SOUND DOCTRINE ABOUT REPENTANCE
June 29, 2003 AM
Sermon Outline
TITUS 2:1 WITH ACTS 26:19,20
INTRO:Can people really change? Do people really change? Should people change? These are questions relating to repentance. I cannot help but wonder if repentance is not the critical step in establishing or correcting our relationship with God ... and with others. Saying all of the right words is an empty gesture if repentance from the heart has not changed the course of ones life. Seeking forgiveness while refusing to release the past cannot bring the forgiveness sought or the peace forgiveness promises. What can we say of sound doctrine about repentance?
I. THE REPENTANCE OF JUDAS
A. Note Mt 27:3-5
1. all sorts of speculation has been written about what Judas intended by his betrayal of Christ
2. but this is certain ... Judas betrayed the innocent blood... - and knew it
B. Scripture says that he...repented himself
1. what happened? did Judas change? no!!
2. he hanged himself - remorse, but no change of life (not NT repentance)
II. CONSIDER 2 COR 7:9-11
A. To be sorry is not all there is to repentance
1. it seems that Judas was sorry for what he had done
2. but gloom, despair, remorse, regret are not the nature of repentance
B. There was sorrow to repentance
1. there is a specific note made here of the direction of their sorrow
2. it was not sorrow toward themselves
3. it was sorrow toward God - ..godly sorrow..
4. consider Ps 51:3,4 - the psalmist had broken Gods heart!
C. Their repentance resulted in changed behavior!
1. ..what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves..
2. v. 11 is filled with the power of repentance - true repentance - in peoples lives
3. note Ps 119:59 - here is the aim and nature of true repentance
4. this is the facet of penitence which may not have made its impact on us
D. And true repentance brings permanent change
1. ..not to be repented of..
2. repentance which leads to change toward God is not to be regretted!
3. yes, there are so many momentary changes in peoples behavior ... but if the behavior needed to be modified in keeping with Gods pattern, it needed to be more than a momentary thing
4. Jno 5:14 & 8:11 - ..sin no more.. - Jesus sought permanent change!
III. REPENTANCE: A GREAT NEW TESTAMENT MESSAGE
A. John the Baptist preached this subject
1. Mt 3:2 - Repent ye..
2. apparently, however, many people who heard him only gave lip service to his message as far as their lives were concerned
3. so, Mt 3:8 - he knew that true repentance require the fruits of repentance
4. if there is no change of life, there has been no penitence!
B. Jesus certainly proclaimed the necessity of penitence
1. Lk 13:1-5 - perish is a very strong word - but He used it
2. Jesus did not come so that people could listen, give some sort of half hearted lip service to Him and go on living as they had always lived
3. He came to change peoples lives - and that change required repentance
4. Lk 24:46,47 - this potent message is vital to the world wide commission
C. Were the apostles true to the message?
1. Acts 2:37,38 - preaching Christ had resulted belief and in godly sorrow ... what should they do? repent and be baptized
2. change their hearts toward God and be cleansed in the obedience of baptism
3. Acts 20:21 - and this message continued
4. Acts 26:20 - note that here, again, is the do works meet for repentance - and this word do is critical here ... it means to practice habitually!
CLOSE: Is there a need for a change in you? A change in your relationship with God? Change your heart ... change your life ... change your destiny. Will you give heed to the testimonies of God and turn your life to Him this morning?
Cecil A. Hutson
29 June 2003