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6.10.2001
| CHRISTIAN TERMINOLOGY- "Repentance"
Intro….story from the book “Amazing Grace”
Repentance defined in layman’s everyday terms:
- Metanoia “a change of mind”
- A fundamental and thorough change in the hearts
of men from sin towards God.
- True repentance leads to faith in God and keeps
us in a healthy relationship with God.
- A genuine sorrow toward God on account of the
sin in our life.
- Humble self-surrender to the will and service
of God.
- Repentance is a gift from God, Acts 5:29-31, 11:18,
Rom. 2:4
- The Psalms are packed full of repentant language.
Psalmists freely express the more unacceptable
emotions: sadness, anger, (even anger at God),
fear, loneliness.
How would you define repentance?
Serious about repenting: 1 Samuel 7:2-4
Some nugs:
- The Ark: ark of the covenant, (3’9”
by 2’3”, 2’3” For more details
of the Ark, see Exodus 25: 10-22) represented
the presence of God. It contained…? The ten
commandments, a pot of manna and Aaron’s
rod or staff. A reminder of God’s laws, his
provision and his power. (Anyone remember some
of the great things Aaron did with his staff?...turned
it into a snake, turned the Nile river into blood,
frogs, gnats...but his staff also had the power,
through God, to return things back to normal.
- Kiriath Jearim: a city located 10 mi. west of
Jerusalem.
Here’s a few steps that repentance involves: Mourn,
seek, return, commit
- vs. 2 Mourned and sought after God. Great signs
of repentance. Mourning for the things you know
you shouldn’t be doing and God isn’t
pleased with. Seeking after God for further guidance.
- vs. 3 “If you are returning to the Lord with all
your hearts….” (applies to all of us) rid yourselves
of foreign gods and Ashtoreths… * “Foreign gods”…..help
me out here...anything that gets in the way of
your relationship to God. * “Ashtoreths” A Canaanite
fertility goddesses and the female counterparts
of Baal. Canaanite cultic religion had filtered
into Israelite worship. * Heb. 12:1-2 that address
is on the inside of my wedding ring…
- Commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only….(and
BTW, he will deliver you, whadda deal!) Now, here’s
the rest of the story…(Paul Harvey...heard
of him?) vs.
5-13
Key/cool things they did:
- Visual signs of repentance (pouring water) vs.
6, Landmark as a constant reminder. vs. 12 Ebenezer,
“stone of help”
- Fasted and confessed “We have sinned against
the Lord” vs. 6
- They continued to trust in God despite their
fears….vs. 7-9
Key/cool things God did:
- He thundered. vs. 10 He made his presence known
- He gave the Israelites victory. vs. 11& 13
Some application:
- What are the outward, visual signs of repentance
in your life? (giving your life to Christ, baptism,
a change in your actions, attitudes, taking communion….?)
- When was the last time you uttered the phrase,
“I have sinned against
you Lord?”
- Are you learning to trust in God despite your
fears?
Yes, we can expect great things from God too, when
we are truly repentant.
What could potentially happen if we are not repentant
or don’t take serious what God is asking us to
change…
Video Clip “OT, wrath of God stuff”
From Ghostbusters Isaiah 22:12-19
Quotes on repentance:
- “Let your prayer be very simple. For the
tax collector and the prodigal
son just a simple phrase was enough to reconcile
them to God.”
- Luke 19:8, “Look Lord, Here and now I give
half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have
cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back
four times the amount.”
- Zaccheus’s declaration of what he intended
to do from now on, now that his life had been
changed by Christ.
- Luke 15: 21, “Father, I have sinned against
heaven and against you. I am no
longer worthy to be called your son.”
Acknowledging one’s personal responsibility for
sin is the first step toward reconciliation with God.
So, when we are ready to be truly repentant, God is
ready, willing and anxious to forgive. That’s
the “happy ending” to the story. Psalm 103:11-13,
Jeremiah 3:12 Gospel...
Simple definition of repentance: “Turning away from
sin and turning to God.”
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