What
Is Repentance?
James R. Davis
How does radical change occur? A person cannot
experience true and enduring change of life direction without repentance.
Josh Billings says that most people repent of their sins by "thanking God
they ain't so wicked as their neighbors."
Just deciding to make a change is seldom sufficient--as
anyone who has tried to break a simple habit can testify. We must be willing
to accept the truth about ourselves. Once we accept the truth about ourselves,
repentance is a doorway to becoming what God is calling us to be. It is
the doorway to true change. Repentance almost always involves painful personal
insights. The impulse to repent comes from God, but we must determine as
an act of the will to see the new reality He reveals to us.
Several years ago a prominent underworld figure
became a Christian. The man supposedly accepted the Lord, but as the months
passed his lifestyle remained the same. When confronted with this fact,
the gangster said that no one had told him that in saying yes to Jesus
he would be turning his back on his former life. After all, he reasoned,
there were Christian football players, Christian cowboys, Christian politicians--why
not a Christian gangster? Only then did they explain the need for repentance.
Upon hearing this, the man wanted nothing more to do with Christianity.
John Calvin said, "Let everyone search himself
and he will find that he labors under this evil--that he would rather rend
his garment than his heart." How true! Calvin was thinking of that time
when God brought His people Israel to repentance by sending a vast army
of locusts to invade the land. All vegetation was consumed. Fruit trees
and gardens were stripped bare. Both man and animals languished under the
effects of this widespread devastation. The prophet Joel seized the occasion
to call Israel to repentance, to "rend your heart, and not your garments."
According to the record, they heeded his warning and turned from their
sin (Joel 3:18-19).
Acts 17:30
In the past God overlooked
such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (NIV)
I. The Importance of Repentance
A. "What should our attitude and posture be
as we approach God--repentance or celebration? Jeremiah tells us that those
who come into God's presence will do so with tambourines and dancing (31:4),
but notice what Jeremiah says next: They shall come up to Zion with weeping
and supplication (31:9). The fact is, as we approach God's awesome presence,
we need a great capacity to do both: to leap with unspeakable joy, and
to weep in agonizing prayers of supplication and repentance." --Gerrit
Gustafson (in Worship Today, Sep/Oct 1993)
1. J. W. McGarvey, said that if God were giving
special miraculous gifts today, he would not ask for the gift of healing,
or prophecy, or tongues. Rather, he said, he would ask for the power, above
everything else, to cause men to repent. The difficulty is to induce men
to repent. If we had the power to induce men to repent, it would be the
greatest power
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began
to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (NIV)
2. When Jesus was bidding farewell, or about
to bid farewell, to Galilee, where the most of His might works were done,
he upbraided the cities whose people had heard Him most, it was not because
they did not believe; it was not because they refused to be baptized by
John; but it was because they did not repent. With all the tremendous efforts
that He had put forth to bring them to repentance, He had failed.
Matthew 11:20-25
Then Jesus began to denounce
the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they
did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles
that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would
have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will
be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go
down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been
performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you
that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for
you." At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,
and revealed them to little children. (NIV)
B. Without repentance there is no salvation.
It is important to know all about repentance. We need to know what repentance
is so that we may not be mistaken. It is important to know what repentance
is so that it might be brought about in our own lives. Repentance is one
thing that man does which affects heaven.
Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you,
there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
who repents." (NIV)
1. Repentance should be preached.
Luke 24:46-53
He told them, "This is what
is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name
to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city
until you have been clothed with power from on high." When he had led them
out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they
stayed continually at the temple, praising God. (NIV)
2. Repentance is a universal command. All
must turn from a life of sin to a life of righteousness if they wish to
be saved. Apostles preached repentance.
Acts 2:37-39
When 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." (NIV)
Acts 3:19-20
Repent, then, and turn to God,
so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from
the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--
even Jesus. (NIV)
Acts 17:30-31 In the past God
overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to
repent. For 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." (NIV)
C. Repentance not only for alien sinners.
"The sermon is the thunderbolt hurled from heaven to blast unrepentant
sinners but more so righteous saints." --Martin Luther (quoted in Leadership,
Wint 1994)
Luke 13:2-9
Jesus answered, "Do you think
that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because
they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too
will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell
on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living
in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard,
and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to
the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming
to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down!
Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone
for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears
fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" (NIV)
Matthew 3:7-12
But when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce
fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God
can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the
trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for repentance. But
after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am
not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor,
gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable
fire. (NIV)
Acts 8:18-24
When Simon saw that the Spirit
was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money
and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my
hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish
with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right
before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he
will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that
you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Then Simon answered, "Pray
to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me." (NIV)
I. What is Repentance.
A. What repentance is not? There is a lot
of misunderstanding concerning repentance. Some religious groups require
self-privation and torture themselves as they do penance. Some require
groanings and tears and outcries -- Mourners bench.
