2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
What does God want; does he want people to perish?
Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
How many choices are there?
Acts 17:30-31 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Is ignorance an excuse?
Repentance is seen in 3 ways: 1) Change of deeds, 2) change of attitude, 3) change of doctrine
1) Change of deeds
Acts 26:19-20 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
How can you tell if someone has repented? Smoking, lying, not pay taxes, sex before marriage, marrying a non-Christian, selfishness, drunk, forgiveness, evangelism, prayer and bible study, church attendance (job before church)
Is trying the same as repenting?
What repentance is not:
1. Trying to change without actually changing
2. Repentance is not just being sorry
3. Confession without change (Catholic confession box)
4. Repentance is not merely promising to change
5. Repentance is not merely praying or praying to change
The Greek means “to change one’s mind and/or purpose”
Can you repent of sins that you do not know are sins?
So do you need someone to study the bible with you and show you the way to be a disciple in order to repent?
2) Change of attitude
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
What is difference between Worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow? (When we sin we are not simply sorry we got caught or failed, we are sorry we have sinned against God.
What sort of attitude does a truly repentant person have?
Earnestness: showing deep sincerity or seriousness, a serious and intent mental state
Eagerness to clear yourselves: Intense desire, urgent desire or interest, impatiently longing
Indignation: Aroused anger, annoyance at one’s own sin,
Alarm: A sudden fear caused by the realization of danger
Longing: A strong persistent yearning or desire
Concern: To be of great interest or importance
Readiness to see justice done: Willingness to do something, the state of being fully prepared for something
At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent: proved that you are free from guilt or sin especially through lack of knowledge of evil
Eager, ready and longing to do what? (Confess sin, read bible, pray, share our faith, save the lost, get in to bible studies, devotion to God’s church and his people)
A burning passion to be completely pleasing to God and grateful when people bring up any sin they see in your life, not defensive.
What does it mean to have proved yourself at every point?
Mark 9:42-43 :And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.
How radical must we be with sin?
3) Change of doctrine
Romans 10:1-14 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Who written to ? Brothers, the Christians in the church in Rome?
What is the issue? Talking about the Jews, Zealous, but their Knowledge was wrong. Sought to establish salvation by a different doctrine.
What was their false doctrine? Did not believe Jesus was God in the flesh. Were not willing to make “Jesus as lord”
This passage is not as some misuse today to say that simply “saying a prayer” without true repentance = Salvation
1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers
False doctrine will lead you to being lost as surely as a wrong life.
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,
What happens after you repent according to this verse? Therefore is repentance a bad this to do?
Acts 2:36-41 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 7When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
What does it mean to be cut to the heart? What do you need to do now?
If you get baptized without first repenting, will you have your sins forgiven?
Repentance involves three things
1, A decision that leads to a radical behavior change
2. Godly sorrow that makes you eager, not reluctant to do God’s will
3. A Godly, radical attitude towards sin