REPENT

Step out to envision a picture with me as I share a story with you. A story about a small congregation of 50 or so people in a rural community. They had one of those “antique” style churches with a bell tower and gracefully arched windows. The kind that is over a hundred years old.

That little building had been neglected over the years, and its paint was chipping off exposing bare woods. It had been in this condition for quite some time, beaten down by the elements. Many a pastor of the congregation had tried to get the church board to float some cash to cover the expense to paint, but the board always said no.

The church had a new pastor, a spitfire kind of guy, that really wanted to fix the place up. New people were starting to come to the church, so he pressured the board into realizing the need to paint the building. The board begrudgingly created a budget to do so, hoping the new paint would bring in more people and more money.

So, they hired one of their own to paint, but then they cut back the budget for paint and said get it done. The only way the painter could carry out the task was to water down the paint. So he scraped and painted the building and it was gleaming white and looked amazing!

Everyone seemed to be thrilled, so they decided the following Sunday they would create a huge potluck meal and invite everyone in the community to come celebrate. They took out an ad in the paper, used social media, posted flyers around their small community to join them the next Sunday. The Pastor prepared a special message and the ladies got to cooking a lot of food!

On Friday night a massive rain storm moved into town. It dropped more rain than they had seen in decades at this one time. It was so bad, everyone was stuck in their homes all day on Saturday. But Sunday came, and the sun was shining bright.

Everyone woke up, got their best clothes on, did final preparations on their food and seemed to arrive at the church all at the same time. As they opened their car doors and walked toward the church you could here a pin drop as jaws were opened, and eyes stared wide.

THERE WADS NO PAINT LEFT ON THE BUILDING!!! It had all washed off in the rain leaving bare wood and large white puddles pooling around the foundation. Over half the town had shown up for the celebration and faces were aghast, tears were shed as people shuffled into the building.

The pastor disappeared to his study while the music struck up, hymns and choruses were sung, and people tried to make the best of it, after all, over a hundred guests from their small town had come out to join them. Just about the time the offering finished the Pastor came out of his study, with a new sermon in hand. He walked out to the pulpit and proclaimed the title of his message:

REPAINT, and THIN NO MORE!

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Well, the story is fictional, but the reality identifiable.

What does watered down REPENTANCE look like????

I would think it would be repentance without change of behavior or choices. Continuing to sin and partake of those things repented of — which is not true repentance, but being sorry you felt caught! How many times have we seen this in people, they supposedly repent, but it is watered down, and soon the bare hearts are exposed to reveal the broken down, old ways that the momentary repentance hid.

The women who was caught in adultery, that her accusers all walked away after Jesus wrote in the sand, was told by Christ...

John 8:11 NLT

11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

I learned something this week. People who do not want to change their behavior don’t like the word REPENT!

In fact, I had a family member comment on a post my wife wrote - a meme - posted and above she said something about repenting.

That family member - who I love dearly, but chose to walk away from faith in Christ as a teenager and has never returned… commented. “I hate the word REPENT, its too harsh!

It made me realize how much those who refuse to repent are offended by a word that brings such amazing victory into the life of the believer!

1. What does REPENT mean???

Let’s start off by understanding what it means to repent. We must have a solid foundation of what the word means.

The word repent or repentance occurs in the NT 58 times over 54 verse in the NKJV.

A. SCRIPTURAL USE OF THE WORD...

We are most familiar with its use by John the Baptist

Mark 1:4 NLT

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

Luke 13:3 NLT

3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

Jesus is speaking about a current event where Pilate was murdering people for offering sacrifices to God - but He spoke to the people that unless they repented of sin they would perish.

We are commanded to preach repentance for sin to be forgiven.

Luke 24:47 NLT

47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

acts 24.47

The Apostles proclaimed repentance from the Day of Pentecost forward...

Acts 2:38 NLT

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 NLT

19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

Paul spoke in

2 Corinthians 7:9 NKJV

9 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.

Peter wrote about God’s patience giving people time to repent and be saved!

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Scripture also says that REPENTANCE of a SINNER is so amazing the angels rejoice!

Luke 15:7 NLT

7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

From Scripture we can clearly see that without REPENTANCE there is no forgiveness of sin! It is what ushers in SALVATION.

It is not just believing in GOD or JESUS, but believing in HIS PLAN OF SALVATION which we partake of by repenting.

B. DEFINITION OF THE WORD

Free Dictionary says:

re·pent 1

(rĭ-pĕnt′)v. re·pent·ed, re·pent·ing, re·pentsv.intr.1. To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite...2. To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it:

re•pent1

(rɪˈpɛnt)

v.i.1. to feel regretful or contrite for past conduct: to repent of an act.2. to be penitent for one's sins and seek to change one's life for the better.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Repentance

repentance. The acknowledgement and condemnation of one’s own sins, coupled with a turning to God. True repentance or *contrition (as contrasted with mere *attrition) springs from love of God whom human sin rejects or offends. It includes sorrow for sin committed, confession of guilt, and the purpose of amendment.

So,

Repentance is...

acknowledging sin

sorrow for sin

turning to God and away from sin

amending sin by changing behavior

That being said, I can see where the non contrite heart would despise the word - REPENT.

To them it bears a negative connotation.

