REPENTANCE - A HARD COMMAND

                                         By David J. Riggs

Intro.

A. The command to repent seems to one of the hardest, if not the hardest, 

to persuade people to obey.

 

B. Not only do non-members have a very real problem with this, but 

many members of the church do as well.

C. Let us look at some things about repentance.

 

I. REPENTANCE INVOLVES A RECOGNITION OF GOD.

A. It involves recognizing what God requires. acts 1730 "Truly, these times

of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Luke 13:3;  "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

 

B. It involves a consideration of God's "goodness" and  "longsuffering." 2nd pet..3; 9

¶ 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.

 

 

II. REPENTANCE INVOLVES GODLY SORROW.

A. Godly sorrow is not repentance, but it leads to repentance. 2nd cor 7;10

For godly sorrow produces repentance  leading to salvation, not to

be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death

    1. "Godly sorrow" is not sorrow because one has been caught in his sin.

    2. It is not sorrow for what sin has done to him.

        a. For example, a young man told of his experiences in trying to help his

           uncle who was an alcoholic. When he and others visited and

           encouraged him to repent, his uncle would shed many tears,

           but he would never make any changes.

 

 

III. REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND COUPLED WITH A CHANGE OF ACTION FOR GOOD.

A. Do not be like Judas who changed his mind, but didn't follow with good action.

Matt. 27:3-5.   BUT be like the first son. in mat. 21;28-31 "But what do you

think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son,

go, work today in my vineyard.'

29 "He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went.

30 "Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered

and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.

31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him,

"The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly,  I say to you that tax

collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

 

C. In Matt. 3:7-10, John the baptist severely rebuked the Pharisees and

Sadducees for not bringing forth the fruits which demonstrate repentance.

    1. "Meet for repentance" has the footnote "answerable to amendment

        of life" in the KJV.

    2. One might say he has repented, but if he continues in his evil ways,

        he has not repented at all.

 

 

IV. CONSIDER THE BLESSINGS OF TRUE REPENTANCE.

A. The parables of Luke 15, the lost sheep, lk. 15; 3 So He spoke this

parable to them, saying:

4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them,

does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one

which is lost until he finds it?

5 "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and

neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me,

for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one

sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance

 

There is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents.

1n. Acts 3:19 - Sins are blotted out and refreshing comes from the Lord. quote "

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,

So lets listen to Isa. 55:6-7 ¶ Seek the LORD while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

 

 

Conclusion.

A. Let us come boldly to the throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy. Heb. 4:16