PROOF Lesson 3 Through Repentance to Faith I. Introduction A. Laying the Foundation i. Confrontation ii. Revelation iii. Acknowledgment iv. Confession Through Repentance to Faith B. To build on a foundation, you must hear and do i. The Bible the written Word ii. Jesus the living Word C. Authority and power of God's Word i. Proceeds from Author, Holy Spirit ii. Through the written and spoken Word II. The Doctrinal Foundation A. Six foundation doctrines (Hebrews 6:1-3) Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. i. Repentance from dead works ii. Faith toward God iii. Doctrine of baptisms iv. Laying on of hands v. Resurrection of the dead vi. Eternal judgement B. First, lay the foundation, then go to build upon it III. Repentance from Dead Works A. Dead works i. All things not done out of faith or obedience ii. Not necessarily sin B. Repentance: i. Greek: To change your mind (a decision) ii. Hebrew: To turn back, return (an action) iii. Faith comes after repentance Page 1/10
PROOF Lesson 3 Through Repentance to Faith C. Perfect example: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17-20) "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'so he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. i. He came to himself a moment of truth ii. He made a decision changed his mind iii. He turned around acted it out D. False Repentance: Remorse i. Judas Iscariot: Remorseful but no change or repentance (Matthew 27:3-5) Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. ii. You can pass the place of repentance iii. Esau despised his birthright (Hebrews 12:14-17) Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctifcation without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. IV.Repentance Precedes Faith A. John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3) Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'" B. Jesus i. Mark 1:14-15 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulflled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Page 2/10
PROOF Lesson 3 Through Repentance to Faith ii. Luke 24:46-47 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. C. Peter (Acts 2:37-38) Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, " Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. D. Paul i. All men everywhere (Acts 17:30) "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, ii. Acts 20:20-21 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was proftable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. E. Universal rebellion requires universal repentance (Isaiah 53:6) All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. V. Repentance Originates with God A. God starts the turning process i. Psalm 80:3, 7, 19 v.3 O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved. v. 7 O God of hosts, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved. v. 19 O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved. ii. Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, B. One alternative to repentance: perish (Luke 13:1-5) Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifces. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?"I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Page 3/10
PROOF Lesson 3 Through Repentance to Faith VI. Faith A. Comes from, relates to, God's Word (Romans 10:17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Faith comes only through the Word of God B. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. i. Faith is a substance ii. On that substance is built hope C. Definitions: i. Faith: A present substance in the heart (Romans 10:10) for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ii. Hope: A future expectation in the mind (1 Thessalonians 5:8) But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Be an optimist D. Faith relates to the unseen i. The unseen reality of the Word of God (Hebrews 11:3) By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. ii. Faith and sight are exclusive of each other (2 Corinthians 5:7) for we walk by faith, not by sight iii. Believe first then see (John 11:39-40) Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" E. Faith is primarily character i. Faithfulness or loyalty expresses this best ii. Continuing with Jesus i.e. commitment (Luke 22:28) "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; iii. Faith is a commitment to a person (2 Timothy 1:12) For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Through Repentance to Faith is taken from Laying the Foundation, A Derek Prince study Page 4/10
F. Faith is secondarily doctrine It must be confessed (Matthew 10:32-33) "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven."but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. ( Romans 10:10) for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. G. Confession relates us to Jesus as High Priest i. Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; ii. Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. iii. Hebrews 10:21-23 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; H. Faith will be tested i. James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ii. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fre, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; iii. We have two options: a) To side with our senses against Scripture b) To side with Scripture against our senses c) Pattern of Abraham (Romans 4:16-22) Page 5/10
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. I. Faith is the only basis for righteous living i. Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, " BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." ii. Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Page 6/10
Faith and Works I. Factual Content of the Gospel A. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of frst importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Romans 4:22-25 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justifcation. i. Jesus delivered to death on account of our sins ii. Jesus was buried iii. God raised Jesus on the third day iv. We are reckoned righteous by believing these facts B. Primary attestation: the Old Testament Scriptures C. Secondary attestation: testimony of human witnesses II. Imputation of Righteousness A. Received by faith, without works i. Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifes the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ii. Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God ; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. B. But living faith produces appropriate works (James 2:24,26) 24 You see that a man is justifed by works and not by faith alone. 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. i. Grace is received without earning it ii. Works is what we do Page 7/10
C. Relationship between faith and works i. We are not required to keep the law of Moses or any other law. Christianity is not a set of laws. a) No justification by keeping law (Romans 3:20) 20 because by the works of the Law no fesh will be justifed in His sight ; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. b) Law and grace are exclusive (Romans 6:14) 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. c) The law stirs up sin (Romans 7:4-6) 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the fesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. d) The Law cannot bring righteousness (Romans 10:4) 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ii. To turn back to law is serious error a) The Galatians Christians were bewitched: the cross and its work was obscured to them (Galatians 3:1-3) 1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucifed? 2 This is the only thing I want to fnd out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the fesh? b) This brings a curse (Galatians 3:10) 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse ; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM c) Confirmed in Old Testament (Jeremiah 17:5) 5 Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes fesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. iii. Law works from without, leaving us to our own ability iv. Grace works from within, supplying supernatural ability v. Be holy (Leviticus 11:44) 44 'For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. (1 Peter 1:16) 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." Page 8/10
III. The Righteous Requirement of the Law A. Only through the supernatural (Romans 8:3-4) 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the fesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful fesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the fesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulflled in us, who do not walk according to the fesh but according to the Spirit. B. Love i. All law has two objectives (Matthew 22:35-40) 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." a) Love for God b) Love for neighbor ii. Love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10) 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another ; for he who loves his neighbor has fulflled the law. 9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor ; therefore love is the fulfllment of the law. iii. Faith must work through love (Galatians 5:6) 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. iv. The goal of all teaching is love (1Timothy 1:5) 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. C. Love motivates us to obedience (John 14:15, 23) 15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word ; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. D. More Effective than fear (1 John 4:18) 18 There is no fear in love ; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. Page 9/10
E. Obedience of love is progressive (Philippians 1:9-11) 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ ; 11 having been flled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. F. Meanwhile, faith is reckoned as righteousness (Romans 4:23-24) 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Through Repentance to Faith and Faith and Works are taken from Laying the Foundation, a Derek Prince Study Page 10/10