2. Negative Side to the Word Repent

Ok, let’s look why this would be so negative.

Remember, it is only negative if one wants to reject the notion of repenting!!!!

A. REJECTING PUTS US AT ODDS WITH KINGDOM OF GOD

2 Corinthians 2:14 NLT

14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 NLT

14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

You have heard me share this illustration where our lives convict others of sin. To those who repent or SURRENDER they come into the Kingdom of God and receive all its benefits - it is amazing. To those who refuse to surrender to the Kingdom of God it is the reminder of death and punishment that await them.

Yes, Jesus made it clear that without repentance, there is not forgiveness of sins!!!

In fact, Jesus denounced those who rejected the truth He brought and refused to repent of their sins and turn to God!

Matthew 11:20 NLT

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.

and Paul reminds us that sorrow without repentance leads to spiritual death...

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

ANOTHER WORDS - HELL AWAITS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO REPENT!

NOBODY WANTS TO BE REMINDED THAT THEIR LIVES ARE HEADED FOR HELL!!!

WITHOUT REPENTANCE THAT IS THE REALITY!!!

Jesus spoke more about hell than heaven, so don’t tell me there is not a reality we must acknowledge.

Jude 22–23 KJV 1900

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

There is a place where reminding people that there is a down side to the HOPE OF SALVATION - if it is rejected it negates the death of Christ for our sins because we REJECT HIS PLAN...

His plan of salvation requires us to come repenting!

Romans 6:23 NLT

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

This Scripture which we will make known Halloween night on the streets of Fort Lupton is a reality… we want to share the need to come to repentance and receive forgiveness --- nobody wants to go to hell! and hell is no party!!!

If we reject the purpose of repentance it is a HARSH WORD --- it reminds us of our stubbornness to receive God’s promise on God’s terms!

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B. CHANGING BEHAVIOR AND DESTRUCTION

Some of the men in the church are going through a devotional with me right now on PURITY.

This week we were challenged on Friday about how far we should go to remove temptation to our weaknesses in life.

Jesus is teaching in:

Matthew 5:29–30 NLT

29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

It is referring to the reality it is better to be maimed than go to hell!!!

SEEMS HARSH — than you don’t have a true picture of hell!

In Italy I was amazed at several works of art depicting the torment of hell. Many in the day these paintings were made could not read Scripture, but they saw the paintings and understood the meaning. They were to create a visual of the pain and destruction and consumption by evil that many choose over obedience to Christ and following the Lord’s plan of salvation.

That is why CHRIST HIMSELF said - it is better to cut off those things that cause you to stumble than to burn in hell.

NOW,

Before people cut off limbs, eyes, castrate themselves, or make themselves blind...

Think with me for a minute...

Stop going to places that tempt us to sin

Stop viewing things on TV, MOVIES, the COMPUTER that lead us into lust

Stop hanging out with friends that are negative influences in our lives

ETC, ETC, ETC

What is it that brings you into temptation --- CUT IT OFF!!!

If we have repented of sin, and we have not watered down our repentance - we will turn away from those things that lead us back to sin, and bare our lives to the destruction of sin again!

3. The Greateness of the Word REPENT

Remember the verse in 2 Cor --- the aroma of life!!!

For those who surrender to God’s plan through repentance this word SPEAKS LIFE AND ABUNDANCE!!!

ABSOLUTE FORGIVENESS --- having your sins wiped away!!!! All wrong done from your past is removed and no longer held against you!!!! The debt is cancelled!!!

Acts 3:19 NLT

19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

Hebrews 8:12 NLT

12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

MERCY — instead of punishment and hell is hope and heaven, inclusion in the family of God, joint heirs with Christ to inherit all the blessings of a child of GOD!!!

Not because we earned it or deserve it - but because we received Christ gift of forgiveness when we repented!

1 Peter 2:10 NLT

10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Luke 1:50 NLT

50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.

HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE - to not have life end with torment but continue without pain or suffering - no tears, no more death, etc. To live forever in heaven, a place of perfection in the very presence of God

John 10:27–28 NLT

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,

matt

Matthew 25:46 NLT

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

1 John 2:24–25 NLT

24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

VICTORY over bondage and those things which bring us fear and defeat. Knowing that we WIN WITH CHRIST!!!

1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT

57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4 NLT

4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

1 John 3:9 NLT

9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

FREE FROM CONDEMNATION

Romans 8:1 NLT

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:32 NLT

32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

The shame and embarrassment of our sin is no longer upon us, He has removed that shame from our lives - we are His children!!! Not condemned, but forgiven!!!

CONCLUSION

TRUE REST COMES FROM REPENTANCE...

Hebrews 4:9 NLT

9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

You see, our sin, our stubbornness keeps us trying to find absolution, perfection, innocence when sin condemns our heart and causes us to be weighted down and burdened --- our spirit finds NO REST...

We become worn out and tired trying to achieve a place we cannot find without repentance ....

We live in the harshness of the word repent instead of in the blessing of the word repent.. which wears down our soul and spirit.

We can either be weary and heavy laden by the burden of our sin and guilt or experience

the greatest LOVE, JOY, PEACE

FORGIVENESS, MERCY, ETERNAL LIFE, HOPE, VICTORY, ETERNAL LIFE and which all bring TRUE REST!!!