Beginning the Christian Life
Repentance
Matthew 3:1-12 (KJV)
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Additional Definitions
“Repentance may be defined as the voluntary change in the mind of the sinner whereby he turns from sin. It involves a change of view, a change of feeling, and a change of purpose.”
“Repentance expresses that mighty change in mind, heart, and life wrought by the Spirit of God.”
“It describes that deep and radical change whereby a sinner turns from the idols of self and sin unto God, and devotes every movement of the inner and outer man to the captivity of His obedience.”
“It implies an intellectual and a hearty giving up of all controversy with God upon all and every point. It implies a conviction that God is wholly right, and the sinner wholly wrong, and a thorough and hearty abandonment of all excuses and apologies for sin.”
What is associated with repentance?
- FAITH
- Mark 1:15 – – “Repent ye, and BELIEVE the Gospel.”
- Acts 20:21 – – “REPENTANCE toward God and FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- BAPTISM
- Acts 20:21 – – “REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you”
- c) CONVERSION (see supplementary study)
- Acts 3:19 – – “REPENT ye therefore, and be CONVERTED…”
- TURNING TO GOD
- Acts 26:20 – – “The Gentiles should REPENT and TURN TO GOD”
- WORKS
- Acts 26:20 – – “The Gentiles should REPENT and turn to God, and DO WORKS meet for REPENTANCE.” (Revelations 2:5)
- FRUITS
- Matthew 3:8 – – “Bring forth therefore FRUITS meet for REPENTANCE.” (Revelations 2:5)
Do Christians repent?
Where ever there is sin , there must be repentance!
- THE CORINTHIANS
- 2 Corinthians 7:9 – – “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to REPENTANCE…”
- Corinthians 12:20-21 – – “For I fear, lest, when I come…my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not REPENTED of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
- THE EPHESIANS
- Revelations 2:5 – – “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT and do thy first works…”
- IN PERGAMOS
- Revelations 2:16 – – “REPENT; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
- IN SARDIS
- Revelations 3:3 – – “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT…”
- IN LAODICEA
- Revelations 3:19 – – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and REPENT.”