Return to 2013 Sermons Page


How To Repent

Introduction: Luke 13:1-5

  1. The prevailing belief among Jesus’ audience was that calamity was caused by the sinfulness of those affected.

  2. Jesus denies this and gives warning about His audience’s need to repent.

  3. A far greater calamity awaited those who refused to repent.

  4. The Bible is clear on the necessity of repentance. Luke 13:3; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30-31

  5. There is an oft asked question that we need to answer, How to repent.

  6. This is how we’ll spend our time this hour, making sure we understand how to repent.

  7. Repentance is, from beginning to end, a mental process. It is, literally, a change of mind. “To change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins,” Thayer

DISCUSSION: How to repent.

  1. COME TO A REALIZATION THAT YOUR COURSE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

    1. This is what Jesus was seeking to get across, Luke 13:3-5.

    2. There is a source of conduct outside of man, Jer. 10:23.

    3. Breaking that code of conduct is called sin and it separates us from God,
      Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23.

    4. Paul stressed the judgment to the Athenians, Acts 17:30-31.

    5. The Jews on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:37.

    6. Simon of Samaria, Acts 8:18-24.

    7. Godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7:10.

  2. ENQUIRE AS TO THE CORRECT COURSE

    1. What shall we do? Acts 2:37.

    2. What wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9:6.

    3. For some it’s a matter of remembering a course already learned, Rev. 2:5.

    4. We can certainly stress the need for Bible study here. Psa. 119:11; Col. 3:16;
      2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:18; Matt. 5:6

  3. RESOLVE TO FOLLOW THAT COURSE

    1. This is the point where repentance comes in.

    2. It is the change of mind that causes change of direction, Rom. 6:17-18;
      1 Cor. 6:9-11.

    3. Saul of Tarsus. Acts 8:3; Acts 22:4; Acts 26:9; Gal. 2:20.

    4. To the death, Rev. 2:10.

    5. [While we stress that the act of repentance is a mental act we must recognize that the effects of repentance are often physical. So, when we study how to repent we must show how one may see repentance.]

  4. BRING FORTH FRUITS

    1. Matt. 3:8; James 2:18

    2. Restitution. Luke 19:8-9

      1. A thief cannot repent AND keep the stolen goods.

      2. A slanderer cannot repent AND fail to correct the lie.

      3. A child-napper cannot repent AND keep the stolen child.

      4. An adulterer cannot take a wife, repent AND keep the wife God has not authorized.

    3. Walking in the light. No repentance in mere words. For one to have repented their direction will have changes. 1 John 1:7-9; John 8:31; Heb. 5:8-9; Rev. 2:10.

    4. Labor, Phil. 4:3

CONCLUSION: How To Repent:

  1. Know the course you’re on leads to death.

  2. Learn the course you should be on.

  3. Resolve to follow the course.

  1. Follow the course.

 

From: http://preachersfiles.com/how-to-repent/




Return to 2013 Sermons Page