[Biblemat] S> The Difficult Fruit of Repentance
ZekeFlores1 at cs.com
ZekeFlores1 at cs.com
Wed Feb 7 11:13:56 CST 2007
Here's a lesson I hope you can use.
Zeke Flores
Kiber Street church of Christ
Angleton, TX
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The Difficult Fruits of Repentance
Matt 3:8
Intro: Repentance has often been called the difficult command
A. The facts of the gospel are not hard to understand and
neither is forgiveness an undesirable goal, but repentance
– bringing the stubborn will in line – is the hard part.
1. "When you look through the record of the Savior's
earthly ministry, you find that He induced a great many
to believe in Him... But when you search for those who
repented under the Lord's preaching, you will find but few."
Again McGarvey said: "When you go out preaching among
the people of this country, you will not find it very difficult
to induce your hearers to believe the truth concerning
Christ, and, when they are prepared in mind and heart
for baptism, you will not find it at all difficult to persuade
them to submit to that ...You will find no difficulty,
provided they have repented and desire to obey the Lord;
but how difficult it is to induce men to repent! Sinners
outside the church and sinners inside the church cling
to their sins, and it appears impossible in many instances
to bring them to repentance."
(J.W McGarvey, Chapel Talks, pps. 71,72.)
I. Repentance Defined
A. From Greek metanoia, it is a literal turning around.
1. "a change of mind (heart), as it appears to one who
repents of a purpose he has formed or of something
he has done" "to change one's mind (heart) for the
better, to amend heartily with abhorrence of one's
past sins" (Thayer)
B. Several passages give a good indication of the meaning
1. Matt 3:8, Luke 5:32, Acts 3:19, 26:20, 2 Tim 2:25
2. Everything indicates that there is a change of mind
followed by a correction of life. There is a turning from
and a turning to something.
C. For this reason, repentance involves both will (heart) and
work (life).
1. One must want to change, then exercise the effort
that brings about the change.
2. Herein lies the difficulty.
II. The Call To Repentance
A. Since repentance begins with a change of mind, the mind
must know what to turn from.
1. The gospel is full of commands and instructions
about what pleases and displeases God.
2. It is a message of change.
a. If you're a gossip, a drinker, a smoker, sexually
immoral, compromising in conviction, the
message will make you fume.
B. The message brings conflict.
1. It begins by trying to conquer one's own stubborn will
a. Luke 9:23
2. It's a message of conflict because it attacks the seat
of your problems – your own stubborn heart
a. Rom 6:16, Gal 5:17, James 1:14
3. It is a fight that is ongoing, even in the best of us
a. Rom 7:14-24
4. But, when implemented it produces a changed life
for the better.
III. God Provides Motivation In Repentance – Rom 2:1-10
A. Vs 4 – God's kindness leads you to repentance
1. First, notice that God leads, not forces,
to repentance.
2. Many believe that God's goodness will overlook their
sins, but not so! The kindness of God is summarized
in the words "tolerance and patience."
a. They mistake for indifference that patience of
God that holds back the coming of Jesus in
judgment.
b. 2 Pet 3:7-9
B. Vv 5-6 (vs 11) – God's judgment will be fair
1. We recognize the concept of fairness/justice when
it comes to acquitting the good and punishing the
lawless. Why can't we see this in the judgment of
a just and fair God?
a. Did you hear about the boy who failed all his
college work? He wired his mother: "Failed everything;
Prepare Papa." His mother wired back, "Papa
prepared; Prepare yourself."
This is the message a lot of us need in view of the
coming judgment. God is prepared. We need to
prepare ourselves!
C. Vv 7-10 – God's judgment will be real
1. These are not abstract concepts, these are actual
realities awaiting all people.
2. Eternal life for those who "persevere" in doing good.
a. Glory, honor, immortality!
b. To persevere in continued repentance, these
things must be grasped.
3. For those who do evil:
a. Wrath, indignation, tribulation, distress!
b. If these fearful prospects do not strike fear into
your heart and cause you to drop your sin,
then nothing will.
IV. The Fruit of Repentance – 2 Cor 7:9-11
A. Vs 10 – No Regret
1. No disappointment that sin must be dropped.
Instead, real repentance produces the joyful
anticipation of God's fellowship and ultimately,
heaven.
B. Vs 11 – Zeal and Diligence
1. Indignation is self-indignation. It is strong
displeasure at something unjust, offensive,
insulting you have done against God.
2. Fear is the realization of dread and horror
at the results of un-repented sin.
3. Longing and Zeal is the new-found enthusiasm,
that motivation to continue to do right and to do
it NOW.
4. Avenging of wrong is the restitution one attempts
when sin is realized., the efforts to make wrong
things right.
C. Vs 11 – Vindication, A Clear Record
1. When a change of heart is followed by a change of
action, fellowship is restored with man, and most
importantly, with God.
D. The ultimate fruit: Salvation (Vs 10
1. Note how it is contrasted with death in the verse.
Repent and live!
Conc. "Repentance is heart's sorrow, and a clear life ensuing"
Shakespeare
A. Biblical repentance lies at the comma in this sentence.
It stands between the heartache of realized sin and
the sheer joy of forgiveness. Where are you?
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