repentance
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Last week we saw that when man was totally and eternally separated from God because of his choice to rebel and sin against Him, God came looking for man with a plan to reconcile sinful man to Himself. God fulfilled His absolute standard of justice by putting the death penalty man deserved upon the only One in the universe who could take man's place: God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. By doing this God made the only way for man to be saved.
But this does not mean that all men are saved or will be saved. Even though God does not desire that any should perish, He will not force men against their will to receive the gift of salvation through His Son. The same as man chose to sin, he must also freely choose to turn from sin toward God and receive His grace. This is called repentance. The Bible says that it is "God's kindness (that) leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4). Because Jesus is Lord, men must repent, or turn from their sins, and give their life entirely to Him if they are to be saved.
It is a gift of God that any man is even willing to repent, because the Bible says that no man is looking for God or has any desire to know or obey Him. The complete work of salvation is done by the grace of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --- and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God --- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9). There is absolutely nothing any man can do to save Himself. He must be saved. He needs a Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. The Bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
We have seen that God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). In this study we want to look at what repentance means, and how repentance testifies to the fact that Jesus has become Lord of our life.
The command to repent
1. One of the elementary principles of Christ is the foundation of _______________ from dead works (acts that lead to death). Hebrews 6:1
2. Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. ____________ and believe the good news." Mark 1:15
3. Jesus taught that "_______________ and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:47
4. In Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit to thousands of people. He said they had crucified Jesus, who was both Lord and Christ. "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, '____________ 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.'" Acts 2:36-38
What repentance means
5.The first step in repentance is to ___________ and _________ our sin to God. Psalm 32:5.
6. To help us turn from our sin, the Bible says, "Confess your sins __________________ and pray for each another so that you may be healed." James 5:16
7. The Bible says that, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we _______ our sins, He is faithful and just and will __________ us our sins and __________ us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8, 9
8. We are not to cover, or hide our sin. The Bible says, "Whoever ___________ and ___________ them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13
Coming out of the world and into the kingdom of God
9. It is important to forsake sin. The Bible says, "We died ________________; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2
10. We are told, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I John 2:15.
I John 2:16 lists the things of the world to be repented from
a. __________________________
b. __________________________
c. __________________________
11. The Bible says that _____________ with the world (the sinful way of life) makes us an enemy of God. James 4:4
12. Because of this God commands us to do three things regarding the world and our former sinful lifestyle. 2 Corinthians 6:17
a. ____________________________
b. ____________________________
c. ____________________________
13. Though good works most certainly do not save us, they are the "fruits" that indicate a true internal change has happened in our life through the powerful working of the grace of God. John the Baptist preached saying, "_______________ in keeping with ________________...." Luke 3:8
Jesus is Lord of our lives
14. Our salvation is by grace. It is a free gift of God. But Jesus said the gift must be received on His terms. He said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must _______________ and ____________________ daily, and ____________." Luke 9:23
15. Jesus is so serious about having whole-hearted followers, he said we are to first sit down and __________________________. Luke 14:28-31
16. There is a story in the Bible about a young man who came to Jesus because he wanted eternal life. Jesus saw that this man had a god in his life. It was money. When Jesus told him to give it up and "come, follow Me", did the young man do it? _________. Did Jesus change His mind when He saw the man leaving? _________. Matthew 19:16-22
17. Even though the young man in Matthew 19 was "sorrowful", sorrow is not repentance. Many times people are sorry for the effect their sin has had on them, rather than sorry for the effect sin has had on God. The Bible says that all sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4). We read that "godly sorrow brings ________________ that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings ___________." 2 Corinthians 7:10
18. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector who had become rich through dishonesty. When he met Jesus, how did Jesus know that "Today salvation has come to this house (Zacchaeus)" ? -___________________________________________ Luke 19:1-10.
19. "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore _______________. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live _______________________ but ___________ who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15
20. Jesus said, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner ____________________ than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7
Last week we saw that when man was totally and eternally separated from God because of his choice to rebel and sin against Him, God came looking for man with a plan to reconcile sinful man to Himself. God fulfilled His absolute standard of justice by putting the death penalty man deserved upon the only One in the universe who could take man's place: God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. By doing this God made the only way for man to be saved.
But this does not mean that all men are saved or will be saved. Even though God does not desire that any should perish, He will not force men against their will to receive the gift of salvation through His Son. The same as man chose to sin, he must also freely choose to turn from sin toward God and receive His grace. This is called repentance. The Bible says that it is "God's kindness (that) leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4). Because Jesus is Lord, men must repent, or turn from their sins, and give their life entirely to Him if they are to be saved.
It is a gift of God that any man is even willing to repent, because the Bible says that no man is looking for God or has any desire to know or obey Him. The complete work of salvation is done by the grace of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --- and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God --- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9). There is absolutely nothing any man can do to save Himself. He must be saved. He needs a Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. The Bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
We have seen that God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). In this study we want to look at what repentance means, and how repentance testifies to the fact that Jesus has become Lord of our life.
The command to repent
1. One of the elementary principles of Christ is the foundation of _______________ from dead works (acts that lead to death). Hebrews 6:1
2. Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. ____________ and believe the good news." Mark 1:15
3. Jesus taught that "_______________ and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:47
4. In Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit to thousands of people. He said they had crucified Jesus, who was both Lord and Christ. "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, '____________ 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.'" Acts 2:36-38
What repentance means
5.The first step in repentance is to ___________ and _________ our sin to God. Psalm 32:5.
