When Sorry is Not Enough

Transcription

1 Thinking It Through: 1. Describe the Biblical concept of repentance? 2. To what extent does repentance play in one s salvation? 3. What is the actual definition of the words repent and repentance? 4. What is the original state of man s mind? 5. Which came first, repentance or salvation? 6. Where does the wherewithal to repent come from? 7. What is the proof that we have repented? 8. What is the relationship between repentance and repent? When Sorry Is Not Enough 11 Basic Discipleship 101 Basic Discipleship 101 a

2 Preamble Repentance is Day 1: Read the narrative of Jonah, Jonah 3. What does it mean to repent? Day 2: Read the narrative of Samson s death, Judges 16. What did you learn about repentance? Day 3: Read the narrative of the anointing of Jesus feet, Luke 7: What did you learn about repentance? Day 4: Read the parable of the two sons, Matthew 21: What did you learn about repentance? Day 5: Read the narrative of Ezra s judgment, Ezra 10:1-17. What did you learn about repentance? Day 6: Read the narrative of John the Baptist, Luke 3:1-18. What did you learn about repentance? Day 7: Read the narrative of Simon the Sorcerer, Acts 8:9-25. What did you learn about repentance? Memory verse: "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Acts 26:20 1 Basic Discipleship 101 destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10) This is the Biblical view of the meaning of the word repent. In Acts 8, we read of a man named Simon who thought he could buy the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes him: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. (Ac.8:20-23) Simon s thinking was all wrong; he needed to think differently and to pray to God, seeking forgiveness. A change of mind always results in change of action. John the Baptist taught a true application of repentance the repenting of sins: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.... 'What should we do then?' the crowd asked. John answered, The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same. Tax collectors also came to be baptized. 'Teacher', they asked, 'what should we do?' Don't collect any more then you are required to, he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, 'And what should we do?' He replied, Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay. (Lk.3:8-14) Claiming repentance without repenting of our sins is incongruent with the Scriptures: I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Lk.13:3,5) It is only when our change of mind manifests itself in turning from our sinful practices that we are saved: My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (Ja.5:19-20) Peter tied the concept of repenting from a sin to the receiving the forgiveness of that sin. We need to repent -turning from our sin if we are going to be forgiven: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Ac.3:19) Without a turning from our sinful acts, there is no forgiveness. Jesus, when speaking about Israel, said: they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven! " (Mk.4:12) If we refuse to turn to God or from our sins, we will not be forgiven of our sins and will spend eternity in hell. Therefore, both repentance (a one-time change of mind), and repenting of our sin (an on-going process), are essential for salvation. Otherwise, we would still be living in rebellion toward God as we refuse to turn from our sinful practices. Basic Discipleship

3 is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Ro.12:1,2) It is not enough to say that we have a new mind; we must put off the practices of our old self as well. Paul writes: 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. This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, (2Co.12:21-13:2) You cannot claim to have come to God in repentance if you have not discontinued your sinful practices. Repentance is a one-time act of spiritual conception, but we must repent each time Christ s Spirit convicts us of sin. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph.4:22-24) The mind of Christ was created to be like God. It begins when we turn toward Him, yet this change continues to manifest itself throughout our lives as we turn from individual sins. "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. (1Pe.3:10-11) Repentance is a one-time change which starts a series of changes (repenting from individual sins) that affects us the rest of our lives. We gain a clear perspective on this in the narrative of Jonah. Jesus said: 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. (Mt.12:41; Lk.11:32) What did the people of Nineveh do when they repented? Nineveh was the capitol city of Assyria which was an enemy of Israel. The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." (Jonah 1:1-2) When Jonah did go, he preached about God's judgment that was about to come upon the city that God was going to destroy the city in forty days. The Ninevites believed God, and on the basis of their belief, repented: The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:5) The Ninevites feared the Almighty God, but it went beyond emotion. The Bible teaches that they repented: When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the 9 Basic Discipleship 101 The Foundation of the Gospel. Repentance is the first term of the new covenant which Christ ushered in with His blood. Repentance is an elementary teaching that should be taught to new Christians. The Bible also tells us that repentance is a foundational teaching of Christianity on which other teachings, like justification and sanctification, are built: Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,.. (He.6:1-2) Like building a house, if the foundation is not true, the rest of the house would be misaligned; hence, the gospel without repentance would as well be warped. Christ told His disciples that repentance must be part of the Gospel message to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem: 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. (Lk.24:46-47) When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, it was in Jerusalem that Peter first shared the Gospel (good news). The men responded to the message with, Brothers, what shall we do? Peter then tells what God required of them, as well as all nations, in the new covenant. He said: Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are afar off- for all whom the Lord our God will call. (Ac.2:38-39) If we are to come to Christ by way of the cross, we must repent you, your children, and all who are afar off all whom the Lord our God will call. God, through the eternal Gospel, is commanding all people everywhere to repent: Since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Ac.17:29-31) A Gospel message without repentance is no Gospel message at all, for every one must repent or else suffer in hell: The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any one to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2Pe.3:9) The Bible is not suggesting that when you accept Christ into your life that you will live a perfect life; rather it is calling people to turn from their sin. In coming to Christ, you are pledging that if you know of any sin in your life, you will turn away from it. To be baptized is to make a pledge that you will turn from all known sin in your life:... this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also not Basic Discipleship 101 2

