Page 530 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REPENTANCE

Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse summarizes Paul’s determine to change certain things in their lives that
preaching and the true Gospel message: repentance produced that trouble. This is not repentance, because it
toward God and faith in Christ. The sinner must repent does not deal with one’s wickedness against Almighty
about his disobedience toward God and exercise faith in God and does not result in a change of attitude and
the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for his sin. action in relation to God. (4) True repentance is
Acts 26:20. “But showed first unto them of Damascus, permanent (v. 10).
and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of 2 Corinthians 12:21. “And lest, when I come again, my
Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail
and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Paul many which have sinned already, and have not repented
preached the same message as John the Baptist, so no of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness
one can limit this to the dispensation of the law. The which they have committed.” Repentance is not about sin
words of this verse, “that they should repent and turn to in general; it involves a change of mind and a change of
God, and do works meet for repentance,” show that action concerning specific sins.
repentance is not a work! When we preach repentance 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10. “For they themselves show of
for salvation, we are not preaching a works salvation, as us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how
some have charged. When we say that repentance ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true
produces a change of works, it would be ridiculous to God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he
say that the two are one. Food produces energy and raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from
strength; labor produces sweat; but they are different the wrath to come.” This passage gives a perfect
things, so repentance and works are two separate definition of salvation repentance. It is turning to God
things. Repentance produces and results in good works, from idols to serve the living and true God. Note that
but repentance itself is not works salvation. The bottom repentance is directed to God (compare Acts 20:21;
line is this: Paul preached repentance and required that 26:20). Repentance results in a change of life (turning
repentance produce a change in the life. We must do the from idols to serve God).
same today. Those who accept a mere prayer as 2 Timothy 2:25-26. “In meekness instructing those
salvation and who baptize people who demonstrate no that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
change of life are not following the Bible pattern of repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that
evangelism. they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,
Romans 2:4. “Or despisest thou the riches of his who are taken captive by him at his will.” Repentance
goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not produces “acknowledging of the truth” and recovery
knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to from the snare of the devil. Repentance is a work of God
repentance?” God does many things with the objective in the heart of a responsive sinner. God convicts of sin
of bringing men to repentance. This is another reminder and calls the sinner to repentance and faith in Christ,
that God desires that all men repent. and if the sinner responds, God grants salvation and
2 Corinthians 7:9-11. “For godly sorrow worketh fulfills His work of repentance in the sinner’s life.
repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the Hebrews 6:1. “Therefore leaving the principles of the
sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying
selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and
carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of of faith toward God.” The ‘repentance from dead works’
yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, is obviously a change of mind that results in a change of
what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! action.
In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this Hebrews 12:17. “For ye know how that afterward,
matter.” Lessons: (1) Repentance is the product of God’s when he would have inherited the blessing, he was
Word (v. 8; Jonah 3:5; Acts 2:38-41). (2) Repentance is rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he
a change of mind that results in a change of life. The sought it carefully with tears.” Bruce Lackey says: “Since
Corinthians’ repentance produced a great change in there is no record of Esau trying to change the sale of
their manner of living: “carefulness ... clearing of his birthright to Jacob (Ge. 25:29-34), this must refer to
yourselves ... indignation ... fear ... vehement desire ... his effort to get Isaac to change the blessing from Jacob
zeal ... revenge.” (3) Repentance is not the same as back to himself (Ge. 27:34). Some interpret this to
reformation or other forms of “the sorrow of the world.” mean that Esau could not repent; I think it means that
Repentance has to do with God and sin, whereas he could not get Isaac to repent of having given the
reformation has to do with other people and with firstborn’s blessing to Jacob. In either case, the meaning
conditions and things in this world. Many people, when of repentance would be the same. Esau found a place to
they get into trouble, are sorry for the trouble and they change his mind, but he could not find a place to

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