Repentance and the Kingdom of God

Pastor E. Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture: Mark 1:1-15

I. Point #1: Repentance is an essential element of the Gospel message

A. John preached a baptism of repentance

B. Jesus preached a message of repentance

C. A Gospel without a message of repentance is not a gospel of salvation

II. Question: What is repentance?

A. Definition: Repentance (Strong’s #3340 μετανοέω/Metanoeo)

1. “to change one’s mind”

2. “to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins.” [1]

B. Repentance is more than turning away from what is wrong. It also involves embracing what is right.

III. Types of False Repentance

A. “Quick Fix”: This type of false repentance seeks to ease the guilt of sin without a true determination to cease from sin.

B. “Pity Me”: This type of false repentance seeks pity from others by shifting the blame of sin to the influence and pressure of other people and/or circumstances.

C. “Whoops!”: This type of false repentance comes only as the result of being exposed or “caught” in sin. Although regret may seem genuine at first, the remorse is the result of the consequences of being caught rather than by remorse for the sin itself.

D. “What about?”: This type of false repentance only expresses repentance only if everyone else repents also. Instead of dealing with their own sin before God, they feel unfairly singled out.

E. “Let’s get on with it!”: This type of false repentance is focused on negotiating the restoration process. They are irritated by the inconveniences that sin has brought into their life.

F. “Who are you to judge?”: This type of false repentance discounts the severity of their own sin by comparing their sin to the sin of others.

G. “Learned lots!”: This type of false repentance glories in testifying of deliverance form past lifestyles of sin. They fail to reflect the shame and dishonor that their sin has brought upon themselves, others, and God.

IV. Characteristics of True Repentance

A. Has no desire to continue in sin

B. Feels sorry for its sin and not for itself

C. Makes no excuses for sin

D. Is willing to confess sin

E. Is grateful to God when its sin is exposed

F. Does not compare its sin with the sin of others

G. Is awed by the mercy of God to forgive

H. Does not seek to negotiate its restoration process

I. Sees no glory, good, or advantage gained by sin

J. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

V. Point #2: Repentance is essential to the remission of sin

A. As 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 makes clear, there is a repentance that leads to salvation. Therefore false repentance does not meet God’s requirement.

B. John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sin

C. Remission is the forgiveness or pardon of sin as though they had never been committed.

D. Through remission, Satan’s claim on our lives is made null and void

VI. Point #3: Repentance is essential to prepare our heart to embrace God’s will for our life (Luke 3:5)

A. Gets rid of the pride (The mountains brought low)

B. Gets rid of false humility (The valleys filled)

C. Gets rid of deceit and lying (The crooked places made straight)

D. Gets rid of the offenses (The rough places smooth)

VII. Point #4: Repentance is essential to enter the kingdom of God

A. The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God in our lives

B. We will never submit to Christ’s Lordship in our lives until we are willing to relinquish all personal control of our life

VIII. What shall we do? Repent and believe in the gospel!

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[1]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G3340). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.