I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)
INTRODUCTION
The last lesson defined "repentance from dead works" which is the first of the basic doctrines listed in Hebrews 6:1-3. "Dead works" were defined as sin and the origin of sin was examined. You learned how the original sin of Adam and Eve corrupted human nature and how this sinful nature is inherited by all men. You also learned how this corrupt nature results in all men sinning individually when they are drawn by this nature into actual acts of sin. This lesson continues study of the first foundational principle of repentance from dead works.
REPENTANCE
Repentance from dead works was defined as "an inward decision or change of mind resulting in the outward action of turning from sin to God and righteousness.” Acts 20:21 calls it "repentance toward God.” By the act of repentance you turn from your own dead works of sin towards God. Repentance is a personal decision to forsake sin and enter into fellowship with God. It is the power of God which actually brings the change in the mind, heart, and life of the sinner:When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18)
Repentance is a gift of God: God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. (Acts 5:31) Although emotions may be involved in repentance, true repentance from dead works is a decision, not just an emotion. As you learned, sorrow for sins, shedding tears, etc., is not enough. This must be accompanied by an inward decision that results in an outward change.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REPENTANCE
There are several reasons why repentance is considered a foundational truth of the Christian faith. God commands our repentance, In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent(Acts 17:30) to avoid spiritual death. I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Luke 13:3) Through repentance the penalty of death is removed and eternal life is granted. When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18) God cannot forgive your sins unless you repent, 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. (Acts 2:38) so that we as children of God may have access to our Father’s kingdom. From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17) God does not want anyone to experience the spiritual death of eternal separation from God in Hell, 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. (II Peter 3:9) he came to save us from that fate. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)
DO CHRISTIANS REPENT?
In the first act of repentance, sinful men turn from wrong to right, accept the Gospel message, and become true believers in Jesus Christ. In the process of going on to perfection (which will be studied later in these lessons), a believer sometimes falls back into the old patterns of sinful behavior. According to the Biblical record, whenever believers sin they must also repent.
In Corinth believers were called to repent, yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. (II Corinthians 7:9)For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. (II Corinthians 12:20-21) The believers at Ephesus were told to repent, Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. (Revelation 2:5) God told the Christians in Pergamos they needed to repent, Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16) The Christians in Sardis were called to repent, Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:3) as were the Christians in Laodicea, Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. (Revelation 3:19) Wherever there is sin, there must be repentance, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8-9)
THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE
Because repentance is necessary for salvation, God made a special plan to enable the message of repentance to reach everyone. The call to repentance began in the New Testament with the ministry of John the Baptist. "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:3-4)
Repentance was necessary in order for the Messiah [Jesus] to be revealed. Until Israel had been called back to God in repentance, Jesus could not be revealed. Repentance was the first message Jesus preached, After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15)and was preached by believers in the early church. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21)
Today, believers still have the responsibility to spread the message of repentance throughout the world. Jesus gave this final instruction to His followers. 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. (Luke 24:47)
WHAT CAUSES MEN TO REPENT?
Since repentance is a foundation on which the Christian faith rests, we must understand what causes men to repent. If you are responsible to spread the message of repentance throughout the world then you must know how men are persuaded to repent from dead works.
GOODNESS OF GOD:
The blessings of God in the life of an ungodly person are not to be mistaken as God's approval of his life style. The goodness of God is one way the Lord appeals to men to turn to Him. Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (Romans 2:4) Preaching the Word of God is another way God uses to bring men to repentance. The preaching of Jonah resulted in the whole city of Ninevah repenting: The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. (Matthew 12:41) As the Word of God is preached, people hear and respond to the call of Christ which leads to repentance. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13) Jesus said no one could come to Him except the Father draw him, meaning that God draws men to repentance: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)
Rebuke also causes men to repent, rebuke means correction given from the Word of God. So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” (Luke 17:3) As you learned, repentance may be accompanied by emotion. Natural emotion alone is not true repentance, but Godly emotion leads to true repentance. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (II Corinthians 7:10)
THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH REPENTANCE
The Bible identifies several things associated with repentance:
Faith towards God is associated with repentance. It is listed in Hebrews 6 as the second foundational principle of the Christian faith. Repentance from dead works must be combined with faith towards God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21) You will learn more about "faith toward God" in the next lesson as we look at the second foundation of the Christian faith.
Baptism should accompany repentance as an outward sign of the inward change which has occurred. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19) The doctrine of baptisms will also be discussed later in this course as it is part of the foundations mentioned in Hebrews 6.
The works of man, which the Bible also calls fruit, testify as to whether or not there has been true repentance. 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. (Acts 26:20) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8) "Works" and "fruits" both refer to outward behavior which should change after true repentance.
CONVERSION
Conversion means "to turn.” When it is used in connection with Biblical repentance, it means to "turn from the wrong way to the right way.” Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. (Luke 1:16) The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21) Conversion is turning from the darkness and power of Satan, to the light of God's righteousness. To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (Acts 26:18) It is turning from worldly things to spiritual things, Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. (Acts 14:15) and turning from false gods to the true and living God. For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (I Thessalonians 1:9)
Conversion must accompany repentance. You must turn from the wrong to the right because it is necessary to enter the kingdom of God, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3) and saves us from spiritual death. Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:20) Conversion is also necessary because our sin is written in the records of God until we repent and are converted, then it is blotted out. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19)
THE PRODIGAL SON
Repentance and conversion are best illustrated by a story Jesus told about the prodigal son. Read the story in Luke 15:11-24. This young man left his father and home, went to a distant land, and through sin wasted all he owned. Eventually this young man realized his condition. He was hungry, lonely, in rags, and tending pigs for a job. Then he made an important decision. He said, "I will arise and go to my father.” This inward decision resulted in a change in his outward actions. He went home to his father to seek forgiveness.
Repentance - Read Luke 15:17-19. The young man realized his sinful condition. He made a decision to go to his father and repent of his sin. This is an example of repentance, an inward decision which results in outward action.
Conversion - Luke 15:20 records how the young man arose and left the old life and went to his father to start a new life. This is conversion.
PRODIGAL MEN
In his own sinful condition, every man has turned his back on God as his Father and on Heaven as his home. Each step he takes is a step away from God and one step nearer the spiritual death of eternal separation from God. There is a major decision he must make. He must "come to himself" and recognize his spiritual condition. He must make a decision which will result in a change of spiritual direction. That change in spiritual direction will turn him from sin towards God. This is the first step in building a proper spiritual foundation.
JUSTIFICATION AND SALVATION
There are two other terms used in the Bible which relate to repentance. These terms are "justification" and "salvation.” God is the judge of all mankind. When you are living in "dead works" [sin] you are condemned before Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:18-19) When you repent from sin and make the decision to turn from your sinful ways this establishes a right relationship with God. This right relationship or right standing before God is called "justification". Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18)
The penalties for sin are physical and spiritual death. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21) If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, repent, and accept Him as Savior, then you will not experience spiritual death of eternal separation from God in Hell. Although your physical body will die, you will be resurrected to eternal life. This is made possible through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. You are justified, or brought into right relationship to God, by Jesus Christ. And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! (Romans 5:9) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1) When you are justified by repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior you are saved from a life of sin and the penalties of sin. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
This is what it means to be saved and is what the Bible is speaking of when the term "salvation" is used. It is God's desire that all men obtain salvation rather than experience the wrath of God's judgment of sin. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (I Thessalonians 5:9-10) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
SUMMARY
It is important to remember that each foundational principle of the Christian faith is related to all the others. For example, repentance from dead works cannot be separated from faith toward God which is the subject of the next lesson.