REPENTANCE

The Bible Teaches That …
1. WE MUST REPENT OR ELSE PERISH. In Luke 13:1-5, we find that Jesus taught certain people of his day that they must repent or else perish. If we are not willing to turn from the way of sin and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are doomed to destruction from the presence of God.

The word "repentance" comes from the Greek work "meta-noeo", which means, "to change one's mind," "to feel sorry for evil deeds done, and desire to refrain from them."

By this definition we may see what Jesus meant when he said that men must repent or else perish.

If we are not willing to leave the world of sin behind and enter into a state of holiness and godly living, then it is evident that we are not willing to repent and therefore we have no promise of receiving forgiveness.

Jesus told the story, in Matthew 21:28-31, of a father who had two sons, He told them, "Go work today in my vineyard." One of them said, "I will not," but later repented, and went. Here is an example of repentance. The son changed his mind; he was evidently sorry for refusing his father for he went to do his father's bidding. Thus it is with you and me. We must repent of our unwillingness to serve our heavenly Father and then proceed to do the things he wants us to do.

The Bible Teaches That …
2. REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND RESULTING IN A CHANGE OF. We find examples in the Bible where God promised destruction to certain people; but when they repented, He change His mind and extended to them mercy.

In the example of Nineveh, the story of which is found in the book of Jonah we find that God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to cry out against it. Though Jonah himself was rebellious, he was brought to repentance and went to cry out against the wicked city. When he did, they all repented in sackcloth and ashes and God changed His mind, deciding not to destroy the city.

The story of the prodigal son is one of a loving father who is willing to receive the wayward son when he repents and comes back to the father. No doubt Jesus told this story to show God's love for us when we are willing to repent and return to Him. The change of mind in the Ninevites and of the prodigal son resulted in a change of state or position.

The Bible Teaches That …
3. GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO BE LOST. In the text which is cited in the heading of this lesson, we read that - "the Lord is not slack concerning His promises as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish; but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9).

God desires us to be saved. Though man has sinned after his creation, yet God did not simply destroy him, but rather extended his mercy to him and gave him promise of redemption if he would heed His will. Even from Genesis 3:15, we find prophecies of the coming Messiah and Redeemer. Down through the entire Old Testament comes a chain of events showing the mercy of God to a wayward people and one promise after another that a Savior would come. Finally, when the fullness of time was come, He sent His son Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sins that we through Him might have life and have it more abundantly.

Even today the promise is to us; if we will believe in Christ and obey His will, we shall have remission of sins and can then go onward and upward to the home of the soul.

The Bible Teaches That …
4. REPENTANCE IS IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION. In Luke 24:47-48, we read: “And said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it hebooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

When the church was established on the day of Pentecost, as is recorded in Acts chapter 2, we find that Peter replied to those who asked him what they should do by saying, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

In Acts 3:19, Peter again said: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come form the presence of the Lord.” Paul said in his sermon in the midst of Mars Hill, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at: but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30).

By these scriptures we see that repentance was preached, just as Jesus said it should be.

The Bible Teaches That …
5. REPENTANCE IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THE PLAN OF SALVATION. On the day of the establishment of the church, (Acts 2), when the people wanted to know what to do, Peter said: “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins.” Evidently, these people understood this for we are told that: “As many as gladly received His word, were baptized, and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41).

CONCLUSION:

In the last three lessons, we have learned that we must hear the gospel, believe the gospel, and repent of our sins. In the next lessons we will find that we must also confess Christ, and be baptized before we may enjoy remission of sins.

Section 1 - Fill in the blanks.

Question 1 The Lord is not ______ concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is ______ to uswards, not willing that any should ______ but that ______should come to ______.

Question 2 The word “repentance” comes from the Greek word “______” which means “______.”

Question 3 The son who was asked by his father to go work in his vineyard said: “I will not,” but later, ______ and went.

Question 4 Jonah was sent to cry out against the city of ______.

Question 5 The story of the prodigal son is one of a loving father who will______ the wayward son when he repents and comes back to the father.

Section 2 - True or False

Question 1 Repentance is a change of mind resulting in a change of state.
TrueFalse

Question 2 At first Jonah was willing to go to the city of Nineveh.
TrueFalse

Question 3 The prodigal son repented but did not return to his father.
TrueFalse

Question 4 God does not want us to be lost.
TrueFalse

Question 5 We must repent or else perish.
TrueFalse

Section 3 - Yes or No

Question 1 Is repentance in God’s plan of salvation?
YesNo

Question 2 May we be saved without repentance?
YesNo

Question 3 Is it possible to enjoy remission of sins before we repent?
YesNo

Question 4 Must we repent and be baptized for remission of sins? (Acts 2:38).
YesNo

Question 5 Is it true that only Jews need to repent?
YesNo

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