REPENTANCE
THE
FOUNDATION
OF
SALVATION
Produced by:
Albany Rescue Mission Inc.
Office: (229) 435 – 7615
Store: (229) 431 – 1125
Visit us online at:
albanyrescuemission.org
PART I
THE HISTORY OF REPENTANCE
Acts 17:29-30 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of
God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and man's device.
(30) And the times of this
ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Many church’s and
pastors do not preach repentance today. Some say it is not essential for
salvation. But the truth is it was preached by John The Baptist:
Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist,
preaching in the wilderness of
Then the Lord
Jesus himself preached repentance:
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to
say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
It was also preached
by the Apostle Paul:
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Lord Jesus
made it clear, stating it twice in:
Luke 13:3-5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish. (4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in
Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that
dwelt in
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
PART II
WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT
It
is not reformation. Reformation is man making a change by his own works. We use
to have reform schools. These were jails where they tried to reform children to
do right. No person is saved because he gives up something or turns from his
sin on his own. That’s reformation. A person can turn away from their sins, and
still not be saved there is a good example of this in:
Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,
he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. (44)
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and
when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45)
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked
than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man
is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
This is a classic
example of a man turning from his sins, making changes in his life, who knows
maybe he even joins a church and gets baptized. But here’s the problem! He made
changes on his own, but he never really repented and trusted the Lord Jesus for
his salvation. In verse 44 – 45 of Matthew 12. the bible says, the unclean
spirit decides to go back to the body he possessed, and he finds it Empty,
Swept and Garnished “Empty” No One Home!“Swept and
Garnished”. He cleaned up his life and embellished, furnished, and decorated
his house. In other words on the outside he looked good. But Matt
Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other
spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the
last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto
this wicked generation.
Reformation
Satan’s counterfeit for the Religious, but Lost. Regeneration, God’s salvation
through Repentance and Faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance
is not contrition. Repentance is not necessarily the agony of the soul for sin.
Our jails are filled with people who are sorry. But are they sorry for their
crimes? Most are not. They are sorry they got caught. If its real
repentance, the sinner will be sorry for sin. Just being sorry for sin is not
repentance. However it can lead to repentance:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death;
Revelation
Repentance is not
Penance. Many church’s today teach penance to their congregations. This is an
expression of sorrow (by some act) that is done to pay for sin. Some sort of
self punishment. It will not work! There is nothing you can do on your own to
pay your sin debt.
Titus 3:5a Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
You can call names
over and over, or you could light a thousand lit candles penance is another one
of Satan’s counterfeits of repentance to make people think they can pay their
own debt by good works.
PART III
WHAT REPENTANCE REALLY IS
“It
is a change of mind. The real meaning of repentance is after – thought or
reconsideration”. By change of mind we do not mean a change of opinion. A real
change of mind, is a transformation of your old mind to a new mind. If we are
really saved the bible says:
1 Corinthians
The
change of mind will be new in character. True repentance is a change of mind which will lead to a change of action:
but be careful it is possible to have a change of action, without a change of
mind. An example of repentance is found in the new testament.
Matthew 21:28-29 But what think ye? A certain man had two
sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my
vineyard. (29) He answered and said, I will not: but
afterward he repented, and went.
Before
anyone can be saved. There must be repentance. There has to be a change of mind
about many things. “Sin”, “Self”, “God”, and the death burial and resurrection
of Christ for the payment of your sins. “Even Stronger” repentance means not
only a change of mind: it is taking a stand against yourself, and placing
yourself on the side of God. In other words, repentance is Self Judgment.
THE MANIFESTATION OF THIS IS:
1) A change in the
intellect.
2) A change of
feeling.
3) A change of will.
4) A change of
action.
THE CONDITION:
1) Through the
goodness of God.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness
and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth
thee to repentance?
2) Through the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts
Acts
3) Through Scriptural
Teaching.
2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the servant of the Lord must not strive;
but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25)
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
4) Through the
Chastisements of God.
Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Definition”
Repentance is the work of God which results in a change of mind in respect to
mans relationship to God. It is neither sorrow nor penance, although penitent
sorrow may lead to a change of mind. Repentance is always an element of saving
faith.
Jesus
said repent ye and believe the gospel, there is only one way to Heaven.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If
your not sure you’re going to heaven you need to call on the Lord.
Romans
If you want to
make sure you go to heaven when you die.
You need to take
responsibility for your sin nature.
Confess that to
the Lord.
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Trusting in the
death burial and resurrection for the payment of your sins. Is the only saving
gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the
gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye
stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in
memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3)
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4)
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the scriptures:
If
you have trusted the Lord Jesus for your salvation you need to acknowledge that
to Him.
Romans
He asked you to confess with your mouth
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
You
can bow your head and call on Him.
Lord be
merciful to me a sinner. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Signed_________________ Date_______
Verses
of Assurance:
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
(17) For God sent not his Son
into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12)
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath
not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you have trusted the Lord and you
would like some help in knowing what God expects you to do now that you are
saved, we have a book titled “God’s Plan for
Brother Larry Hample
c/o
Phone: (229)435-7615
Visit Us Online At:
albanyrescuemission.org