In this lesson we are going to look at the first of two steps that are necessary for conversion - that being repentance. In our next lesson, we will look at the second and equally necessary step which is faith. These steps are man's part in his conversion, yet repentance and faith are both gifts from God. Man must choose to repent and man must choose to exercise faith. God makes them available to all, but each person must decide to accept or reject these free gifts.
Key Verse: Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,..
1. To define true repentance.
2. To bring the student to an awareness of the difference between dead works and good works.
3. To plant the seeds of confidence in God in order that each student may feel at ease to go to God in repentance.
Dead works cannot save us. This is why we must repent of them.
2. Does produce expressions that try to make up for wrong deeds.
3. False repentance can be seen in:
2. Produces a godly sorrow for our sins.
3. Produces confession. 4. Produces a forsaking of our sins.
5. Brings a willingness to bring restitution.
3. Result of faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Then God is free to forgive us - "He is...just to forgive us our sins".
2. Trust in His goodness to give what we've asked for.
The Books of the BibleTo study and commit to memory the Books of the Bible
Part I - What Is Repentance?
Part II - Examples of People Who Repented
Part III - What Are Dead Works?
Part IV - False Repentance vs True Repentance
Part V - Repentance Is The Result Of Unwavering Confidence In God's Love and Mercy
Questions For Study#3
A. Old Testament meaning - to change one's mind, feel sorry for, feel comforted.
1. When the Bible says that God repented it means that He changed His mind because of man's actions - either good or bad.
2. Example - When the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, God changed His mind (repented) and did not destroy the city.
3. Example - When Saul rebelled against God's wishes, God changed His mind (repented) and chose David to be the King instead of Saul. God regretted having made Saul King because of Saul's actions. (I Samuel 15:35-16:1)
4. However, when God makes a covenant that is not based on man's performance, He never changed His mind.
B. New Testament meaning - 3 different Greek words translated as "repent".
1. Metamelomai - regret, being annoyed with the results of sin, remorse. Matthew 27:3
a. Judas felt bad about how his betraying Jesus turned out.
b. Judas did not feel bad that he had sinned - there was no changing of his mind. He just felt bad.
c. This is not true repentance.
2. Metanoeo - to change one's mind - the verb form.
3. Metanoia - a change of mind in respect to sin. (noun)
a. these are the usual words translated as "repentance".
b. these speak of a change of mind which leads to salvation and forgiveness
c. these speak of feeling bad that you sinned and grieved God, and therefore your actions will begin to change.
d. true repentance will always result in a change of behavior.
Index
A. The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32
1. The son chose a lifestyle (verses 12-13)
2. He lost everything that he longed for (verses 14-16)
3. (Verse 17) - In his despair he came to himself - the first element in repentance is realizing your lost and sinful condition.
4. (Verse 18) - He confessed his sin.
5. (Verse 18) - He changed his mind and went to his father to be restored. He changed his lifestyle realizing that he had grieved his father.
6. (Verse 20-24) - The father's response to true repentance - he restored his son and welcomed him home.
B. The conversion of Paul - Acts 9:1-18
1. (Verses 3-5) - He was confronted with the reality of Jesus.
2. (Verses 5-9) - He decided to change his direction in life to serve Jesus instead of persecuting the church.
2. (Verses 15-16) - He was received by his Father and called into ministry or service in the kingdom of God.
Index
A. Romans 10:3 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."
1. The efforts of people to earn eternal life.
2. Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
3. They are dead works because they lead to death and deceive the one practicing them.
B. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
C. Philippians 3:4-9 The correct attitude to have toward our moral and religious accomplishments.
D. Colossians 2:18-23 Self-abasement, self-denial of good things, and severe treatment of the body are dead works.
1. Can you name any obvious dead works?
2. Can any of these works improve our standing with God? yes or no
Index
A. False Repentance:
1. Does not produce a changed life.
a. sense of guilt and remorse over the past.
b. feeling bad about the consequences, not about the sin itself.
c. fear of hell without conviction of sin.
d. trying to pay for sin by making oneself suffer.
4. II Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
a. This is worldly sorrow.
b. Results in destruction and death.
B. True Repentance - Turns from dead works.
1. Realizing our inability to change ourselves or make up for our wrong and crying out to God.
A. I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1. We must confess.
B. Hebrews 11:6 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
1. As we ask for repentance. (Romans 2:4)
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