Repentance-The Hardest Command

Defined- OT, Hebrew word “naham” literally to lose one’s breathe, to pant, sight or groan. To lament and grieve. When used regarding wrongdoing, it is the expression of the heart which longs to return to relationship and to rue or truly regret and hurt over what severed the relationship.

Repentance-The Hardest Command• Naham is used over 40 times in the OT and is

used extensively to refer to God repenting. It does not mean God did wrong( 1 Sam. 15:29; Job 42:6;Jer.8:6- “God is not a man that He should repent”). God’s heart is grieved at man’s iniquity and in love He bestows His grace, or in justice He terminates His mercy. It indicates the aroused emotions of God which prompt Him to a different course in dealing with His people. When God repents it is not for anything He has done, but His reaction to how man reacts to God’s commands and precepts.

Repentance-The Hardest Command• OT Hebrew word, shubh, a conscious moral

separation and a personal decision to forsake sin and enter into fellowship with God. To TURN or RETURN.

• NT, metamelomai, to have a feeling of care, concern or regret. It expresses the emotional aspect of repentance. It signifies to be careful or concerned about and be sorry but not in the sense of abandonment of sin (Matt. 21:29,32; 27:3) Judas repented in that he had remorse or regret, but not to the point of being sick over sin.

Repentance-The Hardest Command• NT, Gr. Metanoeo, to have another mind. To change

the mind. To turn. This repentance shows its reality in producing good fruits appropriate to a spiritual life (Matt. 3:8).

• NT, Gr. Epistrepho, to turn over, to turn upon, to turn unto.

• Repentance- a change of mind accompanied by grief over sin which result in a change of actions (fruits). True repentance (as it refers to man) involves all of these aspects. One can be in grief over being caught but only to point of getting over the immediate problem. The Bible teaches that “godly sorrow works repentance” (2Cor. 7:9-11).

Repentance- The Hardest Command

• THREE ELEMENTS OF REPENTANCE 1. Intellectual Element- The change in a sinners

heart that moves him to change his evil ways. Man must see sin as an utterly offensive act against God. He must also realize that God’s ways are perfect and right and long to stay in relationship with God’s right Way. He must be aware of the consequences of his actions (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Sin separates, repentance restores relationship and makes whole again.

Repentance-The Hardest Command

• 2. The Emotional Element- One may have a knowledge of his sin without being touched by how awful it is. One may dread punishment but not hate his sin. An emotional element must accompany true repentance. See Psalm 51:1,2; 10-14 and David’s description of his feelings over his sins and his humility in appealing to God for mercy (indicating his feeling of true sorrow over offending God).

Repentance-The Hardest Command

3. The Voluntary Element- This involves the conscious decision to turn or return. The demand for repentance implies free will and individual responsibility for sin.

All of these elements must be present in true biblical repentance. Repentance is plainly an intellectual awareness of what sin is which moves one to emotional sorrow over offending God resulting in a voluntary decision to return to relationship with God.

Repentance-The Hardest Command

INDUCEMENTS TO REPENT:1. Goodness of God-Rom. 2:4-…The goodness of God lead to

repentance.2. Severity of God- Rom. 11:22-Behold the goodness and severity

of God, on those who fell severity, but toward thee goodness, if you continue in His goodness; or else you will be cut off.

3. Assurance of God- Act 17:30-God commands all men to repent.

4. Judgment of God- 2 Cor. 5:10-we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

REPENT OR PERISH- TURN OR BURN!

Luke 13:5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

Acts 17:30

Romans 3:23Sinners need to repent

Why Preach on Repentance?

1 John 1:81 John 1:8

Back-sliding Christians Back-sliding Christians need to repentneed to repent

Repentance = “a change of mind which results in a change of conduct”

Turn from evil and turn to the good!

Ch

an

ge o

f Lif

e1. Involves Turning From Evil1. Involves Turning From Evil2. Ceasing of Sin2. Ceasing of Sin

Nineveh “…repented at thepreaching of Jonah…”

(Matt. 12:41)

“…they turned from theirevil way…”(Jonah 3:10)

“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and

turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious

and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,

and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:13

“Let your hearts be broken, and not your clothing,”

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 = Two Words for repent

[1] Metamelomai = “after-care” remorse or regret

Judas is an example

[2] Metanoeo = “after-knowledge” a change of mind that includes:

Change of opinion in regard to the nature of sin

Change of opinion about sin and God

Change of opinion about the punishment of sin

He abhors and hates sin in his heart

He desires to stop sin

Change in your mind about sin

Do not have the desire to repeat sin

Reformation of conduct

Leads to confession and restitution

Sorrow of the world - sorrow for sin

Founded on selfishness

Not a change of opinion about sin

How can false repentance be known ?

Leaves the feelings unchanged

Still in love with the sin (return over and over)

By someone’s fruits

Works Death

Only partial reformation of conduct

It is temporary

A forced reformation

“Rend your hearts not your garments” Joel 2:13

Repentance is an inside job, not an outside job !

Godly Sorrow Worldly Sorrow

Repentance

Changeof Mind

GodlySorrow

DeepContrition

Produces

Changeof

Life

Produces

IS NOT JUST: Regret Giving a report to someone about what you did Being filled with sorrow Walking down the aisle in the church building Saying “I’m sorry” Just stopping the doing of wrong Starting to attend the services

IS : A way of life True hatred of what was done and a resolve never to do it again Being Ashamed of what you did Not just a one time event Continual - as long as we live

Good

Light

Power of God

Righteousness

Faith

Forgiveness

Evil

Darkness

Power of Satan

Sin

Dead Works

Wickedness

1 Pet. 3:10-12

Acts 26:17-18

Acts 26:18; Rom. 1:16

Ezek. 18:24-28

Heb. 6:1; Rev. 2:5

Acts 8:22

In Christ =

SAVEDBaptized (Gal.3:27)

Confess (Rom.10:10)

Hear (Rom.10:17)

Faith (Jn.8:24)

Repent (Lk.13:3)

Cleansed 1 Jn. 1:9

Forgiven

Pray – Acts 8:22

Repent of sins – Acts 8:22

Confess sins – 1 Jn.1:9

One of the hardest commands to obeyOne of the hardest commands to obey

RepentRepentFor The Non-Christian

Baptism is easyonce he repents

For The erring ChristianConfession is easy

once he repents

It is Hard Because:• It is the turning point – decision making point

• It takes humility• It involves an admission of wrong

Luke 13:5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted;” 2 Cor.7:10a NKJV