Presented October 25, 2009
FRUIT WORTHY OF REPENTANCE (1)
Luke 3:8
From this example we learn what
repentance is actually about – DOING what is right.
Repentance is a subject we ALL need to think about.
Under both the Old Law and the New Law we find repentance is
essential to salvation.
Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “Unless
you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Acts 17:30-31 notes that God
commands “all men everywhere to repent…”.
You can also reference the churches in Revelation 2 & 3 with
problems. They were each
told to repent to make things right.
It would truly be sad to stand before God in judgment having not
repented of our sins. So
with that in mind, let us notice some things the Bible says about this
subject.
a.
Defined
- Thayer defines the Greek word as, “to change one’s mind.”
It is actually a compound Greek word (metanoéo) “denoting change
of place or condition” and “to exercise the mind, think, comprehend.”
(Word Study Dictionary, Zodhiates) In other words, repentance is
MORE than simply quitting something you were doing or doing something
you were not doing – it is the MINDSET that leads to that change.
TRUE repentance will NEVER take
place until we FIRST make up our minds to
permanently change whatever
wrong conduct we have engaged in.
If the determination of mind is NOT there neither is the
repentance!
b.
What it
is NOT
-
i.
Simply saying “I’m sorry”.
There are many who think that saying, “I am sorry” is a “get out
of jail free” card. That is
not true. TRUE repentance
involves sorrow, but there is also a realization of and acceptance of
the consequences of one’s sins.
Consider the child who uses the “I’m sorry” excuse every time he gets
caught taking a cookie. He
is not sincere, but has figured out that saying “I’m sorry” will garner
sympathy (or so he hopes).
But we know that only works so long.
BTW, ever wonder why some states have a “3 strikes law”?
After awhile, people begin to doubt the apologies because actions
speak louder than words.
ii.
Repeated apologies –
related to saying I’m sorry, I think of those who keep committing the
same sin(s) over and over.
Every time they sin they say, “I repent”.
But then they turn around and do the same thing at the next
opportunity they have.
Another example of this is the one who knows something is wrong and
reasons, “I will do it just this one more time.”
If one lives his life this way he must realize that he is not TRULY
CONVERTED! He doesn’t want
to stop sinning.
iii.
“Godly
sorrow” - In fact, 2 Corinthians 7:10 says that even “godly
sorrow” is not repentance.
In stead it leads to repentance.
What is godly sorrow? It is genuine sorrow for the wrong you have done
toward God. This is
different than the above sorrow in that it is going to produce good
fruit.
iv.
Regretting what you have done
– there are many reasons why people
regret evil conduct. Some
regret the consequences of their actions (i.e. the addict who has lost
his family, job, reputation, etc, but he can’t stop because of the power
of the addiction). Others
regret that they got caught (i.e. the thief who wishes he had committed
his crime in a different way).
Others regret what have to do (i.e. Herod regretted having to put
John to death and having made a rash promise to the daughter of Herodias
– Matt. 14:6-9). But others
would truly take back their conduct if they could.
The latter is involved in TRUE repentance.
v.
Being convicted of your sins
– Throughout scripture there are many examples of people convicted of
sin in their life. Some
repented but others did not.
Consider the example of Felix who trembled as Paul reasoned with him
about righteousness, self-control and judgment (Acts 24:25).
But he sent Paul away and there is no evidence he ever repented.
After Jesus responded concerning the adulterous woman brought to Him to
be stoned by saying, “He who is
without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:9
records, “Then those who heard it,
being convicted by their
conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to
the last.”
vi.
Confessing your sins – How
many times did Pharaoh tell Moses, “I have sinned” and then as soon as
Moses left, he hardened his heart again? (Cf. Ex. 9: 27, 10:16, etc.)
A hardened thief can admit to his crimes and not regret them.
Sometimes confession leads to a lighter sentence (but not
repentance).
You need to confess your sins to be forgiven, but that is NOT
repentance.
vii.
Conditional confession –
The more I think about it, I am convinced there is a word that should
NOT accompany TRUE repentance – “BUT”.
What this usually means is that one is acknowledging sin in their
own lives BUT it is not their fault.
There is always someone else to blame.
The reason I say this is not true repentance is because it draws
attention away from what I have done wrong!
It is seeking to justify why one sinned in some way.
Such attitudes are driven by ego and selfishness.
