The Most Difficult Command… The Five Rs of Repentance

Repentance is not easy because it requires radical change – (Ezekiel 18:20-32) We must do it – (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30) God wants us to repent – (Romans 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9) We need to understand the nature of true repentance. The Five Rs of Repentance

—Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Repent Usage Number: A-1; Part of Speech: Verb; Strong's Number: Original Word: μετανο έ ω, metanoeō Usage Notes: lit., "to perceive afterwards" (meta, "after," implying "change," noeō, "to perceive;" nous, "the mind, the seat of moral reflection"), in contrast to pronoeō, "to perceive beforehand," hence signifies "to change one's mind or purpose," always, in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment,....” The Five Rs of Repentance

Recognition – (i.e., acknowledging sin) Remorse - (regret and grief over sin) Resolve – (i.e., a change of mind) Reformation – (i.e., a change in lifestyle) Restitution – (i.e., making amends wherever possible) The Five Rs of Repentance

The first step TO repentance – Luke 15:17; Psalm 51:1-4; Jeremiah 3:13,14; Acts 2:37,38; James 4:17 How can we repent of sin that we refuse to acknowledge – Acts 17:30,31 The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., Acknowledging Sin

Remorse, in and of itself, is not repentance. But it is necessary TO repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 “ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., Regret and Grief Over Sin

Does not ALWAYS lead to repentance Matthew 27:3-5 “ Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ And they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!’ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., Regret and Grief Over Sin

At the very heart of repentance is the resolve to change one’s mind and will –Proverbs 28:13; 1 Peter 4:2 Be humble, pray, seek, and turn away (2 Chronicles 7:14). Get yourself a new heart (Ezekiel 18:31). Be transformed by renewing your mind (Romans 12:2). The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., A Change of Mind

Luke 15:17-20 “ But when he came to himself, he said,... ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,’... And he arose and came to his father.” The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., A Change in Lifestyle

Ezekiel 18:21-22 “ But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.” The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., A Change in Lifestyle

Ezekiel 18:27-28 “ Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” The Five Rs of Repentance i.e. A Change in Lifestyle If no change in action, then no real Repentance.

Fruits worthy of repentance – Matthew 3:7-9; Luke 3:8 Zacchaeus – Luke 19:8 The Philippian jailor – Acts 16:33 A thief? A liar? A slanderer? An unscriptural marriage? A murderer? The Five Rs of Repentance i.e., Making Amends Wherever Possible

The Five Rs of Repentance Repentance is not easy because it requires radical change – (Ezekiel 18:20-32) We must do it – (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30) God wants us to repent – (Romans 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9) We need to understand the nature of true repentance.

The Five Rs of Repentance Recognition – (i.e., acknowledging sin) Remorse - (regret and grief over sin) Resolve – (i.e., a change of mind) Reformation – (i.e., a change in lifestyle) Restitution – (i.e., making amends wherever possible)