PURPOSE
- To help produce godly sorrow and transformation from a life of sin.
INTRODUCTION
- In our last study, we looked at what our life looks like when we are living according to our sinful nature. Let’s recap Galatians 5 and read further to see the life that God calls us to.
- Repentance is a life transformation. We stop living according to our sinful nature and start living for God.
THE NEED FOR REPENTANCE
LUKE 13:1-5
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
- If we don’t repent we will perish
- The word repentance comes from the Greek word Metanoia which means to transform your thinking, which in turn will transform your life.
THE HEART OF REPENTANCE
2 CORINTHIANS 7:10-11
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
- Godly sorrow brings repentance – Genuine sorrow leads to transformation.
- Worldly sorrow brings death – If we only “feel bad” but do not repent, it leads to the same destruction that we read about in Mark 9.
- See what this godly sorrow has produced in you…
- Earnestness: Strong determination to get right with God.
- Eagerness to clear yourself: Desire to be open and confess sin.
- Indignation: Righteous anger directed at Satan and sin.
- Alarm: Urgent fear of the danger that sin creates.
- Longing: Deep craving for reconciliation with God and a pure heart.
- Concern: For those whom sin hurts, including God.
- Readiness to see justice done: Taking responsibility for sin. Willing to own the consequences and implications of actions.
- Q: With the sin you have shared, what will repentance look like for you?
THE ACTIONS OF REPENTANCE
MARK 9:42-48
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’c]
- If your hand causes you to sin…cut it off – Jesus is radical about us dealing with sin.
- Better to have one eye than to be thrown into hell – If we do not deal with our sin, we will be thrown into hell.
ACTS 26:20
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
- Repent and turn to God – Godly sorrow requires that we keep our eyes on God.
- Demonstrate their repentance by their deeds – Repentance can be seen! The people around you should see a change in your behaviour as you repent.
THE JOY OF REPENTANCE
ACTS 3:19
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
- Repent and turn to God that your sins might be wiped out – God provides a solution for our sin when we repent…the Cross. We will study this out next time we meet together.
- Times of refreshing may come from the Lord – When we deal with our sin the way that God teaches us, we will be refreshed.
LUKE 15:3-7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
- Rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents – God is ecstatic about us repenting and reconciling our relationship with him.
FURTHER STUDY
Acts 17:30-31 God commands everyone to repent.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 Remove ourselves from those who live in sin.
Romans 2:1-11 God’s kindness should lead us to repentance.1 John 1:5-10 Live a life of openness.
Titus 2:11-14 The grace of God teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness.
2 Peter 3:8-14 The Lord wants EVERYONE to come to repentance.
Galatians 5:19-26 The contrast to living according to the flesh is living by the Spirit.
FURTHER STUDY
- Acts 17:30-31 God commands everyone to repent.
- 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Remove ourselves from those who live in sin.
- Romans 2:1-11 God’s kindness should lead us to repentance.
- 1 John 1:5-10 Live a life of openness.
- Titus 2:11-14 The grace of God teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness.
- 2 Peter 3:8-14 The Lord wants EVERYONE to come to repentance.
- Galatians 5:19-26 The contrast to living according to the flesh is living by the Spirit.
Video Resources
What is sin and how do I repent?
