward

And it says that the treasures of my heart are more important to me than

So, as we close this morning, again, I want to leave you with this question

Have you experienced the kindness of God? His forbearance? His patience?

Then let’s run toward Him in openness and repentance.

Let’s run towards each other in openness and repentance.

This is why I said to us last Sunday, “Fairview, we ALL need to repent”

It’s because

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In my experience, most professing Christians know they are supposed to repent. After all, we’ve heard the word for years. But many of us are not entirely sure what it actually looks like in real life, in a given situation, or with a particular sin.

Some people seem to think repentance means merely feeling bad about sin. For others, it means trying harder not to repeat the same mistakes. And for many sincere believers, the question lingers: If I keep struggling with the same sins, am I really repenting at all?

The Bible gives us an answer and a clearer, more hopeful picture. Repentance is not a one-time event at the beginning of the Christian life. It is an ongoing posture that marks a life that belongs to Christ.

Repentance Is a Turning, Not Just a Feeling

At its core, repentance means “turning away from sin.” It is a change of direction that begins in the heart and shows itself in our lives.

This is why repentance cannot be reduced to emotion. When we feel bad about our sin, that is remorse or regret, and this is not the same as repenting. Regret should accompany repentance, but it is not the essence of it.

Real repentance involves recognizing sin honestly, bringing it before God, and turning away from it. Even if that turning happens slowly and imperfectly.

Scripture describes this kind of repentance as leading to life (Acts 11:18). It is not meant to trap us in shame, but to redirect us toward God.

Repentance Becomes a Pattern Over Time

Some people seem to think that the only sure sign of spiritual growth is the absence of sin. This is manifestly untrue. If that were true, Jesus is the only person who has ever exhibited spiritual growth. Indeed, one of the clearest signs of spiritual growth is the presence of ongoing repentance.

As believers mature, they often become more aware of their sin, not less. But they also become quicker to respond. Instead of ignoring sin or excusing it, they confess it and bring it into the light. This enables them to turn from it.

This pattern matters. It shows that the heart is no longer comfortable remaining where it once was.

Again, the Christian life is about spiritual progress, not perfection. The question is not whether you still struggle. The question is whether you are returning to God in the midst of that struggle.

Repentance Involves Real Change

While repentance is not instant perfection, it does involve real change over time. Turning to God necessarily means turning away from something false gods and sinful patterns of thought and action.

This usually involves things like changing habits, setting boundaries, and seeking accountability. And to be clear, these steps are not about earning God’s favor. They are about cooperating with the work He is already doing in us.

Real repentance, therefore, is not passive. It takes sin seriously enough to pursue change, even when that change is gradual.

This is where many people get discouraged. They expect immediate victory and, when it doesn’t come, assume repentance has failed. But repentance is often a process. Each turn away from sin, however small, is part of that process.

Repentance Leads Back to God, Not Away from Him

One of the most important truths about repentance is that it always leads us back to God, not away from Him.

Think about it. When we sin, our instinct is often to withdraw. That’s human nature. We feel ashamed, and we distance ourselves from God until we feel worthy to return. But the gospel tells us something very different.

Because of Christ, we are invited to come back immediately. Confession is the pathway into deeper intimacy with God rather than a barrier keeping us from it.

The apostle John assures believers, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us… and to cleanse us” (1 Jn 1:9). That promise does not expire. It meets us every time we turn.

A Life Marked by Repentance

So what does real repentance look like? It looks like a life that keeps turning back to God. Again and again.

It looks like growing more and more honest about our sin, increasing our willingness to change, and deepening our trust in God’s grace. It looks like sharing our struggle with another person who can hold us accountable. It looks like refusing to settle, even while recognizing that growth takes time.

If that pattern is present in your life, take heart. That is not something you are producing on your own. It is the Spirit at work within you.

Pray this truth back to God today:

Lord, help me turn to You quickly and honestly. Give me a heart that takes sin seriously and grace even more seriously.

And if this perspective helps you, share it with someone else. Many believers quietly wonder whether their repentance is “real.” Sometimes they simply need to be reminded that God’s work in us unfolds over time, and that His aim has always been spiritual progress, not perfection.