Thursday, August 27, 2015

Repentance: Part 1 - The Starting Point


John
17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

As Christians, the Word of God is our sole authority for faith and practice. Truth and meaning is defined by the Word of God and not by the world's self proclaimed "politically correct." The Bible is the standard for truth ...  it is a "dictionary" defining its own terms.

Luke 11:28 “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

 "Repentance" is a Biblical term and must be understood according to its biblical definition. This word is from the Greek word "metanoia" derived from "meta" meaning change and "noia" meaning mind.  Literally repentance means to "change your mind." This word implies to turn from the desires of the carnal mind that we inherited from Adam and to turn to the desires of the spiritual mind that we inherited from Christ when we were born again.  The battlefield is in the mind. The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines “Repentance” as real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of His holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called “evangelical repentance”, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life. Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God. I’ve heard that repentance is when we are walking away from God and His holy word, will and way, then we stop, make a u-turn and walk towards God, but it is more than that. Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

There are two types of evangelical repentance. (1) Repentance unto salvation is the first step in turning to God in order to receive the new birth.  This type of repentance happens when we are born again. (2) The second type of repentance is returning to God when we have been born again but have fallen from fellowship. This type of repentance in our daily walk allows us to turn from our sinful nature and unto fellowship and communion with God and with His son Jesus Christ. When we, who have been born again, break our fellowship with God, the verse in 1 John 1:9 applies so that we can repent, turn around, and return back to him:  “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Most people will not listen when they hear the word “repentance”. They think that "repent" means to judge another person or themselves for doing wrong. They will not mention the politically incorrect word "sin" because sin is contrary to the politically correct definition of "tolerance."  According to John 3:19-20: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”


Acts 3:17-19 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”

Let's continue this great message on repentance tomorrow.
In Christ, Brian

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