Repentance

REPENTANCE

The Necessity of Repentance

·         Luke13:3 – “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

·         Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

The Time for Repentance

·         2 Corinthians 6:2 – “ . . . Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”

Christ’s Call to Sinners

·         Luke 5:32 – “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

What True Repentance Involves

·         Acknowledgment of the enormity of sin

o   Psalms 51:4 – “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

·         Godly sorrow for sin

o   2 Corinthians 7:9 – “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.”

·         Forsaking Sin

o   Isaiah 55:7 – “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

o   Ezekiel 18:31 – “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

o   Matthew 3:8 –  ^“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

God’s Gracious Assurance

·         Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

·         Ezekiel 18:21 – “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

·         Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

·         1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”