4 the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1Pe.3:21) If we refuse to pledge to turn from our sins repent, then we have not been made right with God. The Bible states Jesus purpose in coming as: I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Lk.5:31-32) Therefore, everyone born of Adam is a candidate for repentance; unless we pledge to turn from our sin we remain separate from God. Repentance: Our Spiritual Conception The Biblical concept of repentance is to turn from evil. The Greek word for repentance is Metanoia meaning a change of mind. (Young s Analytical Concordance). Our minds needed to be changed, as the core of our thoughts were in rebellion to God: Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. (Co.1:21) The mind controls our actions. Since our minds were corrupt, our actions also were corrupt. Israel s minds were corrupted: To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." (Ti.1:15-16) Our minds were so deceived, like Israel, that many times when we thought we are serving God, we actuality were opposing to Him: They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. (Jn.16:2) Our minds were controlled by the sinful nature and hostile to God: Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires,... the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Ro.8:5-8) Not only were our minds corrupt, but our minds were also blinded from perceiving the truth of God: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2Co.4:4) Our minds were blinded by self, sin and Satan, unable to perceive God s provision for salvation, The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Co.2:14) Repentance is the transformation of the mind from an unspiritual mind, blinded by sin, to a mind that understands and seeks to please God: By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being 3 Basic Discipleship 101 sent to a mental institution, proving that he is mentally unable to live in society. In the same way, it is the change of mind which takes place in our repentance that brings a change of action- a discontinuation of sinful practices. Repentance deals with the cause of sin, our rebellion against God, and gives us a new mind which seeks to please God. This deals with the symptoms of a wicked mind, the sinful acts themselves. For the Bible explicitly states what our new mind is: But we have the mind of Christ. (1Co.2:16) The question is not "when" we have the mind of Christ, but the question is "if" we have the mind of Christ. If we were to talk about demonic possession, we would conjure up thoughts of a person totally out of control: in a violent rampage of destruction under the complete control of an evil spirit. In the same way, if we are possessed by the Spirit of Christ, He controls our actions to the point that we will live holy lives. For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (Pr.23:7 NASB) As a man thinks (since our thinking is changed), their actions will be changed accordingly. As Christians, we do not try to change a person s actions; through Christ their minds are changed to that of Christ (this changes their actions): But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (1Jn.3:5-6) If we have the mind of Christ, that is Christ living in us, then we will not continue to sin. A friend of mine tried to quit smoking. He tried everything: hypnosis, the patch, acupuncture, everything he heard of he tried. Then one day the Lord taught him, you are no longer a smoker because Christ lives in you and Christ does not smoke. Every time Satan tempted him to smoke he simply told himself, I am a Christian, I am no longer a smoker I don't smoke. He has never smoked since that day. However, this does not mean that we are sinless, but rather we will discontinue those sinful practices one at a time as we are convicted: No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (1Jn.3:9) Repentance is a 180 O change of mind and reflects a 180 O change in actions. We repent from evil to do good. For it is only natural that if we have the mind of Christ that we will react to sin just as he did- refusing to chose sin. To repent is to put off our sinful practices: Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew,...but Christ is all, and is in all. (Co.3:9-11) Once we have received the mind of Christ, our mind is constantly being renewed as the Spirit teaches us and convicts us of sinful acts. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--which Basic Discipleship 101 8

