Repentance

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. ”

Acts 3:19

"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'”

- Billy Graham

Repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute, and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. ... In repenting, one makes a complete change of direction (180° turn) toward God. 12 Repentance is about

obedience, submission, and

transformation to God.

“The doctrine of repentance as taught in the Bible is a call to persons to make a radical turn from one way of life to another. The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute, and

12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repentance

ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. It is a call to conversion from selflove, self-trust, and self-assertion to obedient trust and self-commitment to now live for God and his purposes.”13

Repentance is where we ask God to forgive our sins. We do this by praying to Jesus Christ (God Manifested in the Flesh).14 We acknowledge that we are sinful beings. We ask Jesus Christ to forgive all our sins (both of commission and omission). Then, we live our lives in a completely changed manner. We also work to restore or make restitution to those we have wronged.

What is Repentance?

✓ Acknowledging the sin. ✓ Confessing the sin. ✓ Asking forgiveness. ✓ Turning away from the sin. ✓ Restoring the wrong done.

We have all broken God’s law and sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10). Only appealing to His grace and forgiveness can absolve us of sin. God desires to forgive our sins and extend grace to a heart that repents. The scripture says He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). We have redemption through His blood, which forgives sins, and the richness of His grace (Ephesians 1:7).

“Apostle Paul gives us the difference between someone who is truly repentant of sin and someone who is just sorry they were caught. 2 Corinthians 7:8-13 explains this and lists seven signs of true repentance. Paul said there is a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow brings death and destruction, but Godly sorrow brings repentance and salvation (v. 10). Godly sorrow owns up to the sin and wants to repent of it to God and those it’s hurt, make it right, and make

13 Stagg, Frank. New Testament Theology. Broadman Press, 1962. ISBN 0-8054-1613-7, pp. 118-119 14 I Timothy 3:16.

steps to never do it again. A repentant heart chooses Christ because it knows how horrible the sin was against God and how horrible God’s justice against that sin will be.

So how do you know you or someone else has truly repented and honestly trying to get out of that sin? How can you begin to trust them again?

7 signs or fruits of repentance found in 2 Corinthians 7:11.

➢ First is earnestness. They are aggressively pursuing righteousness.

They are sincere about getting free from sin and aren’t justifying or arguing their case any longer. They are genuine and sincere about being more Christ-like. ➢ Second, they want to clear themselves.

This isn’t paying for their own sin; they don’t want to hide their sin, but have it removed at all costs. They are an open book about the sin and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure it is gone. ➢ Thirdly, is indignation -- anger at sin.

Their attitude toward sin is one of hate.

Sin isn’t wrong because they were found out or someone told them but because they know it hurt their relationship with God and God

Himself. They know sin is a real killer, as it killed Jesus on the cross. ➢ Fourthly, they have alarm or fear. Their eyes are open to keep from sinning again. They have set up boundaries and precautions. They have a holy fear of God’s wrath towards sin as well. The good news is Jesus satisfied God’s wrath on the cross and our sins can be forgiven. ➢ Fifthly, is a longing or desire to be in perfect relationship with God.

They want to have a rich, full, growing relationship with Jesus. They are quick to repent and look more and more like Christ in their character. ➢ Number six is zeal or passion to serve and live for Him.

Lastly, they desire to avenge sin. They know they can’t pay for their own sins, but they desire to make all wrongs right. These signs, Paul says, leads us to “being innocent in the matter” (end of verse 12). It isn’t pretending the sin never happened but resting in the blood, suffering, and cleansing work of Jesus death on the cross. Repentance also means living a life that hates and fights against sin to live zealously and purely for Christ.”15

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:39 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.”

15 Stephen Harrison. Associate pastor of Family Church at White Hall. July 12, 2013

CHAPTER THREE - LESSON ONE

1. Repentance is acknowledging the ______ . Then we must __________ the sin and ask __________. Additionally, we need to turn ______ from the sin. 2. Also, we should restore the ______ done. 3. We recognize 7 steps of Repentance. The first step of repentance is

___________ . 4. When we repent, we ______________ pursuing righteousness. 5. We are ________ about getting free from sin. We do not argue or justify. 6. The second step of repentance is that we want to ___________ . We also do not want _________________________________________. 7. Indignation is ______ at sin. Their attitude toward sin is __________ . 8. Sin isn’t wrong because we were _________. Sin is a real ______ . 9. To keep a repentant life, we set up ___________ and _________. 10. Fifthly, is a longing or desire to be in perfect relationship with God. They want to have a rich, full, growing relationship with Jesus. They are quick to repent and look more and more like Christ in their character. 11. ________, and be __________ in the name of ______ ______ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 12. For the _______ is to you and to your _________, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 13. to God. Repentance is about __________, _________ and _________