REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

Mark Blackburn / General Adult

Christian Development Course Level 1 / Repentance

 

REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

DEFINITION OF REPENTANCE

Webster’s Dictionary states that repentance means “to feel sorry or self-reproachful for what one has or hasn’t done; to feel so contrite over one’s sins as to change, or decide to change one’s ways.”

1.   Metamellomai—is a Greek word meaning to regret, to care afterwards, to be sorry for.

2.   Metanoeo—is a Greek word meaning to think differently, to change one’s mind, purpose, or opinion.

 

2 Corinthians 7:8–10 KJV 1900

⁸ For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

 

A.       “I do not repent”(verse 8) means he had not changed his mind (see definition 2).

B.       “Though I did repent” (verse 8) means he did feel regret or sorrow (see definition 1).

C. “Repentance to salvation” (verse 10) means a change of mind (see definition 2).

D. “Not to be repented of” (verse 10) means that we should never feel sorry that we have repented unto salvation (see definition 1).

DEFINITION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

1.   Sin entered the world by one man and death by sin—both physical and spiritual death (Romans 5:12-21).

2.   Sin when it is finished brings forth death (James 1:15).

3.   The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

4.   We who were dead in trespasses and sins God has quickened, i.e., made alive (Ephesians 2:1).

5.   God has quickened us who were dead in sin (Colossians 2:13).

6.   The blood of Christ purges our consciences from dead works (Hebrews 9:14).

7.   Works of the flesh will produce spiritual death (Galatians 5:16-21).

 

•   Jacob—In his return to Bethel (“House of God”), he commanded the members of his household to do three things (Genesis 35:1-3):

1.   “Put away the strange gods from among you.” This is a type of removing anything from our lives that separates us from God. (See Judges 10:15-16.)

2.   “Be clean.” This is a type of cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit. (See II Corinthians 7:1.) We can accomplish this by heeding the Word of God. (See Psalm 119:9; Isaiah 1:16; John 15:3.)

3.   “Change your garments.” This is a type of laying aside the garments of sin and being clothed with salvation. (See Job 29:14;Isaiah 61:10; I Peter 5:5; Revelation 3:18.)

 

•   Nineveh—This vast city of Assyria repented at the preaching of Jonah the prophet. (See Jonah 3:5-10; Matthew 12:41.) Notice what the people did:

1.   They fasted. Both humans and beasts did without food for three days, thereby expressing their genuine contrition.

2.   They turned from their evil way. This is the essence of true repentance.

3.   They turned from the violence that was in their hands.As a result, God saw their repentant spirit and spared them.

 

•   Nebuchadnezzar—Daniel explained true repentance to this king (Daniel 4:27):

1.   “Break off thy sins by righteousness.”

2.   “And [break off] thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor.”

3.   “If it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”

 

•   Isaiah—One of Israel’s greatest prophets gave insight into repentance (Isaiah 55:6-7):

1.   Seek the Lord and call on him.

2. Let the wicked forsake his way.

3.   Let the unrighteous forsake his thoughts.

4.   Let him return to the Lord.

 

The result of this type of repentance is that “God . . . will abundantly pardon.”

WORKS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE

In the following verses meet means suitable, proper, fitting, appropriate, worthy, and becoming.

 

1.   “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8).

2.   “Repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20).

3.   “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). The word worthy in this verse means the same as meet in Matthew 3:8.

Paul enumerated many wonderful things that will happen to a person who turns to God for salvation. (Acts 26:18 “18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”.)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES ON REPENTANCE

1.   “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

2.   “The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

3.   “The goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

4.   “But now [God] commands all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

5.   “God perhaps will give them repentance” (II Timothy 2:25).

6.   “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

7.   “Godly sorrow works repentance” (II Corinthians 7:10).

8.   “Then Peter said unto them, Repent. . .” (Acts 2:38).

9.   “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).

10.      “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (Luke 24:47).

11.      “Repent ye therefore, and be converted” (Acts 3:19).

12.      “God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).

THE RESULTS OF REPENTANCE

1.   “God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

2.   “And you . . . hath he quickened . . . having forgiven you of all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13).

3.   “Him hath God exalted. . . for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).

4.   “In whom we have . . . the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

SEVEN WORKS OF REPENTANCE

1.   Carefulness—a lest we sin.

2.   Clearing—freeing ourselves of .

3.   Indignation—a of sin.

4.   Fear—of God and sin’s .

5.   Vehement Desire—to be and to God’s Word.

6.   Zeal—in for God and His cause.

7.   Revenge—in the sense of acknowledging and the of sin.

PARABLES

1.   Parable of two sons (Matthew 21:28-32).

2.   Parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7).

3.   Parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10).

4.   Parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

REPENTANCE FOR THE SAVED

1.   When Job prayed for his friends, God accepted his prayer for them and turned the captivity of Job, i.e., He made him prosperous again (Job 42:1-10).

2.   There are ways to be reconciled to our brother (Matthew 5:23-34).

3.   We can learn how to handle trespasses against us (Matthew 18:15-17).

4.   When we confess our sins, God forgives and cleanses us (I John 1:7-9).

5.   Confessing and forsaking sin bring mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

6.   If we sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One (I John 2:1-2).

7.   In prayer we are to ask for forgiveness (Matthew 6:5-15).

Nothing can supersede or replace repentance in our lives. It is God’s command, our duty, and our privilege. Joy comes to the heart of the repentant sinner, to the life of observers, and to the angels of heaven (Luke 15:7).

Whatever may happen to us in life, we must always keep a repentant and forgiving spirit alive in our hearts.