Repent. metanoeo REPENTANCE. to change the way we see things and thus how we behave 3. What changes when a person becomes a Christian?

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1 apttoteach.org Of all acts of man is e most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be Thomas Carlyle conscious of none. :17-19 Lesson #20 Repentance #1 The old self 12/10/2017 (Scottish philosopher) 1 What changes when a person becomes a Christian? Some ings will not change at all - our past, circumstances, personality, etc. Some ings will change immediately - our personal and positional relationship wi God. Some ings will change over time - rough insight, grow, discipline, company we keep. Some ings may change dramatically - rough a work of God s Spirit and fai. 2 The Greek word translated repent in e New Testament Repent metanoeo meta - after noeo - to perceive to change e way we see ings and us how we behave 3 is to be understood in two contexts. 4 5

2 The structure of Ephesians 1. Strategic ch.1-3 What Christ has done FOR us. ch.4-6 What Christ is doing IN and THROUGH us. Our Iden8ty in Ac8on at brings legal reconciliation at brings spiritual / social harmony 6 from self to Christ Turning from worldly hopes (dead works) to fai in Christ 7 CONVERSION to Christ involves Strategic. Acts 26: to open eir eyes so at ey may turn from darkness to light and from e dominion of Satan to God, in order at ey may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among ose who have been sanctified by fai in Me Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving e elementary teaching about e Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of from dead works and of fai toward God, 8 2. Tactical from sins to Godly living Turning from specific sins to obedience so as to commune wi God. 9 2 Corinians 12:21 I am afraid at when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of ose who have sinned in e past and not repented of e impurity, immorality and sensuality which ey have practiced. Strategic is not wiout need for repeated tac:cal. 10 Luke If anyone comes to Me, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Repentance is coming TO and AFTER Christ. coming TO Christ and following AFTER Christ. 11

3 1 Corinians 1:2 To e church of God which is at Corin, to ose who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, The Corinians had REPENTED (strategically) REPENT repent exchanging hope in self and e world for e Cross of Christ letting go of worldly attachments, attitudes, & actions for Kingdom living 1 Corinians 3:3 For since ere is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? but were in need of (tactically) 12 Don t confuse Water baptism is about conversion. strategic and tactical. repent REPENT Apostasy is e reversal of strategic. Backsliding is e reversal of tactical. Strategic need not be repeated. Tactical is repeatedly needed. Acts 2:38 Repent, and let each of you be baptized in e name of Jesus Christ for e forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive e gift of e Holy Spirit. The sin of unbelief Acts of sin Conversion Communion Not repeated Repeated 14 1 Corinians 10:16 Is not e cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in e blood of Christ? Is not e bread which we break a sharing in e body of Christ? 13 The Lord s Supper is about communion. Bo are about. 15 The structure of Ephesians ch.1-3 What Christ has done FOR us. ch.4-6 What Christ is doing IN and THROUGH us. Our Iden8ty in Ac8on Conversion is symbolized in water baptism which is our initiation into e fai. Communion is symbolized in e bread and cup which is our abiding in e fai. 16 at brings spiritual / social harmony 17

4 Moral reform is e fruit of a renewed mind. Repentance is turning FROM someing (a futile mind from a hard heart) and it starts on e inside. 17 This I say erefore, and affirm togeer wi e Lord, at you walk no longer just as e Gentiles also walk, in e futility of eir mind, being darkened in eir understanding, excluded from e life of God, because of e ignorance at is in em, because of e hardness of eir heart; The mind of e old self is rooted in a way of seeing ings - darkened, dead, and ignorant. Because of suggests at a worldly mindset starts wi a hardened heart. Matew 6:22 The eye is e lamp of e body; so en if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to is world but be transformed by e renewing of your mind 23 and at you be renewed in e spirit of your mind, 24 and put on e new self, Repentance at is focused on e outward life King James English Cultural, Superficial, nity Old nt Covena or ain f Disd ng new i h t any leads to legalism, pride, and hypocrisy. 20 p ou Gr ink rchia Chu nity C Tr ultu ad ra iti l on 19 C Tr ultu ad ra iti l on id eo ce lo nt gy Legalism Cultural, Superficial, ilt Gu ar Fe ilt Gu ar Fe Rule driven, Behavioral, D clo rab wi in A g ct an ion at tit ud e Legalism id eo ce lo nt gy eyes to see and a changed mind Repentance at comes from e heart p ou Gr ink rchia Chu D clo rab wi in A g ct an ion at tit ud e King James English walking in e light Renewed mind Old nt Covena or ain f Disd ng new i h t any Rule driven, Behavioral, leads to true holiness, witness, and edification. 21 Repentance is turning from a sensual orientation as we address unmet longings. 19 and ey, having become callous, have given emselves over to sensuality, for e practice of every kind of impurity wi greediness. Sex is e imitation or substitute religion of e 20 Century. The having become suggests at what started as a hard heart and became a dark mind, can result in a callous condition where ere is little sensitivity to pain and reason. Malcolm Muggeridge Facing in e wrong direction sets us up to give ourselves over to all kinds of selfish, sensual strategies to fill e emptiness of our lives

5 The seedbed of sin Jealousy Conflict Pride Covetousness Material weal Promiscuity Sexual fulfillment Facing in e right direction makes it easier to make good decisions. Take your baptism seriously - renew e mind Arrogance Moral freedom Hostility Strategic (macro) decisions set e stage for good tactical (micro) decisions. Political Power Social image Idolatry (looking in e wrong places) Longings for Life Consider Our unmet longings drive us toward sensuality or spirituality to find life. Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is e nice one. Cash causes all e trouble. They fight and e one at I feed generally wins. Holy living is not automatic for believers but requires daily choices. It is easier to make good choices if our life is facing in e right direction. Johnny Cash The choices we make build spiritual muscle memory True Repentance at leads to outward holiness Hard work spotlights e character of people: some turn up eir sleeves, some turn up eir noses, some don t turn up at all. Applies to saving fai (coming TO Christ) and to a daily lifestyle (FOLLOWING AFTER Christ). Is from e inside out. Is a changed way of perceiving and inking. Is turning not only FROM sin but also TO Christ. Requires commitment, choices, and hard work. Sam Ewing 28 29