Repentance

Intro- We have been talking all week so far about words. Words have meaning, words are important. We need to understand Bible words. Tonight we are going to be talking about one of the most important words in the entire Bible for us to understand.

If we fail to understand this word, we fail completely. If we fail to understand this word, we will never understand what it means to live for our king.

Tonight, we are going to be talking about the word, “Repentance”.

Repentance is essential for salvation, without it, we have no hope of heaven. Peter addressed this in a powerful way in the first ever Gospel message on the day of Pentecost.

Repent- to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness- Dictionary of Biblical Languages

to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness

-

Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages

Acts 2:38 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The first thing the lost were told to do was repent. If they were not willing to change their lives. They had no hope.

Can I just be blunt with you? If you are not willing to change your life, you are wasting your time.

What does repentance look like?

Sorrow for sin

Luke 18:13 ESV

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Confession of sin

Radical change

Consistent

What happens if I repent?

Rejoicing

Salvation

My preaching is more effective

People don’t care much about your words, until they see your life

Mark 5:20 ESV

And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.