Alive in Christ Part 4

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

INTRODUCTION

Well good evening! In our study on Salvation,one of the basic reasons for studying about salvation is that salvation meets man’s needs.

And it is our responsibility as Christians to share the good news with all the people.

But, if we are to be effective in showing them how Christ can meet their needs, we must know what their needs are. Right?

Two things stand out in the Bible concerning the nature of man.

1.) Man’s sin

2.) Man’s condition

Sin is failing to live according to the Law of God, or else openly breaking the law.

Sin is more than disobedience. It is also the exalting of self and the belittling of God.

Now let’s understand this we know that when we do what we should not do, or do not do what we ought to do, or are what we should not be, or are not what we should be, we are guilt of sin.

Every person is a sinner in two ways.

1.) He is born into sin.

2.) He chooses to do sinful acts.

Adam’s sin has been charged to all people because he was the representative head of the human race.

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

When Adam fell, the human race fell and all the people inherited a sinful nature, which is responsible for attitudes of stubbornness and rebellion toward the law of God.

And people are responsible for their own sinful acts.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

So the result of people sins is separation from God and godly people.

Because of the sinful nature which resulted from the Fall, people are totally evil.

Every part of their nature has been affected: Their intellects, emotions and wills.

And because of this man completely incapable of saving themselves.

1 Cor 2:14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

People’s wills are bound in slavery to sin.

Rom 8:7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.

Rom 8:8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

So the only deliverance from this bondage to sin is God’s redeeming grace.

It is thrilling to know that people’s will are free to turn to God, to repent, and to believe.

Matt 3:2 "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "

Matt 18:3 Then He said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Act 2:38 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.

So what we see here is that sinful people are commanded to repent.

and if they were not free to respond to these commands, they would be without meaning, or real force.

So with the help of God, people can will and act according to God’s good purpose: repenting of their sins believing in Jesus and accepting His salvation.

Php 2:12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

Php 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Salvation through Christ is the only solution to people’s sin.

So we need to look at the definition for repentance>

Repentance- the experience in which one recognizes that he has sinned, feels sorry about his sins, turn from them, and gives them up completely.

For salvation to happen, man must respond to God’s offer. Man’s response begins with repentance.

This is what we must understand repentance produces change.

Repentance is the absolute condition of salvation.

A small boy defined repentance like this: “It is being sorry enough to quit.”

Repentance is like a coin, it has two sides.

It is the act in which one recognizes and turns from sin, confessing it to God.

It is more than just turning away from one’s sins, it means to leave them completely.

To repent means to turn back, change a course of action. In sense, repent indicates a change of mind or purpose.

In the New Testament we see examples of repentance that show clearly what this word “repentance” means:

Matt 21:28 "But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'

Matt 21:29 The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway.

Matt 21:30 Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go.

Matt 21:31 "Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first." Then Jesus explained His meaning: "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.

In this parable, the Father asked his older son to go and work in the vineyard. The son responded, I will not but later he changed his mind and went.

The Greek word translated changed his mind (repentance) also means “ to feel regret, experience a change of feelings, remorse.

This person has had a change of mind and heart. He has recognized his errors and shortcomings, is sincerely sorry for them and is willing to forsake them.

A person who repents will demonstrates a different attitude toward sin and God.

Repentance may also include a spirit of grief and a broken spirit.

Luke 18:13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'

You see, the spirit of grief.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

You see the brokenness.

Repentance includes a godly sorrow for sin.

2 Cor 7:8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while.

2 Cor 7:9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants His people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.

2 Cor 7:10 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.

2 Cor 7:11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

Repentance is not just feeling sorrowful about your sinful actions, to have true repentance there must be a turning away from sin.

Sorrow without a genuine change of mind and heart leads only to despair. But true repentance which is the godly sorrow that leads to salvation, and will alway involve a change of mind and heart.