Acts 2:38Acts 2:38Acts 2:38Acts 2:38

““When the people heard this, they When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter were cut to the heart and said to Peter

and the other apostles, “Brothers, and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” what shall we do?” Peter replied, Peter replied,

“Repent and be baptized, every one of “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for you, in the name of Jesus Christ for

the forgiveness of your sins. And you the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy will receive the gift of the Holy

Spirit.”Spirit.”Acts 2:37-38Acts 2:37-38

““When the people heard this, they When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter were cut to the heart and said to Peter

and the other apostles, “Brothers, and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” what shall we do?” Peter replied, Peter replied,

“Repent and be baptized, every one of “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for you, in the name of Jesus Christ for

the forgiveness of your sins. And you the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy will receive the gift of the Holy

Spirit.”Spirit.”Acts 2:37-38Acts 2:37-38

““Brothers, what Brothers, what shall we do?”shall we do?”

1. 1. “Repent“Repent

““Brothers, what Brothers, what shall we do?”shall we do?”

1. 1. “Repent“Repent

Requirements of Requirements of RepentanceRepentance

Requirements of Requirements of RepentanceRepentanceFrom John the Baptist in From John the Baptist in

Matthew 3:2 Matthew 3:2 to Jesus in to Jesus in Matthew Matthew 4:17 4:17 to Peter in to Peter in Acts 2:38 Acts 2:38 to to

Paul in Paul in Acts 26:20Acts 26:20, the necessity , the necessity of repentance was passionately of repentance was passionately

preached.preached.

Why was repentance preached Why was repentance preached as being so vitally necessary for as being so vitally necessary for

mankind’s salvation? mankind’s salvation? Because... Because...

MakesMakesRepentance Repentance Necessary.Necessary.But But Why?Why?Because…Because…

S I NS I N

THE CREATED SINS THE CREATED SINS AGAINST THE CREATOR:AGAINST THE CREATOR:

““Against You … Against You … have I sinned”have I sinned”(Psalm 51:4a).(Psalm 51:4a).

Therefore…Therefore…

Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is rebellion against God. Why?Why?

Because…Because…

1. God’s law is righteous.1. God’s law is righteous.

““All Your commandments All Your commandments are righteous”are righteous” (Psalm (Psalm

119:172).119:172). So…So…

To obey the law of GodTo obey the law of Godis to do what’s right.is to do what’s right.

Sin is rebellion against Sin is rebellion against God. Why? Because…God. Why? Because…

1. God’s law is righteous.1. God’s law is righteous.

2. Sin is transgression of God’s 2. Sin is transgression of God’s law:law:

““Whoever commits sin also Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness”is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).(1 John 3:4).

So…So…

Sin is rebellion against Sin is rebellion against God. Why? Because…God. Why? Because…

1. God’s law is righteous.1. God’s law is righteous.

2. Sin is transgression of God’s 2. Sin is transgression of God’s law.law.

3. Sin creates enemies of God:3. Sin creates enemies of God:

He who sins is of the devil He who sins is of the devil [adversary, enemy][adversary, enemy]” ” (1 (1

John 3:8).John 3:8).

Sin is an igniter of God’s Sin is an igniter of God’s indignation. indignation. Why?Why? Because… Because…

1. Sin disgusts God:1. Sin disgusts God:

““I know your works, that I know your works, that you are neither cold nor you are neither cold nor hot. I … wish you were hot. I … wish you were

cold or hot. So … because cold or hot. So … because you are lukewarm … I will you are lukewarm … I will

spew you out spew you out of My mouth” of My mouth”

(Revelation. 3:15-16). (Revelation. 3:15-16). So…So…

Sin is an igniter of God’s Sin is an igniter of God’s indignation. indignation. Why? Why?

Because…Because…

1. Sin disgusts God.1. Sin disgusts God.

2. Sin isolates from God:2. Sin isolates from God:

““Your iniquities have Your iniquities have separated you from God; separated you from God;

and your sins have hidden and your sins have hidden His face from you so that His face from you so that

He will not hear you” He will not hear you” (Isaiah 59:2).(Isaiah 59:2).

Sin is an igniter of God’s Sin is an igniter of God’s indignation. indignation. Why?Why? Because… Because…

1. Sin disgusts God.1. Sin disgusts God.

2. Sin isolates from God:2. Sin isolates from God:

David wrote,David wrote,

““The face of the Lord is The face of the Lord is against those who do evil” against those who do evil”

(Psalm 34:16). (Psalm 34:16). So…So…

THE CREATED’S (OUR) THE CREATED’S (OUR) ONLY OPTION IS … ONLY OPTION IS …

REPENTANCE:REPENTANCE:

““Unless you repent, you Unless you repent, you will … perish” will … perish”

(Luke 13:3).(Luke 13:3).

So it’s important to note So it’s important to note that…that…

1. Forgiveness requires 1. Forgiveness requires repentance:repentance:

““If a brother sins If a brother sins against you against you [as we do [as we do against God]against God], rebuke , rebuke him him [as God does us][as God does us], ,

and if he repents, and if he repents, forgive himforgive him [as God [as God

does us]does us]”” (Luke 17:3).(Luke 17:3).

