Reflections On Repentance

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                          "REFLECTIONS"

                          On Repentance

INTRODUCTION

1. Our seventh lesson in this series entitled "Reflections"...
   a. Devoted to simple meditations on various themes
   b. So far we have covered the Bible, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit,
      Sin, and the Gospel

2. The scriptural justification for such reflections is Php 4:8...
   a. In which Paul concludes by saying "...meditate on these things"
      (NKJV)
   b. The NLT says "Think about things that are excellent and worthy of
      praise"

3. In our previous reflections on the Gospel, we observed that it
   contains...
   a. Facts to believe
   b. Commands to obey
   c. Promises to receive

[One of the commands is the need to repent.  Repentance is not often
stressed today, but is certainly worthy of our reflection.  Let's begin
with some...]

I. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

   A. JESUS WANTS PEOPLE TO REPENT...
      1. During His earthly ministry - Mt 4:17
      2. To be preached in His name to all nations - Lk 24:46-47
      3. When His disciples lose their love and zeal - Re 2:4-5; 3:15-19
      -- Whether alien sinner or erring Christian, Jesus wants us to
         repent!

   B. PETER COMMANDED PEOPLE TO REPENT...
      1. In preaching to the lost - Ac 2:38; 3:19
      2. In exhorting the erring Christian - Ac 8:22
      -- Whether alien sinner or erring Christian, repentance is called
         for!

   C. PAUL COMMANDED PEOPLE TO REPENT...
      1. For God commands all men everywhere to repent - Ac 17:30
      2. For the goodness of God ought to lead one to repent - Ro 2:4
      -- In view of God's coming judgment and His present goodness, we
         should repent!

[Both Jesus and His apostles call upon all people to repent.  What,
exactly, are they commanding us to do?  Let's continue with some...]

II. REFLECTIONS ON REPENTANCE

   A. REPENTANCE PROPERLY DEFINED...
      1. Some misconceptions of repentance
         a. That repentance is simply being sorry
         b. That repentance is a changed life - cf. Ac 3:19 ("repent and
            be converted")
      2. A proper concept of repentance
         a. "change of mind; involves both a turning from sin and a
            turning to God" - Vine
         b. I.e., a change of mind in which we decide to turn from sin
            and turn to God
      -- Repentance is a decision, preceded by sorrow and followed by a
         changed life

   B. REPENTANCE PROPERLY PRODUCED...
      1. Repentance is produced by sorrow - 2Co 7:9
         a. Sorrow leads to repentance
         b. Sorrow itself is not repentance
      2. Repentance is produced by godly sorrow - 2Co 7:9-10
         a. Godly sorrow leads one to repentance, not worldly sorrow
         b. Godly sorrow is that directed toward God, sorrow because one
            has sinned against a holy, loving God, not because one got
            'caught' (cf. David's attitude) - Psa 51:4
      -- The right kind of sorrow produces the proper change of mind,
         leading to salvation

   C. REPENTANCE PROPERLY MANIFESTED...
      1. True repentance will manifest itself in a changed life - 2Co
         7:11
         a. Such as diligence, clearing of one's self, indignation, fear
         b. Such as vehement desire, zeal, vindication
      2. True repentance will produce works befitting repentance - Ac
         26:20
         a. Such as confessing Jesus, and being baptized into Christ
            - Ac 8:36-38
         b. Such as walking in works that God has ordained for those in
            Christ - Ep 2:10
      -- Apathy, halfhearted service, is not indicative of true
         repentance!

CONCLUSION

1. Thus we see that repentance is a decision of the mind...
   a. In which we decided to turn from our sins and live for God
   b. Preceded by godly sorrow for our sins and followed by a changed
      life

2. For the person who is not yet a Christian...
   a. It is prompted by faith in Jesus Christ - cf. Ac 2:36-37
   b. It is joined together with baptism for the remission of sins - cf.
      Ac 2:38

3. For the person who is an erring Christian...
   a. It is needed whenever we become slack in our service - cf. Re
      3:15-19
   b. It is joined together with prayer and confession of sin - cf. Ac
      8:22; 1Jn 1:9

4. Are you willing to do "works befitting repentance"...?
   a. Not works done to earn or merit remission of sins
   b. But acts of faith done to receive God's grace and mercy through
      the blood of Christ

Has the goodness of God led you to repent...?

   Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance,
   and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God
   leads you to repentance? - Ro 2:4
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