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THE PLAN OF SALVATION (V)

continued from last week 12/05/04

Repentance is a step in the plan of Salvation.

What is repentance? Repentance is a divine requirement for salvation (Luke 13:3,5). One word (metamel’lomai) [3338] which is translated repent means "to regret (Matt. 21:29,32; 27:3; II Cor. 7:8; Heb. 7:21), to express the mere desire that what is done may be undone, accompanied with regrets or even remorse, but with no effective change of heart." Another word (metanoe’o) [3340] which is translated repent means "repent with regret accompanied by a true change of heart toward God. The word means to know. Therefore to repent after knowledge. It signifies a change of mind consequent to the after knowledge indicating regret for the course pursued and resulting in a wiser view of the past and future." This word is translated repent 34 times in the New Testament (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 11:20,21; 12:41; Mark 1:15; 6:12; Luke 10:13; 11:32; 13:3,5; 15:7,10; 16:30; 17:3,4; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 17:30; 26:20; II Cor. 12:21; Rev. 2:5,16,21,22; 3:3,19; 9:20,21; 16:9,11). The word (metan’oia) [3341] which is translated repentance means "a change of mind." It is used 24 times in the New Testament (Matt. 3:8,11; 9:13; Mark 1:4; 2:17; Luke 3:3,8; 5:32; 15:7; 24:47; Acts 5:31; 11:18; 13:24; 19:4; 20:21; 26:20; Rom. 2:4; II Cor. 7:9,10; II Tim. 2:25; Heb. 6:1,6; 12:17; II Peter 3:9). Therefore repentance expresses one’s change in attitude toward God, toward sin and is a must for salvation. This change of mind includes:

  • Regret – the sinner knows his sins have offended God (II Cor. 7:10).

  • Resolve – the sinner must indicate a change of will (Matt. 21:29; Luke 15:18).

  • Restore – the sinner must restore things as much as possible to the way they were before the sin (Luke 19:1-9). Restitution is involved in Bible repentance.

Repentance is not:

  • Regret alone (Matt. 27:3).

  • Being fearful you will get caught (Acts 24:25).

  • Confession (Prov. 28:13). An "if" statement – this kind of statement does not confess sin, but shows an attitude that speaks louder than any statement (Psa. 51:1-3).

  • Being in attendance at a worship assembly (Psa. 32:1; I Peter 3:8; Heb. 10:24,25).

  • Just stopping the sin – it is good when one stops doing wrong, but that sin is charged against one in heaven until he repents (Acts 2:36ff).

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    Who should repent? The alien sinner must repent to move toward salvation (II Cor. 7:10; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; Luke 13:3). The erring child of God must repent (Acts 8:20-24). A congregation guilty of:

  • Luke warmness (Rev. 3:14).

  • Leaving its first love (Rev. 2:4,5).

  • Being dead (Rev. 3:1).

  • Condoning false doctrine (Rev. 2:14).

  • Permitting sin (Rev. 2:20ff).

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    People are very quick to justify, rationalize and attempt to remove guilt when it involves themselves. King Saul sought to defend himself (I Sam. 15:13-22). King David repented when faced with his sin (II Sam. 12:1-14).

    Why should one repent? The number one reason is that repentance is a command from God. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31). Jesus said, " I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish....I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5). Repentance must precede forgiveness. The apostle wrote "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (I John 2:3-5). Paul wrote "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:3,4).

    How is repentance seen? A reformed life because the old man has been put to death (Matt. 3:8; II Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:5-7; I Cor. 6:9-11). Peter denied the Lord but he repented (John 21:15-17). Paul is an example of one who repented (Acts 9-28). Keep in mind that repentance is merely moving one toward salvation. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (II Cor. 7:10). Repentance is the hardest step in the plan of salvation.

    Confession is a step in the plan of Salvation.

    Who should confess. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32,33)? Whosoever means everyone. Jesus died for all men. Peter said, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18,19). Paul wrote, " But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:21-26).

    Larry Powers

    continued next week 12/19/04