To put To put #1#1 another way… another way…

1. Forgiveness requires 1. Forgiveness requires repentance.repentance.

2. Repentance precedes 2. Repentance precedes forgiveness:forgiveness:

““Repent … for the remission Repent … for the remission [forgiveness][forgiveness] of sins” of sins”

(Acts 2:38).(Acts 2:38).

But perhaps most importantly…But perhaps most importantly…

1. Forgiveness requires 1. Forgiveness requires repentance.repentance.

2. Repentance precedes 2. Repentance precedes forgiveness.forgiveness.

3. No one is exempt from 3. No one is exempt from repentance:repentance:

““God now commands all men God now commands all men everywhere to repent” everywhere to repent” (Acts (Acts

17:30). 17:30). Now…Now…

Since repentance means to Since repentance means to have have a change of minda change of mind, and , and

since the mind includes since the mind includes intellectintellect, , emotionemotion, and , and willwill, ,

we need to talk about we need to talk about repentance in relation to repentance in relation to these three factors. So…these three factors. So…

REPENTANCE REQUIRES…REPENTANCE REQUIRES…

A Change of A Change of IntellectIntellect

CHANGE CHANGE CONCERNING SIN’S CONCERNING SIN’S EXISTENCE IN OUR EXISTENCE IN OUR

LIVES. LIVES. IN FACT, JUST…IN FACT, JUST…

1. Don’t deny sin’s 1. Don’t deny sin’s existence period:existence period:

““Woe to those Woe to those who call evil good who call evil good

and good evil, and good evil, who put darkness who put darkness for light, and who for light, and who

put bitter for put bitter for sweet and sweet sweet and sweet for bitter” for bitter”

(Isaiah 5:20).(Isaiah 5:20).

1. Don’t deny sin’s 1. Don’t deny sin’s existence period.existence period.

2. Don’t lay 2. Don’t lay responsibility for sin on responsibility for sin on

others: others:““The woman You The woman You

gave to be with me, gave to be with me, she gave me of the she gave me of the tree and I ate” tree and I ate”

(Genesis 3:12).(Genesis 3:12).

1. Don’t deny sin’s existence 1. Don’t deny sin’s existence period.period.

2. Don’t lay responsibility for sin 2. Don’t lay responsibility for sin on on

others. others.3. Don’t compare ourselves with 3. Don’t compare ourselves with

others: others:““God, I thank you that I am God, I thank you that I am not like other men” not like other men” (Luke (Luke

18:11)18:11), and Jesus indicated , and Jesus indicated that this man did NOT go that this man did NOT go

home justified.home justified.

1. Don’t deny sin’s existence period.1. Don’t deny sin’s existence period.2. Don’t lay responsibility for sin on 2. Don’t lay responsibility for sin on

others. others.3. Don’t compare ourselves with 3. Don’t compare ourselves with

others. others.4. Don’t ignore sin, because such 4. Don’t ignore sin, because such

hardens the heart: hardens the heart:““Exhort one another daily … lest Exhort one another daily … lest

… you be hardened through … you be hardened through the the deceitfulness of sin”deceitfulness of sin”

(Hebrews 3:13).(Hebrews 3:13).

A Change of A Change of IntellectIntellect

CHANGE BY HAVING CHANGE BY HAVING A CONVIC-A CONVIC-

TION OF PERSONAL TION OF PERSONAL SIN.SIN.

1. Admit our guilt:1. Admit our guilt:

““If we say that we have no If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” sin, we deceive ourselves”

(1 John 1:8)(1 John 1:8); or ; or “If we say that we have “If we say that we have

not sinned, we make God a not sinned, we make God a liar”liar” (1 John 1:10). (1 John 1:10).

Rather…Rather…

““If we confess our sins, If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and forgive us our sins and

to cleanse us from all to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” unrighteousness” (1 John (1 John

1:9).1:9).

1. Admit our guilt:1. Admit our guilt:

Similar to Similar to Isaiah Isaiah (6:5), (6:5), we, like we, like

Peter, must fall Peter, must fall down before down before

Jesus and Jesus and confess in confess in

shame, shame, “I am a “I am a sinful man” sinful man” (Luke 5:8).(Luke 5:8).

1. Admit our guilt.1. Admit our guilt.

2. Admit that sin is against 2. Admit that sin is against God:God:

Like David, the prodigal Like David, the prodigal son confessed that he son confessed that he hadhad “sinned against “sinned against

Heaven” Heaven” (Luke 15:21)(Luke 15:21)..

Moving on… Moving on…

A Change of EmotionsA Change of Emotions

CHANGE CHANGE CONCERNING THE CONCERNING THE

WAY WE FEEL ABOUT WAY WE FEEL ABOUT SIN: CHANGE FROM SIN: CHANGE FROM REJOICING IN IT TO REJOICING IN IT TO

MOURNING OVER IT.MOURNING OVER IT.

