▪ Jesus was not interested in numbers, but level of desire. ▪ The parables He spoke challenged peoples’ level of desire. ▪ That level of desire corresponded to how bad they saw their need to be. ▪ That need was exhibited in their desperation to find a solution to their problem. The greater their need, the greater their desperation to find the solution. ▪ No matter what the outward symptoms were, that problem is sin, that solution is death, and Jesus is the only One who can solve it. ▪ We were absolutely helpless and hopeless in our sins. Nevertheless, Jesus died on our behalf. Let’s Recap:

Realizing the level of our need is not only important in deciding to come to Christ for our salvation, but it is also foundational to making right choices as we follow Christ day by day.

The Importance of Repentance

Luke 15:8-10 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

What is repentance?

Repentance = metanoéo, to change one’s mind, to think completely differently about something, to do a mental 180° turn. Confession = homologéo, to say the same thing about something, to be in agreement with an authority.

Mark 1:4-5 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Repentance = metanoéo, to change one’s mind, to think completely differently about something, to do a mental 180° turn. Confession = homologéo, to say the same thing about something, to be in agreement with an authority. These are not the same as saying you are “sorry.” That is merely an expression of emotion and may or may not be expressing repentance.

Luke 15:11-32 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

Repentance is a decision that is made between two opposing options.

birth new birth death The Dual Makeup of Humanity positional practical Spiritual Life Physical Life The marred image of God in all of us

Romans 7:18-23 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Are you getting mixed signals?

The old life of sin and selfish behaviour The new life of peace and living for God and others Who I was without Christ Who I am in Christ So which one will you choose?

The old manThe new man A slave to sinA child of God Is under the LawIs living in grace Paid with deathRewarded with righteousness Separated from GodWalking in the Spirit of God Which sounds more appealing? Controlled by guiltConstrained by love FearfulFree

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. Hebrews 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Repentance is not just turning from something, but turning to something.