God and Repentance

TEXT:  Luke 13:1-5

INTRODUCTION:

A.      COMMON CONCEPT:  CORRELATION BETWEEN SIN AND SUFFERING.

B.      REPENTANCE THE HARDEST COMMAND.

          1.       Starts in the heart with affections.

          2.       Deals with long standing life-styles, habits, passions.

I.      THE IMPORTANCE OF REPENTANCE.

A.      PLACE IN NEW TESTAMENT PREACHING.

          1.       Jonah and Ninevah( Matt. 12:41 ).

          2.       John the Baptist( Matt. 3:1ff., 11 ).

          3.       Jesus( Matt. 9:13;  11:20ff. ).

          4.       Peter( Acts 2:38;  3:19;  2 Pet. 3:9 ).

          5.       Paul( Acts 17:30 ).

B.      PLACE IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.

          1.       Necessary for remission of sins( Acts 2:38;  Luke 24:47 ).

          2.       Necessary for eternal life( Luke 13:5 ).

C.      IMPORTANCE SEEN IN THE AWFULNESS OF SIN.

          1.       What it does to man.

          2.       What it does to our relationship with God.

          3.       Consequence( Rom. 6:23 ).

II.     THE DEFINITION OF REPENTANCE.

A.      REPENTANCE, metanoia "afterthought, change of mind, repentance."

          1.       Change of knowledge( Acts 17:30 ).

          2.       Change of affections( Rom. 12:9 ).

B.      CHANGE OF ACTIONS ALWAYS RESULTS( Matt. 7:16-18;  Col. 3:9-10 ).

C.      NOT THE SAME AS MERE REGRET( 2 Cor. 7:10 ). INVOLVES SORROW.

D.      DEMANDS RESTITUTION WHERE POSSIBLE( Luke 19:8 ).

III.    GOD AND REPENTANCE.

A.      GOD DEMANDS REPENTANCE( Acts 17:30 ).

B.      GOD DESIRES REPENTANCE( 2 Pet. 3:9;  Ezek. 33:10-11 ).

C.      GOD GIVES REPENTANCE( Acts 5:31 ).  HOW?  3 WAYS:

          1.       He gives all the ability to repent( Matt. 11:28;  Acts 11:18 ).

          2.       He gives time and opportunity to repent(  2 Pet. 2:9;  Luke 13:5-9 ).

          3.       He gives incentive to repent.

                   a.       The goodness of God( James 1:17;  Rom. 5:8;  Rom. 2:4 ).

                   b.       The severity of God( Rom. 2:2-5;  Acts 17:30-31 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      GOD WILL NOT FORCE YOU.  AN ACT OF THE WILL.

B.      OURS IS A LIFE OF REPENTANCE( Rom. 6:1-4;  8:22 ).