4 Repentance: how to deal with sin

4 REPENTANCE: HOW TO DEAL

WITH SIN

Summary

This is what we are going to learn

1. What we give ourselves to and feedour minds on, will end up becomingthe most important things to us.

2. We need to repent by turning fromour sinful, selfish ways, and turn toGod and go His way. He loves us,knows us and wants only the best forus.

3. We need to dethrone self in ourlives and offer ourselves up to God forHis ownership. Let Jesus be our Lord.

Think:

What is repentance—in your mind or heart, or in you actions?

How often should a believer repent?

Do we forgive all people whether they repent or not?

Give some Biblical examples of repentance.

1. KEY VERSES FOR UNDERSTANDING REPENTANCE

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins doesnot prosper, but the one whoconfesses and renounces them findsmercy.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithfuland just and will forgive us our sinsand purify us from allunrighteousness.

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on himwhile he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and theunrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercyon them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

2 Cor 7:10

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads tosalvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrowbrings death.

Acts 2:38–39

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Luke 15:7–10

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicingin heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and losesone. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and searchcarefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, shecalls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoicewith me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, Itell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels ofGod over one sinner who repents.”

Ezekiel 18:30–32

“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of youaccording to your own ways, declares theSovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all youroffenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31Rid yourselves of all the offenses you havecommitted, and get a new heart and a new spirit.Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I takeno pleasure in the death of anyone, declares theSovereign Lord. Repent and live!

2. INTRODUCTION

________________________________________________________________________

The Greek word translated‘repentance’ is ‘metanoia’ whichmeans to have another mind, or tochange course after further insight(Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15).

In order to become a Christian, or achild of God, the first step is to repent.

________________________________________________________________________

The Greek word translated‘repentance’ is ‘metanoia’ whichmeans to have another mind, or tochange course after further insight(Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15).

One of the Hebrew words translated‘repentance’ is ‘shub’ which means ‘toturn back’,

____________________________________

(1 Kings 8:47; Ezekiel 14:6).

One of the Hebrew words translated‘repentance’ is ‘shub’ which means ‘toturn back’,

____________________________________

(1 Kings 8:47; Ezekiel 14:6).

i.e. making a U turn in our experience

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________, or regretting something, but as wecan see, in Bible terms it has a moreprofound meaning than this. This isthe first part of being a disciple ofJesus.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________, or regretting something, but as wecan see, in Bible terms it has a moreprofound meaning than this. This isthe first part of being a disciple ofJesus.

Today, the word ‘repent’ has come tomean simply feeling sorry for what we

have done

3. MEMORY VERSES

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

1 John 1:9

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 John 1:9

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If we confess our sins, he is faithfuland just and will forgive us our sins

and purify us from allunrighteousness.

4. WHAT IS TRUEREPENTANCE?

IT IS A COMPLETE ABOUTTURN IN THOUGHT AND ACTION

____________________________________

There is a new perspective of the nature, awfulness and consequence of sin. There is a recognition that what we are in ourselves is deeply abhorrent to a holy God.

____________________________________

There is a new perspective of the nature, awfulness and consequence of sin. There is a recognition that what we are in ourselves is deeply abhorrent to a holy God.

4.1 We change our thinking

____________________________________

We turn to God from our disobedience, selfishness and rebellion. We turn away from sin and we submit our lives to God and make Jesus our Lord.

____________________________________

We turn to God from our disobedience, selfishness and rebellion. We turn away from sin and we submit our lives to God and make Jesus our Lord.

4.2 We change our actions

________________________________________________________________________

We have all sinned and so we all need to accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. On the cross Jesus paid the price for our sin and brought us back into a relationship with God, but we have to repent of our sins and then live with Jesus as our Lord. God can do no more, the rest is up to us.

________________________________________________________________________

We have all sinned and so we all need to accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. On the cross Jesus paid the price for our sin and brought us back into a relationship with God, but we have to repent of our sins and then live with Jesus as our Lord. God can do no more, the rest is up to us.

4.3. It is our responsibility torepent

5. THREE IMPORTANT PARTS OF REPENTANCE

____________________________________

Cognitive: involving consciousintellectual activity (as thinking,reasoning, or remembering)

This means very simply that

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________



________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.1 Repentance is cognitive

____________________________________



________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.1 Repentance is cognitive

there is something to beunderstood. Repentance involves

seeing our sin and its awfulness inthe eyes of a holy God.