5 leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2Co.7:10) We are not saved when we have a change of mind, praying the sinner s prayer a prayer of repentance. It is our spiritual conception which leads to salvation and is not salvation itself. However, we cannot write off the importance of repentance; for it is an essential part of the Gospel message. Without repentance, we will not receive eternal life: When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." (Ac.11:18) If you have never experienced this life-changing transformation of your mind, then you are not saved. You may have turned from sin to the best of your ability but have never experienced the control of Christ in your life. You then need to ask God to do this work within you. Repentance is not a work that we must do, but rather, it is a work that God does in us: The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him to his own right hand as prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. (Ac.5:30,31) Repentance doesn t have its origin in man; it has its origin in God. Only God can change a person s mind; when they go to a brother for any reason, it is with the prayer and hope that God will grant them repentance: Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance to a knowledge of truth." (2Ti.2:25) Again, when a person repents, he is really responding to an act of God. The Bible is clear on this: repentance is an act of God s grace or as Romans says it, "God's kindness": Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance. (Ro.2:4) Since repentance is something we receive and not something man must do, it is instantaneously received and not by man achieved. Therefore repentance is a one-time change of mind, from a mind living in rebellion to God to a mind controlled by Christ which seeks after God. A Lifetime of Transformation The Greek word "metanoeo" interpreted "repent" meaning "to have another mind" brings out the true essence of the word: "to be possessed by the Spirit of God". Repentance happens once, but we repent from sin throughout our lives as we mature in Christ. For once we have had "a change of mind", we will "have another mind" concerning those things the Spirit convicts us of as sin. 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. (Ac.26:20) A change of mind always brings about a change of behavior or action. If a man would lose his mind, that is to become insane, his actions would manifest a bizarre behavior. It is his actions that would cause him to be 7 Basic Discipleship 101 made holy. The Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds. (He.10:14-16) Unlike the Old Testament where Israel had to take the law written on the tablets of stone and apply it to their hearts, under the New Covenant God writes His laws on our minds and in our hearts so that our obedience comes from within us. For example: If I loved the effect of beer, and I would be tempted to drink it at every opportunity. However, if I were to have a change of mind to where I found the taste of beer repulsive, beer would not be a temptation. This is how the Spirit writes God s laws on our minds and demonstrates the very concept of repentance. For the normal procedure of sin is temptation, desire, and sin. When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has been conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, give birth to death. (Ja.1:13-15) The easiest way to keep man from sin is to break the center link, to change man's desire. Our minds are changed from desiring sin to desiring Christ s desires: But we have the mind of Christ. (1Co.2:16) Now that we have the mind of Christ and our minds are now being controlled by no less then Christ Himself, this affects our desires and thoughts. Repentance is a change of mind which reflects a complete 180 o change in purpose, attitude, outlook and conduct- from serving sin to serving the Almighty God. Repentance is the initial "changing of our mind from our former frame of mind that was focused on self and sin, to a new mind focused on pleasing God. : You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph.4:22-24) All people must be made new, turning minds from sin to serving God. Repentance is comprised of two parts: first it is a turning away from sin: Nevertheless, God s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2Ti.2:19) The second part is a turning toward God "I have declared both to Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (Ac.20:21) This is clear when we consider the Thessalonians; they turned to God in repentance The Lord s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report Basic Discipleship 101 4

6 what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (1Th.1:8-9) We were all sinners- that is we were slaves of sin, but now we have the mind of Christ and are saints- holy ones. How many of the books of the New Testament are addressed: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the sinners in Ephesus, the unfaithful in Christ Jesus: Paul never refers to the saved by the Greek word "hamartolos"- "sinners", but instead we read: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: (Eph.1:1) Paul always refers to the saved by the Greek word "hagios"- "saints". This word is also used in regard to God's Spirit: the "Hagios" Spirit the Holy Spirit. Repentance is the change of mind from sinner to saint. Notice the tense when we read: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Ro.5:8) Christians are no longer sinners. We were sinners, but we turned from our rebellion toward God in repentance: Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (Ja.5:20) If we take the word metamorphosis, which shares the same root word as metanoia, we would have a good idea of what is meant by repentance. In repentance, our minds are so radically changed that it can be compared to metamorphosis: the transformation of an ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. What a caterpillar was, is in no way similar to what a butterfly is. The only difference is that with caterpillars, the transformation is physical; with Christians, the transformation is on the inside, spiritual: Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God s law, nor can it do so. (Ro.8:5-8) The Bible does not say, when your mind is set on what that nature desires and when your mind is set on what the Spirit desires meaning one mind oscillating between two different states. Rather the Bible uses those and those, two differing types of people one in its natural state having their minds controlled by sin and the other type of people having experienced a change of mind, having their minds controlled by the Spirit. James addresses the issue of a double minded man: A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (Ja.1:8) Many Christians are ignorant of their new mind. Instead, they act according to their whims like a light switch: off/on; darkness /light; sin/ Spirit; sinner/ saint. They are never sure of what position they will be functioning in today: Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, 5 Basic Discipleship 101 you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Ja.4:8) The reason why Christians think that they can be double-minded is that it is widely taught in the church today. It is just like mid-life crisis. Once psychologists created the label mid-life crisis, every man over fifty has the excuse that it is acceptable to do something irresponsible whether buying a expensive sports car, having an affair or taking up parachute jumping. The popular acceptance of a myth generates the experience of the myth, and today a Christian can be walking in the Spirit one day and delving into the depths of depravity the next all because of bad theology. As long as the church teaches that a Christian can choose to oscillate between the sinful nature and the Sprit, they will continue to live a myth. Scriptures teach that Christians no longer have a sinful nature as through the Spirit they have received a divine nature if the Spirit of God lives in them: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2Pe.1:3-4) However, a double-minded person is still considered a sinner, sorry for sin but outside the experience of saints. A double-minded person is sorry for their sins, showing regret but wanting no part of repentance (a turning away from sin and a turning toward God). But being sorry for our sin is not the same as repentance from our rebellion to God. Many people are sorry for their sin, but they refuse to stop their sinning: Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it- I see that my letter hurt you, but for a little while- 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. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness... (2Co.7:8-11) Godly sorrow brings a change of mind, while worldly sorrow goes no further then mere emotion. This is clearly seen in Judas life, for after betraying Jesus, we read: When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." (Mt.27:3-4) Judas had worldly sorrow- he merely regretted his decision but did not turn from his sinful practices. Instead, he continued in sin, destroying his very self through suicide: So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Mt.27:5) Unless we experience this change of mind, we are not saved. For repentance is not our rebirth that constitutes our salvation; repentance is our spiritual conception which leads to salvation. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and Basic Discipleship 101 6