Repentance involves turning away from sin and toward God through faith in Jesus. It is a change of mind and heart that acknowledges one's sin and need for salvation, and trusts fully in Jesus alone to save through his atoning death. True repentance goes beyond feeling sorry for sins to a broken recognition of having offended a holy God, and a decision to live according to God's will from that point onward through Jesus.
1. What is Repentance?
Sin is the problem and Jesus is the solution
How Do We Receive Salvation through Jesus?
Acts 20:20-21 (NIV)
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have
taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they
must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Definition of Repentance
The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. It means to change one’s mind.
The Hebrew word for repentance is shub. It means to turn back, return, return to the starting
point, restore and come back home again.
Repentance is a change of mind, which leads to a change of heart, which leads to a change in
actions. This change involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.
Definition of Faith
The Greek word for faith is pistis. It means conviction, confidence, trust, belief, reliance,
trustworthiness, and firm persuasion.
What is Faith?
Belief → Trust → Embrace
Head → Heart → Action
What Does the Bible Tells Us about Our Need for Repentance?
Luke 13:3 (NKJ)
I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
John 12:40 (quoting Isaiah 6:10) NKJ
He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest
they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”
Acts 3:19 (NKJ)
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 17:30 (NKJ)
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to
repent,
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJ)
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2. What is Not Repentance?
1. Treating Jesus like He is a get out of Hell free card without true repentance.
2. Believing a false gospel. There is only one way to God His way. Everything else is born
out of ignorance and idolatry (Thinking you can decide how to approach God.)
3. Going to church.
4. Being sorry.
What is Repentance?
Hosea 7:13-14 (NKJ)
“ Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, because they have transgressed
against Me! Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me. They did not cry out
to Me with their heart when they wailed upon their beds…
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJ)
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of
the world produces death.
Isaiah 6:10 (NIV)
Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise
they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be
healed.”
Repentance begins with brokenness before God. King David shows us the way
Psalm 51:3-5 (NIV)
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 you are right in your verdict and justified when you
judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Acts 26:20 (NKJ)
…but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of
Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting
repentance.
What is Repentance?
1. Conviction of Sin
2. Confession of Sin
3. Turning from sin to God
4. Restitution through Jesus
5. Restoration
One Who is Truly Repentant
1. Realizes in their heart that they have sinned against God and deserve to be punished.
2. Agrees with God that they deserve judgment, hell and the wrath of God because of their
sin.
3. Understands that sin cannot exist in the presence of God for His holiness will not allow it.
4. Knows there is nothing they can do in order to make themselves right with God for their
sin.
5. Accepts what the gospel says with joy and turn in their hearts from sin to God placing their
faith in Jesus and everything He did for them.
6. Lives a life in keeping with repentance.
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3. When we repent and believe we are reversing what we did when we rebelled against God. Our
doubts about God led us to unbelief which led us to turn away from Him to be our own gods.
1. Unbelief 1. Repentance Summary:
2. Idolatry 2. Faith Rebellion Surrender Submission
Paul Washer
You see, to repent is to realize that all your thinking, your entire view about reality was wrong.
And then to see and to submit to God’s truth...
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords and all those who are His submit to His rule by trusting
and obeying Him.
Paul Tripp
The fundamental difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of self is captured by
one question. Who resides at the center?
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