Attitude of Repentance

TEXT:  Luke 24:46-48

INTRODUCTION:

A.  REPENTANCE MUST BE PREACHED – A NECESSITY (Acts 17:30; 3:19).

B.  A NEGLECTED AND MISUNDERSTOOD SUBJECT.

C.  SOMETIMES AVOIDED BY OUR BRETHREN.

I.  WHY PREACH ON REPENTANCE?

A.  GOD WANTS ALL TO REPENT (2 Pet. 3:9).

B.  COMMANDED (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:5).

C.  “UNTO THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS” (Acts 2:38).

D.  A RENEWAL TO WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE (Col. 3:9-10).

E.  A RENEWAL OF THE MIND (Rom. 12:2).

II. WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

A.  IT IS NOT:

          1.  Fear.  Felix (Acts 24:24-25).  Trembled but didn’t repent.

          2.  Regret – Judas (Matt. 27:3f).  Regretted – metamelomai. Didn’t repent.

          3.  Sorrow (2 Cor. 7:8-10).

          4.  Reform (Matt. 3:7-9).  Repent and turn (Acts 3:19).

          5.  Righteous reform is the result of true repentance.

B.  WHAT IT IS:

          1.  metanoia, a change of mind (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

          2.  A change of will (Matt. 21:28-31).

          3.  Illustrated in the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17-20).

III. THE ATTITUDES OF REPENTANCE.

A.  THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN.

          1.  Abhorance (Rom. 12:9).  Why?

                   a.  Separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2;  Rom. 5:10).

                   b.  Condemns us (Ez. 18:20;  Rom. 6:23).

          2.  Guilt (Psa. 32:3-4; 51:3-4).

          3.  Sorrow in the righteous (Psa. 51:16-17; 2 Cor. 7:9-10).

B.  TOWARD GOD.

          1.  Joseph knew the treachery of sin (Gen. 39:7-9; Psa. 41:4).

          2.  God’s goodness leads elsewhere.

                   a. James 1:17.  Every good thing.

                   b.  God’s goodness leads us (Rom. 2:4:  1 Cor. 6:9-11).

C.  TOWARD SELF

          1.  Humility taught (Rom. 12:3).

          2.  Don’t judge yourself by others (2 Cor. 10:12; Rom. 14:10-12).

          3.  Be honest like Paul (1 Tim. 1:15).

          4.  Pharisees vs. Publicans (Luke 18:9-14; 2 Sam. 12:13).

          5.  God’s promise (James 4:7-10).

D.  TOWARD OTHERS.

          1.  Restitution – the Jailor (Acts 16:33).  Beat them, then washed their stripes.

          2.  Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10).  Make right where possible.

          3.  Show fruits (Matt. 3:7-8; Acts 26:20).  WORKS.

CONCLUSION:

A.  THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET SAVED (Acts 17:30).

          1.  Is that all?

2.  Raised to walk in a new life (Rom. 6:4).

B.  ERRING CHRISTIANS (Acts 8:22;  Rev. 3:19;  1 John 1:6-7).