Repentance
Thursday, March 30, 2006
9:50 PM
- What is Repentance?
- 1. To feel
remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to
do; be contrite.
- 2. To feel such regret for past conduct as to change
one's mind regarding it: repented of intemperate behavior.
- 3. To make a change for the better as a result of
remorse or contrition for one's sins.
- To whom do we repent?
- Those that we trespass/sin/owe a debt:
- First to God
- Then to those we sinned against:
- Those people directly affected by our sin
- Indirectly too - a little leaven leavens
the whole bread
- Why do we need to repent?
- Jesus told us - Matthew 3:2 " Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- We are saved through repentance
- Repentance is a matter of life and death:
Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all
likewise perish.
- Our relationship with God dies unless we repent
- Our relationships with one another die if we do not
repent
- Repentance defines us as Christians!
- We receive forgiveness for our sins and along with
that, restoration with God
- Jesus' sacrifice paid the debt we owe, unless we
repent for our sins, we are not saved!
- We have certainty of salvation - all other
religions can only hope to be saved if people are good enough!
- What happens when we repent?
- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness
- We are restored to fellowship (with him and one
another)
- What stories in the Bible illustrates repentance?
- David & Bathsheba:
- He repented after a friend was faithful
(It is also a good illustrations of the danger of power and of
self-justification)
- He did not avoid severe consequences!
- He did not keep his sin hidden after he repented
- Cain and Abel:
- Cain did not repent and was expelled
- Joseph's brothers repented (but not until after they
had suffered extreme hardship)
- Others?
- When do we repent?
- As soon as we become aware (through others or HS or
conscience) that we need to
Matthew 5:25
" Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are
with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge,
and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison"
- What if we are not forgiven when we ask someone to
forgive us?
- Well, clearly, they did not come to the last youth
meeting!
- What you release on earth is released in heaven
- When we repent, we release the debt to be paid by
God
- Appeal, confess, express contrition, desire for
change, and ask that they would repent
- Then be released, but continue to pray for the
person that they would not grow bitter and that you may be restored to
fellowship
- Obstacles to repentance
- How do we repent?
5"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my
eye sees You;
6Therefore I
retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes."
o
To
one another
- What about after we have repented? Do we get off scot-free?
- Matthew 3:8 " Therefore bear fruit in keeping
with repentance;
- David after repenting from killing off Uriah lost
his son, and had his son turn on him and had the kingdom divided!
- What happens if we do not repent?
- Psalm 38:18 "For I confess my iniquity;I am
full of anxiety because of my sin"
- Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another day
after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none
of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin"
- Heb 3:7Therefore, just as (A)the Holy Spirit says,
"(B)TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
8(C)DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS
WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS IN THE
DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
9(D)WHERE YOUR
FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me,
AND SAW MY
WORKS FOR (E)FORTY YEARS.
o
God
will be against us! He will oppose us
(opposes the proud, gives grace to the humble).
He still loves us and does not want any of us to perish - He will allow
us to fall on hard times (even if it is not catastrophic, we will know that we
have a choice) until we call upon him
- Some practical stuff:
- Creation Work weekend
- Need commitment by next youth meeting
- Bring tent, sleeping bag, etc for 2 nights
- Leave Fri PM, work Sat, worship Sun
- Become part of the Creation gang!
- Creation
- Need commitment by April 30
- All will work
- Staff if over 14, leave Tuesday
- Camp staff if under
- Youth under 13 accompanied by parents
- Internet Café for Steve Moore - 8 people. Let me know of your interest and we
will give Steve those that seem to be best suited:
- Selling and monitoring
- PC literate
- Able and willing to enforce limits
- Pay is free admission (paid for by Steve)
- 4-hour shifts, 2 people each, 16-hour day
- About 40 so far going
- Will get same spot - need help from parents with
food, gear, coming along etc
o
Katrina
trip
·
JD
going
·
Last
chance to sign up is Sunday!
o
Dia
- sick - let's pray for her