Essentials Of Christianity: Repentance
Written By: Steve Shirley
*For Answer Key To Fill In The Blanks Go: Here
The word “repent,” or a form of it, is used 112 times in the Bible.
Why is repentance important?
(Lk 13:3,5) ______________________________
(Acts 3:19) ______________________________
(2 Cor 7:10) ______________________________
(Acts 11:18) ______________________________
Other verses: (Acts 2:39)(Acts 26:20)(Mt 4:17)(Mk 1:4,15)(Lk 5:32)(Ezek 18:30) (Acts 20:21)(Rom 2:4)(Prov 28:13)(Ezek 15:6)
What does it mean to repent?
It was one of Jesus’ “woes.” (You never wanted to hear a “woe” from Jesus!) Let’s look at (Mt 11:20-24).
We are commanded to repent: (Acts 17:30)(Mk 6:12)
Failure to repent will lead to our downfall or ruin (Ezek 18:30).
Jesus said it was the reason He came: (Lk 5:32)(Mt 9:13).
Let’s look at two examples of repentance:
Peter: (Mt 26:31-35) Peter says what I consider three of the most dangerous words anyone can say: ______________________________.
Let’s continue on to: (Mt 26:69-75)(Key verse: Mt 26:75) ______________________________
** Jesus foresaw that Peter would indeed repent in (Lk 22: 31-32).
Later, in (Jn 21:15-17), we can see Jesus restoring Peter during His resurrection.
David: Had an affair with Bathsheba, and then had her husband murdered to cover it up (2 Sam 11). He then spent approximately 1 year in unrepentant sin. He speaks in (Psalm 32) about how miserable his life was during this time. This was a mistake David apparently made only once in his life. Let’s look at his apology to God for this sin as found in (Psalm 51).
**Note: Notice that while God did indeed forgive David’s sin (2 Sam 12:13), He never forgot about it (Mt 1:6: “David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias:”)
For other examples of repentance on a larger scale see:
(Judg 10:15-16: Israel)
(Jonah 3:5-8, Mt 12:41: Nineveh)
WARNING! BUMPY ROAD AHEAD!
Question: If an abortionist believes in the things we have discussed to this point: the deity of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and the ABC’s, but he continues to abort babies daily, is he saved?
Let’s look at (1 Jn 3:9) ______________________________
These things are why preaching repentance is SO important. In a future study, prayerfully we will speak more about “judging,” and what the Bible says about it, however, I take the admonition God gave to Ezekiel personally:
(Ezek 3:18-21) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (19) Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (20) Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (21) Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Two great verses to always remember concerning repentance:
(2 Pet 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL should come to repentance. (Caps emphasis mine)
(Lk 15:7) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more that over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. (Also see: verse 10)