God wants us to see our sin and tocompare it with His holiness.

God wants us to see where we standwith Him. He wants us to surrenderour lives into His hands and to allowthe Holy Spirit to show us thesethings, especially as we read the Wordof God.

____________________________________

Emotions include joy, sorrow, fear,hate etc.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.2 Repentance is emotional

____________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


If we really see our state before Godwe will have a powerful emotional

reaction (Isaiah 6:5)

____________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


If we really see our state before Godwe will have a powerful emotional

reaction (Isaiah 6:5)

It will involve a deep sense ofhaving wrongdoing against God and

regret (Psalm 51:9)

We will feel the weight of all that iswrong in our lives. This feeling canonly truly be removed when we comethrough to a place of receiving God’sforgiveness (2 Corinthians 7:9–10).Godly sorrow is part of the HolySpirit’s way of bringing us to theplace where we will receive the Wordof God for our lives.

____________________________________

Volitional means that it involves thewill, the choices we make.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.3 Repentance is volitional

____________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.3 Repentance is volitional

Repentance is a change of mind, ofheart, of purpose, in fact, the whole

direction of one’s life. It isconversion.

It is an ‘about turn’ and the start of awhole new life lived under the powerof God. The initiative for this act ofrepentance lies with God, in that Heshows us our need and our statebefore Him, but we must act upon thisrevelation (Romans 2:4). The choiceis ours!

6. THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

________________________________________________________________________

After we see our poor state in the presence of God’s holiness,

________________________________________________________________________

God gave us His only Son so that we might have forgiveness. It cost Him a lot, but that is how much He loves us (1 John 1:7–9).

________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________


Repentance does not stand alone – forgiveness is its spiritual twin

________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________


Repentance does not stand alone – forgiveness is its spiritual twin

we need to experience the greatness of God’s love and mercy.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ God will forgive us if we, at the same time, take Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

________________________________________________________________________

He wipes His memory of that sin clean.


________________________________________________________________________


There is only one way to rid ourselves of our sins and that is out

of the mouth, i.e. confess them.


________________________________________________________________________


There is only one way to rid ourselves of our sins and that is out

of the mouth, i.e. confess them.

When we do this God forgets that we ever sinned in the first place.

We no longer need to feel condemned or guilty, because God has accepted us.

‘‘Do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance.’’ (Romans 2:4)

________________________________________________________________________

Thomas Brooks said,

“The work of repentance is not the work of an hour, a day, a year, but the work of this life. A sincere penitent makes as much conscience of repenting daily as he doth of believing daily.”

________________________________________________________________________

Thomas Brooks said,

“The work of repentance is not the work of an hour, a day, a year, but the work of this life. A sincere penitent makes as much conscience of repenting daily as he doth of believing daily.”

Repentance is NOT a once only exercise:

Signs to know you have totally forgiven: RT Kendall suggests,

“The signs to know you have totally forgiven can be summarized this way:

(1) You do not tell anybody what they did to you (this would be trying to punish the one who hurt you);

(2) You do not try to intimidate them;

(3) You do not let them feel guilty;

(4) You let them save face;

(5) You accept the matter of total forgiveness as a "life sentence"—you have to keep doing it, indefinitely;

(6) You pray that they will be blessed and let off the hook.”

7. QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Can we truly repent if we don’t really know how God sees us and our lives and actions?

2.Why isn’t it good enough just to be sorry for our sins?

3. Will life be boring and dull when we repent, since we seemingly have to give up so much?

4. In practical terms, what will true repentance involve in our daily lives?

5. When we go God’s way instead of our own, what will rule in our hearts? (Colossians 3:15–17).

8. SUMMARY AND APPLICATION

1. What we give ourselves to and feed our minds on, will end up becoming the most important things to us.

2. We need to repent by turning from our sinful, selfish ways, and turn to God and go His way. He loves us, knows us and wants only the best for us.

3. We need to dethrone self in our lives and offer ourselves up to God for His ownership. Let Jesus be our Lord.

3. We need to dethrone self in our lives and offer ourselves up to God for His ownership. Let Jesus be our Lord.

Spiritual

4 Repentance: how to deal with sin