Genuine Repentance

Genuine Repentance Genesis 44 February 18, 2018 • Joseph could not know everything about these men, but he knew plenty. Part of his strategy was to convince them he knew all. The Lord is not pretending or playing a game with us. There is nothing that is hidden from Him. [1 Cor. 4:5] • Repentance is so much more than simple regret. Repentance will be proven by deeds that match the declared change of mind and heart. The Big Idea: It’s hard not to root for the brothers of Joseph to be reconciled with Acts 26:20 says, “but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. the one they rejected. But, reconciliation is never possible until there is repentance. In a similar way, I will never be reconciled to God until I repent of my sin and of rejecting God’s Son. An Overview of Genesis 44 ü 44:1-5 ü 44:6-13 The brothers respond in solidarity with the young brother in trouble. There is an obvious difference in their thinking and behavior over how they treated Joseph when he was 17. • REPENTANCE defined: “Repentance is the recognition of our sins which results in the kind of sorrow that brings about a change in our intellect, emotions, and will. In other words, repentance recognizes sin and is genuinely sorry for it, so much so that this sin will be shunned and a new course of action will be sought.” – Bob Deffinbaugh • Repentance is necessary for salvation. Joseph sets a trap: “Have my brothers hearts changed?” Why does Joseph go to such lengths before he reveals himself? He desires full reconciliation as a family. ü 44:14-23 A repentant man pours out his heart. ü 44:24-34 Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin – a new attitude is accompanied by new actions. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) “ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV) “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” • But, repentance is to be a daily, even hourly experience, as we continually reject the way of sin and turn to follow Jesus as our Lord. Repentance is not only a turning from, it is a turning to! o The question for a spiritually lost person who wants to be a Christian is, “Have you repented?” o The question for the Christian is, “When did you last repent?” Biblical Lessons We Need to Learn: • A sense of guilt from old sin is a precious gift of the Holy Spirit’s work in our life. It is a sign that our conscience is not seared and that we still have a chance to repent and be forgiven. • Until we have a proper sense of what God says is right and wrong, we will not see our sin and need to repent. • God will use anything necessary, including “unfair” events to bring us to a breaking point, where we are ready to throw ourselves on His mercy. “We will always be able to find points with which to defend ourselves. However, if we have been wrong, we have been wrong. We should not concentrate at that moment on what we’ve done right, but on our sins and mistakes. God always honors that approach.” -- Gene Getz www.crossrdschurch.com