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REPENTANCE 1`
Turn Away or Turn Around?
INTRODUCTION
Whether ignorantly or willfully, all of us, at one point, have rejected Christ. Every person without Jesus stands in a position of rebellion against God's authority. Because of his sinful nature, man is set on living his life apart from the Lord.
ROMANS 8:7
...the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
There is a need, then, for sinful man to repent.
This is why Jesus came preaching repentance for all.
MATTHEW 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach,“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. ”
REPENTANCE IS NOT JUST...
... an INTELECTUAL KNOWLEDGE
It is not merely knowing the truth. Having knowledge of the truth does not guarantee a changed life in Christ.
... an EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
It is not just being sorry for your sin. Feeling sorry can lead to a sense of personal guilt, but not necessarily to a life of faith in Jesus.
... a VOLITIONAL ACT
It is definitely not about behavioral reformation. A change of behavior is certainly the result of repentance, but apart from the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the mind and heart of the sinner, there can be no true repentance.
WHAT REPENTANCE IS
Repentance in the Bible means the changing of one’s mind about Jesus Christ which causes him to turn from sin and turn to God in faith. It affects the repentant sinner — intellectually, emotionally and behaviorally.
He changes his mind from rejecting Jesus into believing in Him as Lord and Savior.
ACTS 2:36, 38a
Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
His heart sorrows over his sin and recognizes it as offensive to the Holy God.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:10a
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret,
His repentance then will inevitably cause him to change his ways.
ACTS 26:20b
l preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
Biblical repentance, then, involves the total person — mind heart and will.
REPENTANCE AND FAITH
ACTS 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Repentance leads us to turning from sin while faith deals with our turning to God. Repentance and faith are two concepts distinct from each other. But in relation to our conversion, they are intimately connected. We cannot live a life of faith in Jesus Christ without first changing our minds or repenting about who He really is and what He has done to save us from our sin. Repentance and faith cannot be separated.
CONCLUSION
Everyone outside of Jesus, finds himself in a path that is headed away from God. Going into this direction leads one farther away from the Lord and will eventually bring him to an eternity of being separated from Christ.
When he repents, he makes a 180 degree turn. This “turning away” is the changing of our mind resulting in our forsaking of sin and living a life of faith in God and obedience to His will. It is not a “turning around” for that will make a 360 degree turn which puts us back to our old sinful ways. In other words, our repentance should give evidence of a changed life — one in which Jesus is truly Lord.
MATTHEW 3:8
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
QUESTIONS:
Are there changes in your life now that you have repented and turned to faith in Jesus?
Are there still certain sins or bondages you are struggling with at present that you need
prayer for?
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