6. To help us turn from our sin, the Bible says, "Confess your sins __________________ and pray for each another so that you may be healed." James 5:16
7. The Bible says that, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we _______ our sins, He is faithful and just and will __________ us our sins and __________ us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8, 9
8. We are not to cover, or hide our sin. The Bible says, "Whoever ___________ and ___________ them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13
Coming out of the world and into the kingdom of God
9. It is important to forsake sin. The Bible says, "We died ________________; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2
10. We are told, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I John 2:15.
I John 2:16 lists the things of the world to be repented from
a. __________________________
b. __________________________
c. __________________________
11. The Bible says that _____________ with the world (the sinful way of life) makes us an enemy of God. James 4:4
12. Because of this God commands us to do three things regarding the world and our former sinful lifestyle. 2 Corinthians 6:17
a. ____________________________
b. ____________________________
c. ____________________________
13. Though good works most certainly do not save us, they are the "fruits" that indicate a true internal change has happened in our life through the powerful working of the grace of God. John the Baptist preached saying, "_______________ in keeping with ________________...." Luke 3:8
Jesus is Lord of our lives
14. Our salvation is by grace. It is a free gift of God. But Jesus said the gift must be received on His terms. He said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must _______________ and ____________________ daily, and ____________." Luke 9:23
15. Jesus is so serious about having whole-hearted followers, he said we are to first sit down and __________________________. Luke 14:28-31
16. There is a story in the Bible about a young man who came to Jesus because he wanted eternal life. Jesus saw that this man had a god in his life. It was money. When Jesus told him to give it up and "come, follow Me", did the young man do it? _________. Did Jesus change His mind when He saw the man leaving? _________. Matthew 19:16-22
17. Even though the young man in Matthew 19 was "sorrowful", sorrow is not repentance. Many times people are sorry for the effect their sin has had on them, rather than sorry for the effect sin has had on God. The Bible says that all sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4). We read that "godly sorrow brings ________________ that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings ___________." 2 Corinthians 7:10
18. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector who had become rich through dishonesty. When he met Jesus, how did Jesus know that "Today salvation has come to this house (Zacchaeus)" ? -___________________________________________ Luke 19:1-10.
19. "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore _______________. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live _______________________ but ___________ who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15
20. Jesus said, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner ____________________ than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7
Supplemental Notes
We must remember the context in which Jesus said, “pick up your cross and follow me.” The nation was under occupation by the Romans who instituted crucifixion as the death penalty for slaves and non – Romans. The only time some on picked up a cross was when they were going to die – to completely and finally lose their own life.
Regarding repentance, we first note that when man fell he fell totally and completely. That means that his body, soul and spirit fell into bondage to sin. The significance of this is that the soul is the heart and mind. Man’s natural thoughts about God are wrong and he can not come to a full and complete understanding of the reality of his lost state without God touching his heart.
Teaching illustrations and examples:
1. Repent = stop, turn 180 degrees, and go the other direction. It isn’t veering course by 45 degrees with a bible in ones hand!
2. Funeral. Imagine you just died. At the funeral time suddenly stops. Jesus walks into the scene and touches the coffin and you wake up. Jesus says, “you have died. Your life is over. All your hopes, dreams, and plans are finished. But I will let you live again if you wish. The condition is that the new life you live will be no longer for yourself but completely for me. What is your choice? Do you want to live under those conditions or be dead and buried now?” the choice to live again totally for the will of God is the essence of repentance unto salvation.
3. Robbery. A robber comes to your home and demands that you turn over all your goods, money, and possessions or he will shoot you. Your choice is complete obedience or death. There is no bargaining. In the same way, Jesus doesn’t bargain. He sets the terms of our repentance and the terms by which we must be saved. You can not lower the conditions he set when present the gospel to another!
4. Jesus is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. He is not merely Lord over the area of our life called “religion,” but He is Lord over every area.
5. Marriage. Would you marry someone who promised to be faithful to you 364 days a year, but wanted to commit immorality one day a year? What about if they promised to be faithful 364 days and 23 hours a year, but would commit immorality one hour each year? The issue is the heart. This person has revealed that their heart isn’t completely with you. In the same way, Jesus is looking for hearts that are completely given over to Him.
We must remember the context in which Jesus said, “pick up your cross and follow me.” The nation was under occupation by the Romans who instituted crucifixion as the death penalty for slaves and non – Romans. The only time some on picked up a cross was when they were going to die – to completely and finally lose their own life.
Regarding repentance, we first note that when man fell he fell totally and completely. That means that his body, soul and spirit fell into bondage to sin. The significance of this is that the soul is the heart and mind. Man’s natural thoughts about God are wrong and he can not come to a full and complete understanding of the reality of his lost state without God touching his heart.
Teaching illustrations and examples:
1. Repent = stop, turn 180 degrees, and go the other direction. It isn’t veering course by 45 degrees with a bible in ones hand!
2. Funeral. Imagine you just died. At the funeral time suddenly stops. Jesus walks into the scene and touches the coffin and you wake up. Jesus says, “you have died. Your life is over. All your hopes, dreams, and plans are finished. But I will let you live again if you wish. The condition is that the new life you live will be no longer for yourself but completely for me. What is your choice? Do you want to live under those conditions or be dead and buried now?” the choice to live again totally for the will of God is the essence of repentance unto salvation.
3. Robbery. A robber comes to your home and demands that you turn over all your goods, money, and possessions or he will shoot you. Your choice is complete obedience or death. There is no bargaining. In the same way, Jesus doesn’t bargain. He sets the terms of our repentance and the terms by which we must be saved. You can not lower the conditions he set when present the gospel to another!
4. Jesus is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. He is not merely Lord over the area of our life called “religion,” but He is Lord over every area.
5. Marriage. Would you marry someone who promised to be faithful to you 364 days a year, but wanted to commit immorality one day a year? What about if they promised to be faithful 364 days and 23 hours a year, but would commit immorality one hour each year? The issue is the heart. This person has revealed that their heart isn’t completely with you. In the same way, Jesus is looking for hearts that are completely given over to Him.