Repentance:

Good morning, this morning we are going to be looking at the word Repentance, and why its important for us a christian’s to understand what Repentance is. this lesson is for us to understand that we all have sin and that we are all forgiven, but we really must understand what Repentance is.

What is Repentance?

Google definition: is sincere regret or remorse.

what does the Bible say about Repentance?

the Biblical definition could ranger from regret to change of mind or change of behavior.

lets go ahead and turn in our Bibles to Luke 5:31-32

Luke 5:31–32 NKJV

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

what do you get from these two verses here?

well for starters we can see that the church is not for the perfect but the sinners. to be honest it breaks my heart when i hear someone complain and say the church is full of hypocrites. the church is here for the sinner not for those who think they are perfect.

What are examples of Repentance:

now that we know the definition of Repentance let look at some examples see what we can get out of them. the first example will be Acts 14:8-15

Acts 14:8–15 NKJV

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

what are some things we can notice in this passage in Acts?

the first thing we can notice is that Paul tells the to Turn from, or turn away.

what was Paul telling them to turn from, and telling them to turn to who?

we should also take notice here about how Paul phrases this “The living God, and the fake gods”

another thing about Repentance that we need to really understand can be found in Gal 4:8-9

Galatians 4:8–9 NKJV

8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

in these two verse here we see that Paul is talking to the Galatians who struggle like most of humankind. what is something you can see here in these two verses?

the first is Paul ask is why do go back to things that are not real?

when comes to Repentance, we need to understand that as Christian’s that we cannot be going back and forth with sin. we need to chose are we going to change or are we not going to change.

Lets go ahead and turn in our Bibles to Rom 6:1-4

Romans 6:1–4 (NKJV)

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

from this these four verses in Rom, we see that Paul is talking about why we should not continue living in sin

we also see that if we are baptized are we not buried with Christ in his Death?

let go ahead to turn ahead Acts 26:19-20

Acts 26:19–20 NKJV

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

from this we understand that when it comes to Repentance we need to understand that its a change of mind and heart towards God, and his word.

Now lets turn to 2 Cor 7:8-11

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 NKJV

8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 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. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

these are the things we need to understand about Repentance.

we have to confront the sin

we have to admit it

we have to feel BAD about it (Notice how Paul talks about grieved

we have to let our grief motivate change

if we don’t, our grief leads to regret and despair

why must we Repent?

Lets turn in our Bibles to Luke 13:1-5

Luke 13:1–5 NKJV

1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Now then this one of the hard verse in the Bible because these words are words said by Jesus.

Unless you repent you will like wise perish

All Sin is the same, there is no standard.

Turn in your Bibles to Acts 2:37-41

Acts 2:37–41 NKJV

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

we are baptized then if we don’t repent our Baptism means nothing

which means if we do not repent and be Baptized, we will not be forgiven or inherit the holy spirit

So the right thing to do would be to repent, and be baptized so that we may received forgiveness, and the holy spirit.

Examples of Repents within in the Bible:

We have three great stories with in the Bible about Repentance.

In the Book of Luke so lets look at these stories:

turn your Bibles to Luke 15:1-7

Luke 15:1–7 NKJV

1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

what should we notice about this Parable is that God rejoices over that one sin who was lost and comes back

now if we continue in Luke 15:8-10

Luke 15:8–10 NKJV

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Now if we continue with Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11–32 NKJV

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

What are thing we can take

for those of who struggle and wish to come back they have journey, a spiritual journey because they it all depends on the sin who was involve in the sin who the sin had affect the person

Conclusion:

The only way i can close this off, now then walk of the stage and talk about the journey back, and talk about the foot magnetic