The S.O.S. Lesson Materials What is Repentance?

Principle: People need to correctly understand what repentance is so that they can truly repent and be saved.

WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT

1. NOT JUST CONVICTION - feeling guilty.
   1. Repentance begins with conviction through the working of the Holy Spirit (JOH 16:8).
   2. Not all who `feel guilty’ actually repent. Some say they were convict­ed through the message, but they don’t stop doing the things they were convicted of. Example: Felix in ACT 24:24 – 25.
2. NOT JUST SORROW FOR SIN – being sorry for your sin.
   1. This kind of sorrow comes only when caught, or being in a suffering related to the sin. Sometimes the person has fear and sorrows for the consequence of sin but no hatred for the sin enough to quit it. This is called the worldly sorrow. (2CO 7:10)
   2. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
3. NOT JUST REFORMATION - trying to be a good person.
   1. Many people try in their own effort to become a better person and change their life. But self-effort has a root of self-righteous­ness which actually does not acknowledge the need for God's help. Hence, there's no need to repent.
   2. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (ISA 64:6)
4. NOT BECOMING RELIGIOUS - resorting to good, religious works.
   1. Most of these are just attempts to cover-up the misdeeds. Like the Pharisees who were extremely religious in their behavior: they fasted, prayed and observed all religious ceremonies; yet they never repented (MAT 3:7-10).
5. NOT JUST MENTAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE TRUTH
   1. Having an intellect does not necessarily guarantee that the truth has become a reality in one's life. Repentance needs a deliberate positive action in response to the truth known.
   2. The demons know `believe' Jesus, but they did not repent. Read: JAM 2:19

WHAT REPENTANCE IS

1. TOWARDS GOD
   1. BEING SORRY TO GOD FOR YOUR SIN. True repentance is sorrow towards God. `Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. (PSA 51:1,4)
   2. TURNING TO GOD. (ZEC 1:3) `Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: `Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, `and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty.’
2. TOWARDS SIN
   1. BEING TRUTHFUL ABOUT SIN. True repentance involves admitting sin as sin, stopping all effort to cover or excuse them (PSA 32:5) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" - and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
   2. HATING SIN - (EZE 20:43) There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
   3. QUITTING & RENOUNCING SIN - (PRO 28:13) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Also ROM 6:13.
3. TOWARDS SELF - TURNING FROM SELF AND LIVING FOR GOD.
   (2CO 5:15) And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

CHALLENGE: God is ready to forgive the truly repentant sinner. Read Acts 17:30 and 1John 1:9.