The Lord Demands Repentance

Repentance is the act of changing one's mind.  Repentance involves changing one's affections ‑ from earthly things to heavenly things. It involves turning to the living God from a god of self. It is looking unto Christ instead of looking unto another.

Repentance is a change in our affection, a turning to God. Leaving Satan and serving the Savior causes one to avoid destruction. Jesus Christ himself said, "I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).  It is bad to sin, but it is worse to sin and not repent.

Repentance is a direct challenge to man's will power. It demands that he humble himself before God, and give up everything that is contrary to his will. The holy demands of repentance have kept many of the high-minded out of the kingdom of God.

Repentance is a duty imposed upon all mankind. It is a plain command of God, and no man can refuse to repent without bearing the responsibility that must come upon him. When Jesus gave the world‑wide commission, He said, ". . .  that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all nations . . . "(Luke 24:47)."

Let us clear away some of the misunderstanding about repentance by learning what it is NOT. In the first place, repentance is not simply being afraid. Paul convicted Felix of his sins, Felix trembled with fear but he did not repent and turn (Acts 24:25). There are many people today who are afraid when they think of their sinfulness, but they, like Felix, refuse to repent, and die without hope.

In the second place, repentance is not simply being sorry that one has sinned. The murderers of Jesus sorrowed on Pentecost at Peter's preaching. They were pierced in their hearts by godly sorrow. Yet they were told to repent (Acts 2:38). Their sorrow was godly because it was produced by their faith in gospel preaching; but it was not repentance.

In the third place, repentance is not simply and solely a reformation of life.  A man may quit sinning and yet not repent toward God. He may quit because that particular sin renders him unpopular in his business or among his associates. Thus, he may reform his life for selfish reasons, but such reformation is not repentance. Simply stated, repentance is a change of mind, or will, based upon godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10), and resulting in a manner of life directed by Christ (Acts 26:20).

Our Lord illustrated repentance, "A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in the vineyard.  And he answered, I will not; but afterward he regretted it and went" (Matthew 21:28‑29). This boy began to reflect on what he had done.  He realized that he had disobeyed his father.  Becoming conscious of the fact that he sinned against his father, who was responsible for his very existence, he came to himself, acknowledged that wrong, and corrected it. He changed his mind (repented), and did that which he said he would not do.  Jesus said that was repentance.

The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah (Matthew 12:41).  God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way . . . (Jonah 3:10).  The preaching of the prophet of God changed the mind of the Ninevites, and this change led them to turn from their evil way. This change of mind was repentance.

All men need to repent. All men sin and as a result, all men need to turn from sin and turn to righteousness.  God now commands all men everywhere to repent.  Also, He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus.  The raising of Jesus from the dead provides assurance of the judgment (Acts 17:30-31).

There is a blessing in repentance. For the one who has never been baptized into Christ, turning to the living God through repentance is an initial step of his response to the love of God.

When man sins, he must either repent or perish.  It is just that simple. It is an either, or proposition. Man must face judgment and that is the reason God has commanded all men everywhere to repent.  God is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

God uses love to bring us to repentance.  ". . . the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4).  The kindness of God is revealed in the life and death of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Study the life of our Lord.  See the beauty of holiness manifested through His earthly pilgrimage.  Follow Him to Calvary, and watch Him suffer there, dying for our sins, making it possible for poor sinners to be saved, and to become children of God.  Now, ask why all this flow of love.  Ask why all this display of goodness.  Just to lead us to repentance!

Written Review Lesson Three

Write within the blank the letter of the term that is related within the lesson and then transfer answers to the ANSWER SHEET.  Five points each.

1.                  ___Repentance                            A.  Assurance of the judgment

2.                  ___ Acts 17:30-31                       B.  Illustrated repentance

3.                  ___ Repented                              C.  Change of affections

4.                  ___ Matthew 21:28-29                 D.  Ninevites

5.                  ___ Initial step                            E.  Turning to God

Fill in the blanks.  Five points each.

1.                  Repentance is a change in our _____________.

2.                  Repentance is a direct challenge to man's ____________.

3.                  Repentance is a ________ imposed upon all mankind.

4.                  Repentance is not simply being _________ that one has sinned.

5.                  Repentance is not simply and solely a ______________ of life.

True or False.  Five points each.

1.                  _____  Simply being sorry that one has sinned is always an indicator of repentance.

2.                  _____  All high-minded people are always ready to repent. 

3.                  _____  Repentance is simply a reformation of life.

4.                  _____  All men need to repent.

5.                  _____  The kindness of God leads us to repentance.

Circle the one answer that best answers the question or completes the statement and then transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET.  Each correct answer is worth five points each.

1.  Repentance is

          A.  A change of affections

          B.  A turning to the living God

          C.  A direct challenge to our willpower

          D.  All of the above

          E.   B & C only

2.  Repentance is a __________change.

          A.  Mental

          B.  Physical

          C.  Social

          D.  All of the above

          E.  Only A & C

3.  God uses _________to bring us to repentance.

          A.  His love 

          B.  His word

          C.  His kindness

          D.  All of the above

          E.  Only A & C

4.  The people of Nineveh repented because of

          A.  Palm Sunday

          B.  The preaching of Jonah

          C.  The prayer of the unrighteous

          D.  Both A & B

          E.  Both B & C

5.  Within themselves, each of these is always a complete indicator of true repentance

          A.  Fear

          B.  Reformation of life

          C.  Simply being sorrowful for sin

          D.  All of the above

          E.  None of the above