REPENTANCE
Repentance: Introduction
Repentance: Introduction
“Our Goal for this bible study is to learn what true repentance is."
Introduction
Our Christian society is engulfed with the Love of God. God’s love for us is amazing and it surpasses
all human understanding. Throughout the
Old Testament and the New Testament, repentance is required.
Today, we rarely hear, “Repentance” being taught. Because of
God's love, his mercy and grace, we are given an opportunity to
repent, that opportunity is God's grace and love in action.
Definition: Repent: (Gr. Metanoeo) means a change of mind
that results in a change of behavior, lifestyle, or conduct.
Repentance is not just sorrow. Repentance is complete change of attitude
toward sin and complete reverence toward God and his holy character. Repentance is accompanied by sorrow for one’s
sins along with a change in conduct. Both Jesus and John the Baptist came
preaching: Repent. (Matthew 3:2, 8; Matthew
4:17*)
Man alone does not have the ability to repent. Repentance occurs as a result of God’s mercy
in drawing man by his Spirit through his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 6:43-45
King James Version (KJV)
43 Jesus
therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It
is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man
therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Acts 5:29-32
King James Version (KJV)
29 Then
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather
than men.
30 The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted
with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his
witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given
to them that obey him.
Romans 2:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 Or
despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Blessing
of repentance and Consequences of failure to repent:
Romans 2:5-9
King James Version (KJV)
5 But
after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath
against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who
will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To
them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and
immortality, eternal life:
8 But
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation
and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also
of the Gentile;
“The process of Conversion involves Repentance
whereby we are born again.”
Let’s start our study of “Repentance” with the forerunner of
Christ: John the Baptist. Baptist
means baptizer, not a religious denomination.
History
of John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus Christ
Read: Luke 1:5-80
- John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth and he was a cousin to the Lord.
- His birth and ministry were promised by God, sent by an angel.
- John was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb.
- John was a prophet sent in the spirit of Elijah (Mal. 4:5; Matt. 17:12)
- John’s message was to prepare people for the Kingdom of Heaven
- John was a water baptizer; Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire (I will explain this later in the study.)
- Jesus testifies, “There is no greater Prophet than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11)
John the Baptist preaches Repentance to the people, preparing
the way of the Lord, baptizing in Jordan, requiring people to confess their
sins and bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
Questions:
- Before the introduction, how did you define repent/repentance?
- Have you repented?
- How are we able to come to Jesus?
- What is the purpose of God exalting Jesus?
- What does the goodness of God lead you too?
- According to Romans 2:5-9, what will be rendered to every man?
In our
next lesson, we’ll begin the study of “preaching of John the Baptist”, where his ministry was located. We'll take a walk through the history of the Old Testament on the Jordan River. John's ministry was the preaching of "Repentance". Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Homework:
Read
Matthew 3:1-12
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