1. Some boast in sin:1. Some boast in sin:

““There is sexual There is sexual immorality among you—immorality among you—a man has his father’s a man has his father’s

wife! And you are puffed wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather up, and have not rather mourned” mourned” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2).(1 Corinthians 5:1-2).

In In Romans 1:32 Romans 1:32 Paul Paul spoke against those who spoke against those who may not commit certain may not commit certain sins, but who approve of sins, but who approve of

those who do commit those who do commit them.them.

1. Some boast in sin.1. Some boast in sin.

2. We just can’t draw close to 2. We just can’t draw close to God and enjoy sin:God and enjoy sin:

““Draw near to God, and He Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, you Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your sinners, and purify your

hearts, you double-hearts, you double-minded. Lament and minded. Lament and

mourn and weep! Let your mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to laughter be turned to

mourning and your joy to mourning and your joy to gloom” gloom” (James 4:8-10).(James 4:8-10).

1. Some boast in sin.1. Some boast in sin.

2. We just can’t draw 2. We just can’t draw close to God and close to God and

enjoy sin: enjoy sin:

Jesus began His Jesus began His Sermon on the Mount Sermon on the Mount by saying, by saying, “Blessed “Blessed

are those who mourn, are those who mourn, for they shall be for they shall be

comforted”comforted” (Matthew (Matthew 5:4)5:4)..

A Change of EmotionsA Change of Emotions

CHANGE FROM CHANGE FROM WORLDLY SOR-ROW TO WORLDLY SOR-ROW TO

GODLY SORROWGODLY SORROW(2 Corinthians 7:8-(2 Corinthians 7:8-

11)11)..

And lastly…And lastly…

A Change of WillA Change of Will

DETERMINE TO ACT DETERMINE TO ACT CONTRARY TO SIN.CONTRARY TO SIN.

The will is the power of The will is the power of control the mind has control the mind has

over its own expressions over its own expressions in behavior.in behavior.

A Change of WillA Change of Will

DETERMINE TO ACT CONTRARY DETERMINE TO ACT CONTRARY TO SIN.TO SIN.

The result of will-changing is The result of will-changing is bearing of fruits worthy of bearing of fruits worthy of repentance; both John the repentance; both John the

Baptist and Paul spoke of Baptist and Paul spoke of “works “works befitting repentance”befitting repentance”

(Luke 3:8 & Acts (Luke 3:8 & Acts 26:19-20).26:19-20).

A Change of WillA Change of Will

DETERMINE TO ACT CONTRARY DETERMINE TO ACT CONTRARY TO SIN.TO SIN.

There’s a good example of There’s a good example of “works befitting repentance”“works befitting repentance” in in

Acts 19:19 Acts 19:19 where numerous where numerous sorcerers burned all their books sorcerers burned all their books

which, I’m told, were worth about which, I’m told, were worth about £37,000 in our modern currency.£37,000 in our modern currency.

A Change of WillA Change of Will

DETERMINE TO DETERMINE TO FORSAKE SIN AND FORSAKE SIN AND

PURSUE PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS. RIGHTEOUSNESS.

How? How? Well…Well…

1. Determine to obey God:1. Determine to obey God:

““If a wicked man turns If a wicked man turns from all his sins … and from all his sins … and does what is lawful and does what is lawful and

right, he shall surely right, he shall surely live” live” (Ezekiel 18:21).(Ezekiel 18:21).

Paul exemplified this Paul exemplified this sort of determination sort of determination

when he said, when he said, “I will not “I will not be brought under the be brought under the

power of any[thing]”power of any[thing]” (1 (1 Corinthians 6:12).Corinthians 6:12).

1. Determine to obey God.1. Determine to obey God.

2. Determine to do good to 2. Determine to do good to others, instead of taking others, instead of taking

advantage of them:advantage of them:

““Put away the evil of your Put away the evil of your doings from before My doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. Seek Learn to do well. Seek

justice, rebuke the justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the oppressor; defend the

fatherless, plead for the fatherless, plead for the widow” widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17).(Isaiah 1:16-17).

1. Determine to obey God.1. Determine to obey God.

2. Determine to do good to others, 2. Determine to do good to others, in-in-

stead of taking advantage of stead of taking advantage of them.them.

3. Determine to seek spiritual things, 3. Determine to seek spiritual things,

not the things of Earth: not the things of Earth:

““Seek those things which are Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, above, where Christ is,

sitting at the right hand of sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the above, not on things of the earth”earth” (Colossians 3:1-2)(Colossians 3:1-2)..

So true repentance affects So true repentance affects the intellectthe intellect, , the emotionsthe emotions, , and and the willthe will, , changingchanging the the

way we think, way we think, resulting inresulting in a a changechange in in the way we feel, the way we feel,

andand what we do what we do..

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

Repentance leads us to Repentance leads us to seek forgiveness, but it seek forgiveness, but it

isn’t forgiveness itself, for isn’t forgiveness itself, for that’s something which that’s something which

takes place in the mind of takes place in the mind of God.God.

Repentance leads the Repentance leads the unsaved to seek unsaved to seek

forgiveness through the forgiveness through the blood of Christ. blood of Christ. (Acts 2:38)(Acts 2:38)..