Repentance leads to Blessing

Repentance seems to be the beginning that many skip on the road to blessing

Luke 5:32 ESV

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Doctrine- # VIII. Repentance

8. We believe that repentance, which is a sincere and thorough change of the mind in regard to sin, involving a sense of personal guilt and a voluntary turning away from sin, is demanded of all who have by act or purpose become sinners against God. The Spirit of God gives to all who will repent the gracious help of penitence of heart and hope of mercy, that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual life.

1 (2013). Church of the Nazarene: Manual, 2013–2017 (p. 31). Nazarene Publishing House.

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”

Luke 3:1–8a (ESV)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.

The beginning of the ministry of John, son of Zechariah the priest as he was in the wilderness was to begin the call anew for repentance.

Matthew 3:1–2 (ESV)

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Once John’s ministry was curtailed as Jesus’ ministry began, the Son of Man, our Lord gave the call,

Mark 1:14–15 ESV

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Repentance is precious, a chance to turn to God’s favor

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”

What is repentance?

When or where should we repent?

Repentance -

Minor meaning: Regret; be sorry; console onself; comfort

Major meaning: Turn back, return

Repentance - “metanoia” μετάνοια

“ metanoia, a change of the mind that is reflected in repentance. We have to be raised from spiritual deadness.”

Sproul, R. C. (2014). What Is Repentance? (First edition, Vol. 18, p. 34). Reformation Trust; Ligonier Ministries.

can mean to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change...

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”

Repentance is NOT:

an emotional response

penitence

remorse

Luke 15:7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Romans 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”

In New Hampshire in 2009, a burglar was apologetic when caught in the act of looting a home, but apparently not remorseful enough to turn himself in. Police said the owner of the house pulled into his driveway just as a thief was exiting the house carrying jewelry and electronic items. When confronted, the burglar apologized and then put the stolen items back inside. The homeowner tried to detain the man by engaging him in conversation, but the suspect escaped before police arrived.Repentance is more than feeling guilty for sins—it is turning from them.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell 134

We who proclaim to have Christ-filled lives (Christ-ians) look forward to:

Atonement

Confession

Conviction

Justification

Redemption

Forgiveness

Restitution

Sanctification

But none of these are possible with Repentance. For without repentance, we only have HOPELESSNESS, and DISOBEDIENCE.

Blessing from God comes to those who repent

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”

What do we mean by this Blessing?

God’s blessing is much much more than:

Prosperity

Long life

family and comfort

Personal promotion

God’s blessing comes even through trials (Daniel 3:16-18) but God’s requirement for our repentance is now.

Nowhere in the Bible is a ‘person’ told to wait; God is commanding you now to repent

2 Cor 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

So what is the blessing?

Faith

Mercy

Atonement

Justification

Redemption

Forgiveness

Obedience

Salvation

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”

The world of sin and sickness can be overcome by faith and repentance towards blessing.

What Is Repentance? Chapter Three: A Model of Repentance

The ideas of forgiveness and cleansing are related, but they are not the same thing. In the New Testament, the Apostle John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). In a spirit of repentance, we go before God and confess our sins, asking not only for the pardon, but also for the strength to refrain from doing that sin anymore. As David does in this psalm, we ask that our inclination to wickedness be eliminated.

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”

Ezekiel 18:21-23 ““But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”

Repentance seems to be the beginning that many skip on the road to blessing

Blessing is not an obligation, neither is faith guaranteed by human striving. All is only a gift from God.

A quote from A.W. Pink says “Repentance is the hand releasing those filthy objects it had previously clung to so tenaciously; faith is extending an empty hand to God to receive His gift of grace.”

James 4:7-10 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

I say “Repentance leads to blessing” = Church says “Why wait, when Jesus is calling?”