THE ELEMENTS OF REPENTANCE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   It is exciting to see something that is old, beaten up, wrecked, defiled, decaying, and dilapidated changed into something new, beautiful, and extremely useful in nature.

1.    The restoration of an old car.

2.    The rehab of an old house.

3.    The renovation of a piece of land.

 

B.   The same is true when it comes to a wicked, angry, unfulfilled, and useless life of a human being.  The person is transformed into a holy, kind, productive individual.

 

C.   One of the main aspects of the change involves something the Bible refers to as repentance.

1.    It involves turning 180 degrees in another direction.

2.    It involves a complete change of thinking and behavior.

3.    It involves a death to an old way of living.

 

D.   Repentance is commanded.

1.    Luke 13:3, 5

 

I tell you, Nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

 

2.    Acts 3:19

 

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the present of the Lord.

 

3.    Acts 17:30

 

At the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

 

4.    Revelation 2:5

 

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

 

E.   Repentance, like the renovation of a house, is not easy work.

1.    There are several elements found in the process of repentance.

2.    Let’s study “The Elements of Repentance” in this lesson.

 

I.             THE AWARENESS OF SIN

 

A.   Most people in our world are not religious individuals. 

Most certainly do not have a Biblical mindset.

Sin is a word that they have heard, but they do not comprehend its meaning.

 

B.   This is surprising for the child of God.  We know that sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).  We are familiar with lists of sin found in the Bible like the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21.

 

C.   But, there are some Christians who are in sin and do not comprehend it.

1.    Lying, holding on to anger, speaking evil of others, conforming to the world when they are with friends, half-hearted service to the Lord, secret sins

2.    Why?

a.    Their hearts are hard.

b.    They are not knowledgeable.

c.    They are self-deceived.

 

D.   In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we see the son coming to an awareness of his sin (Luke 15:17-18).

 

And when he came to himself…I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.

 

II.           THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SIN

 

A.   It is not enough to realize one has sinned within.

 

B.   There needs to be the acknowledgement of that sin before those who have been sinned against.

 

C.   Examples:

1.    The prodigal son returned to his father’s house.

a.    He did not just slip in the back door and go to his room acting as if everything was okay.

b.    Luke 15:21

 

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

 

2.    When David was fully convicted of his sin by Nathan the prophet, he acknowledge his sin before God.

a.    2 Samual 12:13a

 

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.

 

b.    Psalm 51:3-4a

 

For I acknowledge my transgressions:  and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…

 

D.   There are Christians who have realized they have not lived their lives properly.

1.    They return to the fold, but they never acknowledge the sin in which they were involved. 

2.    Awareness of sin alone is not enough.  A person must acknowledge his sin.

 

III.         AN ABHORRENCE OF SIN

 

A.   Prior to one’s desire to repent, he loved his sin.

 

B.   Knowing that his sinful actions caused him to be an enemy of God, he must now abhor those sins that were in his life.

1.    Psalm 97:10

 

Ye that love the Lord,  hate evil…

 

2.    Amos 5:5

 

Hate the evil, and love the good…

 

3.    Romans 12:9b

 

…abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

 

C.   Abhor:

1.    Strong (655):  to detest utterly

2.    Thayer:  to dislike, to have a horror of

3.    Vine:  to shudder, used intensely to hate

 

D.   NOTE:  It is not always easy to “abhor” sin.

1.    It brings us pleasure.

2.    It involves family and friends.

3.    It is an outlet from the problems of the world.

4.    It could bring us popularity or power.

5.    It could bring prosperity to our lives.

 

IV.         AN ATTACKING OF SIN

 

A.   Sin is not something that is easily disposed of in a person’s life.

1.    It cannot just be simply laid to the side.

2.    The individual needs to attack the sin and put it to death.

 

B.   Example:  Those in Ephesus (Acts 19:18-19)

 

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men;  and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

 

V.           AN ABANDONMENT OF SIN

 

A.   The sin is supposed to be put to death.

 

B.   If it has died, it is no longer practiced in our lives.

 

C.   NOTE:  Satan is not going to give up easily here.  He is going to try to keep the sin alive in our lives as long as he possibly can.

 

D.   Fruits meet for repentance:

1.    Matthew 3:8

 

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

 

2.    Two actions:

a.    We don’t engage in the old behaviors.

b.    We begin to practice new behaviors.

3.    Saul of Tarsus

a.    Saul abandoned all that he held dear in the past (Phil. 3:7)

 

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

 

b.    Saul pressed toward the mark for the prize (Phil. 3:13-14).

 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but his one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

4.    Contrasts:

a.    My will is given up for God’s will.

b.    My activities are replaced with the activities God desires.

c.    Immorality is set aside and one lives righteously and godly.

d.    Power is put off for a life of service to God and others.

e.    Riches are forfeited and one pursues treasure in heaven.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Repentance is not a “walk in the park.”  It involves a heart of deep resolution and behavior that manifests change in a person’s life.

 

B.   NOTE:  There is no forgiveness from God until true repentance has taken place in a person’s life.  Many like Pharaoh and Judas have acknowledged their sins, but there was no repentance.  Thus, there was no forgiveness.

 

C.   When a person truly repents, his life manifests a beauty that is more pleasant to the eye than any old mansion that has been rehabbed or old clunker that has been restored.

 

D.   NOTE:  The old man of sin has been turned into the image of God’s dear Son (Col 3:10).

 

And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.