Repentance For Salvation
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REPENTANCE FOR SALVATION
(Soteriology : Doctrine Of Salvation)
SECTION 1: DEFINITION OF REPENTANCE
* Repentance means change of mind
1. Repentance Means A Changed Of Mind. It Does Not Mean Turn From Sin
a. God Change His Mind About Bringing The Evil To The People
Exodus 32:14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
b. God Changed His Mind That He Made Man On The Earth
Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
c. The Man Of Israel Made A Vow They Will Not Give Their Daughters To The Tribe Of Benjamin But They Changed Their Mind Later
Judges 21:1, 6-7 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7 How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
2. Three Categories of Repentance
a. Concering General: It Is Just A Change Of Mind Over Anything In General. It Has Nothing To Do With Their Sinful Nature.
Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
b. Concerning Sin: Change Of Mind About Sin
Revelation 2:21-22 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Matthew 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
c. Concerning Salvation: Change Of Mind About Our Sinful State, Turning To God
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
* Here they are as sinners who recognize their lost, sinful nature. They have a change of mind about that, and they now turn to Jesus Christ to believe and receive Him for their salvation.
* There is a change of mind from a lost sinner to a saved saint
SECTION 2: SALVATION AND REPENTANCE
1. Repentance For Salvation
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2. Two Types of Repentance Concerning Salvation:
a. Worldly Sorrow: Being Sorry For What We Have Done
* Worldly sorrow is when one feels sorry for what he has done.
b. Godly Sorrow: Being Sorry According To A Godly Manner Or God’s Way (Being Sorry For Who We Are)
* Godly sorrow is when one is sorry for what he is, not for what he has done. One can feel sorry for his sins, but it should be more than that. He should also be sorry for everything he is, being a lost sinner on his way to hell.
3. When One Realizes How Wicked He Is, He Will Repent In A Godly Manner
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
4. Men Recognizes Who They Are, How Wicked They Are, And That There Is No Other Solution. They Cannot Clean Up Their Own Life But They Can Put Their Faith In Jesus Christ And Ask Him To Save Them.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
SECTION 3: WRONG REPENTANCE FOR SALVATION
1. Repentance Is Not Sorrow: Its Not Solely Based On Tears
Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
* It does not matter how a person looks at his life or how long he cries.
* He will not be saved by doing that because it is not the right way to repent.
* Repentance towards God does not end there.
* People need faith in Lord Jesus Christ.
* They cannot earn their salvation through crying.
* It is sorrow that leads them to faith in Jesus Christ that will save them.
2. Repentance Is Not Penance: People Try To Pay Back Their Sins Through Good Works Or Shedding Blood
Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayeth him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
* Judas he did good works. He tried to make up for his wrong doings by giving back his money and hang himself
* He is counting on his on works
* The idea is conviction of sin
3. Its Not Just Believe On Christ
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
* Devils also believe in Jesus
4. Repentance Is Not Insincerity
Exodus 9:27-28, 34 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
* Notice that the Pharoah repented. It looks like it, but it seems like he is more concerned about the punishment or judgment, not about his sinful condition.
* There is no genuine sorrow here.
* Noticed verse 34:, when the hail and thunder stopped, he and his servants sinned even more.
a. When Men Have Repentance For Salvation, It Has Sincerity
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
* Attitudes of anger over sin
* Forsake or fear sin
* Desire to not sin
* Be more careful in what they do
5. Repentance Is Not Forsaking Specific Sins
2 Corinthians 12:19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
* Some Corinthians did not repent for their wicked sins, but Paul considered them as saved.
6. Repentance Is Not Sorry About What You've Done But For What You Are
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
* To compare our state to God's state
7. Repentance For Salvation Is In Childlike Simplicity
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
* It does not go into complicated specifics, such as wrong imaginations, lying, or stealing.
* Jesus Christ wants salvation to be like a simple-minded child.
8. The Devil’s Job Is To Complicate The Gospel
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
SECTION 4: IMPORTANCE OF REPENTANCE
1. Repentance Is Required Before One Believes In Christ For Salvation
Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
* If there is repentance involved, one can believe.
* How can a person believe or trust Christ to get rid of his sins if he does not recognize his sin problem?
2. Its Jesus First Preaching
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3. Its A Command By God
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
4. Repentance Is Before Forgiveness
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
5. Repent Before Converted
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
6. Without Repentance Is A Burning Hell
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
7. Its A Damnation, Destruction
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
8. In The First Book Written In The Bible, Job Mentioned Repentance.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
9. Solomon Mentioned Repentance During The Greatest Prosperity Of Israel’s Kingdom And At The Height Of Their Richness
1 Kings 8:47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
10. The Very First Message That John the Baptist Preached Was About Repentance
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
11. Jesus Preached On Repentance More Than Anybody Else In The Bible.
Matthew – Acts
12. Jesus Christ Commanded His Disciples To Include Repentance When He Sent Them Out To Preach During Their First Commission
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
13. In The Historical Change When The Gentiles Heard And Received Salvation, Peter Preached About Repentance
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
14. Paul Preached To New Testament Christians And Churches About Repentance
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
SECTION 5: NATURE OF REPENTANCE
1. Touches The Intellect Or Mind: A Change Of Mind From Seeing The Wretchedness Of Sin Into Desiring To Do What Is Right
Luke 15:17-18, 20 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Matthew 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
2. Touches The Emotions: A Change Of Mind Over One’s Sinful Condition That He Would Grieve Over Its Wretchedness And Be Sorry For It
Luke 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
2 Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
Luke 7:44, 47-48 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
3. Touches The Will: A Change Of Mind That One Would Act Upon It, Turn From Sin, And Turn To God
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
* It is a two-fold act that is an experience. Many people have reformed, but that is just turning away from sin. Regeneration is turning from sin and turning to God.
SECTION 6: PRODUCTION OF REPENTANCE
1. A Gift From God
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2. By The Conviction Power Of The Spirit
Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
* People get convicted and want to get saved when they hear the gospel.
3. Through God's Goodness: The Goodness Of God Upon A Sinner
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
* God is so good that a person will feel bad and become aware of his sinful condition. He knows that God is blessing him over and over again. He knows that there has to be a God, so he finally repents and gets saved.
4. Punishment From God: Chastisement Over Sins
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
* When people go through judgment and realize that they messed up, they repent and get things right with God.
SECTION 7: THE SIMPLE IDEA OF REPENTANCE FOR SALVATION
1. Repent By Being Sorry For Who We Are (A Lost Sinner On Our Way To Hell)
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
* Godly sorrow means being sorry according to a Godly manner (to be sorry for who we are)
* Repent by a change of mind realising we are nothing but a lost sinner on our way to hell and only through God's righteousness (Jesus finished work) can we be saved
2. Repentance Leads To Salvation: To Put Our Faith And Believe Wholly On The Finish Work Of Christ That Only He Can Save Us From Going To Hell
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
3. Believe Whole Heartedly What God Has Done For Us: His Death Buriel Ressurection, His Blood Is The Only Thing That Can Wash Away Our Sins And Then Say It To God
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
4. How To Say It To God? (Believe Whole Heartedly Then Say It)
Dear God,
I repent as a sinner.
I believe Jesus is God.
Who died, buried and resurrected so His blood can wash away my sins.
So, I only trust in the blood alone to save me and not my good works.
Save me from Hell. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Note: Repeating this prayer is not what saves but by believing whole heartedly is what saves