1. Repentance is not just being sorry for
sin.
a. Two boys who broke windshield of a fellow's
car. They were very arrogant about what they had done. The fellow told
them that he was going to call the sheriff. They changed their attitude.
They were very sorry. Sorrow of the world involved but there was no repentance.
b. Judas was sorrowful, but he never genuinely
repented.
Matthew 27:3
When Judas, who had betrayed
him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned
the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. (NIV)
2. Repentance not merely a conviction of sin.
Luke 15:17
"When he came to his senses,
he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here
I am starving to death! (NIV)
Acts 2:37
When the people heard this,
they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers,
what shall we do?" (NIV)
Acts 2:38
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. (NIV)
3. I have seen people visibly shaken, ashamed
of their sinful life, convicted! But they never become a Christian.
a. Saul's conviction.
1 Samuel 15:22-26
Why did you not obey the LORD?
Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?"
"But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned
me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.
The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was
devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin
of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have
rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." (NIV)
b. David
2 Samuel 12:12-14
You did it in secret, but I
will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" Then David said
to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD
has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing
this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son
born to you will die." (NIV)
Psalms 51:1-10
Have mercy on me, O God, according
to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my
transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For
I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you,
you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you
are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I
was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely
you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost
place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will
be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have
crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
(NIV)
4. Repentance is not just being afraid.
a. Fear is important.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Now all has been heard; here
is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for
this is the whole of man. (NIV)
Romans 3:18
"There is no fear of God before
their eyes." (NIV)
b. Felix trembled but never repented.
Acts 24:25
As Paul discoursed on righteousness,
self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's
enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for
you." (NIV)
5. Repentance is not reformation.
a. Men stop drinking because of a liver disease.
Stop stealing -- law clamping down. Stop immorality - fear of disease.
b. One may stop stealing but keep lying. This
is not repentance. Many times we think since we have broken off one sin,
then we have repented. It is not a piece meal proposition. It will do no
good to cut off a limb on a tree when the whole tree needs to be cut down.
We must lay the ax at the root.
Matthew 3:6-10
Confessing their sins, they
were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees
and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood
of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit
in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves,
`We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God
can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the
trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
c. Reformation is not repentance; instead
it is a fruit of repentance.
Matthew 3:8
Produce fruit in keeping with
repentance. (NIV)
Repentance is not just "turning away from,"
it is "turning to" that which is right. The word can mean, "to fetch back
home." It can be translated "to convert" or "to exchange." Some substitutes
for repentance: "Poor me," "whoops," "what about my time on probation?"
"learned lots." "Repentance is not something we try for a while to see
if it works. In repentance, we voluntarily give up our right to have other
options." "Repentance" by Daniel A Brown. Charisma & Christian Life,
Nov 1988. Pages 60-65.
6. Repentance is not just the covering up
of sin. You might have a house with termites and you may fix the damage
but you don't remove the termites. Sin is only covered up when it is forgiven.
Numbers 32:23
"But if you fail to do this,
you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin
will find you out. (NIV)
Psalms 32:2
Blessed is he whose transgressions
are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the
LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. (NIV)
7. Repentance is not merely confession.
B. What is repentance?
1. Behavioral scientists talk about the "theory
of dissonance" which says that what one thinks and what one does must agree,
otherwise dissonance or disharmony results. For most, that dissonance manifests
itself as a feeling of uneasiness, a lack of peace. The human response
to dissonance is to get rid of it. One way or another, peace must be restored.
That may mean getting our actions to jibe with our thinking, or it may
mean revising our thinking to fit our actions. This is how Christians backslide.
Thinking slips to agree with action or action slips to agree with an error
of mind. For this reason, it is dangerous to rely heavily on inner peace
as a guide to right or wrong. There is only one reliable guide for moral
decisions, and that is the Word of God. In Rev. 2, the church at Ephesus
is praised for its good deeds, hard work, and persistence and recognized
for fighting wickedness and apostasy. Somewhere along the line, however,
this church lost its "first love." Perhaps it was so busy fighting the
bad guys that it neglected loving the good guys. Perhaps it even neglected
loving God. The solution offered was to "repent [change your thinking]
and do the things you did at first." "For me to know right but to do
wrong will result in either repentance or backsliding." One way or another,
I will find peace. It may come through compromise and a decision to live
with sin. It may come through adjusting either my thinking or behavior
to bring it in line with God's Word. Two routes to inner peace; two very
different results. "Is inner peace a reliable guide to right and wrong?"
by Marlin Howe. Pulpit Helps, May 1994(Vol 19, No 5). Page 10.