An example of this is found in 1 Samuel 15 where King Saul was commanded
to destroy the Amalekites. He
kinda sort of obeyed the
command, AT LEAST in his own eyes (he destroyed all except the king and
the good animals). Samuel
AND GOD thought different.
Vs. 10-11 describe the Lord’s reaction.
So Samuel confronts King Saul.
Saul begins making excuses – “the animals are to sacrifice”
(supposedly a noble gesture), (vs. 15); “But the people took the
plunder…” (vs. 20-21).
Notice Samuel’s response in vs. 22-23, God demands obedience OVER
sacrifices and such.
NOTICE what He thinks of rebellion and stubbornness.
NEXT notice vs. 24, “Saul
said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment
of the Lord and your words, BECAUSE I FEARED THE PEOPLE and obeyed their
voice. Now therefore, please
pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”
We KNOW this was not true repentance because of the way King Saul
acts after this. It was not
just about King Saul’s actions, it was his ATTITUDE!
Next week we are going to examine some examples of TRUE repentance and
you will see this developed more clearly.
You will NOTICE that true repentance doesn’t “pass the buck.”
viii.
Simply stopping what you were doing this time
– there are many who will stop doing something they know is wrong
because of some circumstance.
Some will behave one way when certain people are around and
another way when they are not around (or around different people).
For example: As a sports official I am around some worldly people who do
and say ungodly things. Many
of them know I am a preacher and as a result of that, when I am around
they change their language.
That is not repentance in any form.
If you stop doing something sinful NOW but intend to pick it up again in
the future you have NOT repented!
II.
Fruit worthy of repentance –
a.
Consider
the above list of things repentance is NOT.
While these things are not repentance,
TRUE repentance WILL be
demonstrated by possessing many of them (godly sorrow,
confession of sins, regret, stopping the sinful conduct, etc.).
True repentance CANNOT exist without a genuine change of mind
(heart).
b.
Above
that, Fruit worthy of repentance means that
you will do everything you can
within your power to make things right.
It is EVIDENCE that you really
have repented.
An example of one NOT demonstrating “fruit worthy of repentance” – a
convicted drug addict who has been ordered to complete a drug
intervention program. He
goes to the meetings and “jumps through all the hoops”.
When he completes the program it seems that he is one the right
track, but not long after he returns to his old ways.
He did not truly repent!
c.
Acts 3:19 says, “Repent
and be converted.”
This really helps us understand repentance.
It leads to CONVERSION.
That means you are truly changed!
We shall see this as we examine some examples of repentance in
scripture.
d.
2
Corinthians 7:8-12 – This
verse strongly illustrates what it means to repent.
Consider the background.
2 Corinthians written to address the response of Paul’s rebuke in
the first letter concerning a fornicating relationship (1 Cor. 5:1-8).
As a result of this letter at least 2 things happened: 1) His
critics increased their condemnation and 2) the sinner repented and now
they are instructed to receive him back (2 Cor. 2:3-11).
In our text (2 Cor. 7), Paul expands upon their
i.
What
diligence – this means to put
forth great effort. It means
to leave no stone unturned in trying to make things right.
ii.
What clearing of yourselves
– it means doing everything you can to make yourself right with God and
those you have sinned against.
Understand that if you have sinned you have to make it right with
God! We know what He
demands!
iii.
What indignation – how much do we hate sin?
If you have been guilty of sin are you disgusted in yourself because of
it? (Applies to all sin as
well)
iv.
What fear
– a realization of what you face if you DON’T get it taken care of.
Are you willing to spend eternity in hell because you refuse to
repent?
v.
What vehement desire – this is the craving to be right and do all you can to make it right.
vi.
What zeal
– the intense burning effort you put into making things right.
vii.
What vindication – like the clearing of yourselves it is doing everything to make it
right, and to PROVE that you are a changed person.
viii.
“In
all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
ix.
NOTICE vs.
12. Paul explains WHY he
wrote these things. It
wasn’t just about how to repent but because he wanted them to know how
much he cared and how important their relationship to one another was,
and ESPECIALLY their relationship to God.
And thus we can see an introduction to
what TRUE repentance is all about.
Next Sunday I want to continue to study this subject by looking
at some examples of true repentance as well as what the results of
repentance ought to be, including how we need to respond when one
repents.
Let it be understood that “unless you
repent, you will all likewise perish”.
Know that whether you are an alien sinner (having never obeyed
the gospel) or an out of duty child of God you need to repent.
If that is your condition, please see to it today while you still
have opportunity.