1. WHAT’S THE HARDEST COMMAND OF GOD’S WORD TO OBEY?

2. Acts 17:30-31 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” R e p e n t a n c e

3. Luke 13:3 “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” R e p e n t a n c e Repentance Is Essential To Salvation

4. R e p e n t a n c e In order to find favor with God man must repent Sin separates man from God “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6 “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1,2

5. One of the hardest commands to obey Repent For The Non-Christian Baptism is easy once he repents Acts 2:38 For The Christian Confession is easy once he repents Acts 8:22 It is Hard Because: It is the turning point – mind making decision It involves surrendering the will over to the Will of God The will is actually crushed and replaced with humility

6. What Repentance Is Not? Confession of sin- (possible without repent) Regret and sorrow - (Matt. 27:2-4) – tears cannot be a substitute for genuine repentance Forced change of conduct – (Gen. 19:26) Outward Change or Reform – (Joel 2:12-13) A Promise to do better – (Jeremiah 15:6)

7. The Elements of Repentance 1. Recognition of Sin David did not make excuses or try to lay the blame on others. (2 Sam 12:13) Psalm 51:3 - “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.”

8. The Elements of Repentance 2. Godly Sorrow Repentance is preceded by godly sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

9. Godly Sorrow sorrow involves a complete focus on God. Godly sorrow involves a complete focus on God. Psalms 51:1-4 – David sorrowed with a godly sorrow over his sin

10. Godly Sorrow Psalm 51:1-4 - Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

11. The Elements of Repentance Satan's substitute for this is worldly sorrow. In worldly sorrow we are sad about the consequences or being caught. Many have this kind of sorrow over their sin.

12. The Elements of Repentance Worldly Sorrow JEROBOAM 1 Kings 12:28-31 13:1-6 Concerned for the consequences Godly Sorrow DAVID 2 Sam. 12:13 Psalms 51 Concerned for relationship with God

13. The Elements of Repentance Worldly Sorrow JUDAS Matthew 27:1-4 Deep regret but didn’t change his heart He gave up and hung himself Godly Sorrow PETER Matthew 26:75 Wept bitterly over his sins before the Lord He picked himself up

14. The Elements of Repentance This is what repentance means! 1. Recognition of Sin 2. Godly Sorrow 3. Change of Heart / Mind

15. The Elements of Repentance The Attitude of Heart in Repentance Matthew 5:3-6 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, 4 Blessed are those who mourn, 5 Blessed are the meek, 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

16. The Elements of Repentance 1. Recognition of Sin 2. Godly Sorrow 3. Change of Heart 4. Change of Life

17. Repentance (Change of Mind) Godly Sorrow Deep Contrition Produces Change of Life Produces

18. Thayer: “to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins” (405). W. E. Vine says “this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God” (III: 281). Kittel’s Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament suggest that repentance involves turning away from evil (IV: 1004). A. T. Robertson said that when John called upon his hearers to repent, “John did not call on people to be sorry, but to change their mental attitudes and conduct” (Word Pictures In The New Testament, I: 24) Change of Life 1. Involves Turning From Evil

19. Change of Life 1. Involves Turning From Evil Nineveh “…repented at the preaching of Jonah…” (Matt. 12:41) “…they turned from their evil way…” (Jonah 3:10)

20. Change of Life 1. Involves Turning From Evil 2. Ceasing of Sin This includes an abhorrence of sin not just a cessation and separation from it. “Abhor what is evil, cleave to what is good.” Romans 12:9

21. Change of Life 1. Involves Turning From Evil 2. Ceasing of Sin 3. Restitution when possible Will want to undo the wrong that’s been done – Acts 16:34 This will involve confession to those we have wronged.

22. Change of Life 1. Involves Turning From Evil 2. Ceasing of Sin 3. Restitution when possible 4. Fruits of repentance (Matt. 3:8)

23. Matthew 3:1-8 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”…. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.” Change of Life

24. 1. Involves Turning From Evil 2. Ceasing of Sin 3. Restitution when possible 4. Fruits of repentance (Matt. 3:8) 5. A Longing for forgiveness Comes hungering and thirsting for God’s righteousness knowing that Christ is the only means of obtaining salvation. Acts 2:37-38; Acts 8:18-24

25. R e p e n t a n c e 1. Recognition of Sin 2. Godly Sorrow 3. Change of Heart 4. Change of Life Example – The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32