2. J. W. McGarvey said: "Repentance is something
that stands in between sorrow for sin and the change of life in which sins
are abandoned and a better course of conduct begins.... When a man is so
thoroughly filled with sorrow and mourning and self-reproach on account
of his sins that his will is subdued to the will of God, and he says, I
will sin no more, I will hereafter submit to the will of God, this results
in a change of life, and it is repentance, a change of will in regard to
sin."
3. Repentance is a change of will. We know
that repentance has taken place when one begins to act like a Christian.
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began
to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
4. Repentance has to do with Godly sorrow.
The kind of remorse that comes only because
we get caught doing wrong is only self-pity, the "false half of repentance,"
says Moishe Rosen. Recognition of our guilt is only a starting place.
At the gateway to the famous Parthenon in
ancient Athens stood an altar dedicated to TEARS. No sacrifices were consumed
there; no offerings were made. It was simply a place where distressed individuals
bowed to weep out their woe. Although this venting of pent-up emotions
may have given some psychological relief, it failed to touch their basic
need.
We must have godly sorrow. Repentance must
be accompanied by the action of changing our direction. It
means we see God as He is, and our sins as God sees them.
2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance
that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings
death. (NIV)
Matthew 5:1ff
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am
what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder
than all of them-- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (NIV)
4. Repentance means to forsake your sin. In
an interesting article that examined the accomplishments of Dr. Robert
Good in the field of cancer research, he was described as a hard-driving
individual with an enormous faculty for new, stimulating ideas and the
ability to make use of any information that came to him. The most impressive
thing, however, was a statement that credited Dr. Good with a willingness
to recognize an error and abandon it faster than anyone else in medical
research. An associate said, "Dr. Good never gets married to his hypotheses,
so he doesn't go through the pangs of divorce when one is proven wrong."
Romans 6:1
What shall we say, then? Shall
we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (NIV)
James 2:26
As the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (NIV)
II. Motivation to repent.
How does one come to a point that one says,
"Oh, Lord, not my will, but thine be done."?
A. The Lord pointed to the judgement.
Luke 10:10-16
But when you enter a town and
are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town
that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The
kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day
for Sodom than for that town. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre
and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and
ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment
than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No,
you will go down to the depths. "He who listens to you listens to me; he
who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent
me." (NIV)
Luke 3:7-9
John said to the crowds coming
out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the coming wrath? poduce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do
not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I
tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not
produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (NIV)
Jonah 3:4-10
On the first day, Jonah started
into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."
The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from
the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the
king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered
himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation
in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man
or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently
on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows?
God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that
we will not perish." hen God saw what they did and how they turned from
their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction
he had threatened. (NIV)
B. Judge the world in righteousness, therefore
all unrighteousness will be condemned. Have you as a sinner ever sat down
and thoughtfully considered the consequences of sin.
Acts 17:30-31
In the past God overlooked
such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For
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." (NIV)
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another daily,
as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's
deceitfulness. (NIV)
B. The goodness of God. Has anyone who is
a sinner ever truly reflected upon the judgment and goodness of God? Many
shut their Bible when they begin to read of these verses.
Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for
the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that
God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (NIV)
2 Peter 3:9-10
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. But the day of the
Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the
elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it
will be laid bare. (NIV)
Romans 5:8
While we were yet sinners.
D. How is repentance brought about?
Jonah 3:4-10
Jonah preached
They believed (judgment)
They turned from evil. Christ said they repented
at the preaching of Jonah. (Mt. 12:41.)
Believed preaching of Jonah -- poor in spirit.
Sorrow for rebellious life -- mourning over
sin
Change of will respecting their conduct --
meekness
Reformed their lives -- hunger and thirst
after righteousness
E. Godly sorrow.
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. (NIV)
Repentance is turning from all known
sin in order to turn from all sin when it becomes known. A willingness
to repent when we are wrong proves our innocence. Sin may deceive, but
a willingness to recognize the deception and turn from deception through
repentance is the key to forgiveness.
Conclusion:
We need His power to change, but He needs
our cooperation. Without God we can't change, but He "can't" change us
unless we submit our wills.
The starting place is to honestly admit your
failures and weakness to God. It is easier to listen to the humanistic
hogwash that "You can do it!" than it is to be broken and humbled before
the Almighty. Merely accepting God as your power source while insisting
that He change you on your own terms will not work. If you admit your inability
to change yourself, God will supply strength and encouragement through
His Word, His people, and His Spirit.
Studying the Bible "academically" doesn't
help, but allowing the Scriptures to penetrate your shell and break down
your defenses will facilitate change. God will bring other Christians into
your life to affirm and to challenge you. The Holy Spirit Himself will
support you and intercede on your behalf.
It is discouraging to realize that change
is so difficult, that self-reliance can't cut it, and that we must be broken,
but the balancing truth is that God loves us deeply, wants to forgive us,
and makes His power available to change us into what He wants us to be.
("The truth about change" by Chris Thurman. Today's Better Life, Sum 1992.
Pages 38-41. )
