1 John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”

2 Purpose DefineInstructEncourage

3 Attitude: 1. Manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes. 2. Position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.: a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude. Source: Dictionary.com “Attitude” Defined

4 What should our attitude be toward REPENTANCE?

5 Introduction The word “repent” often mentioned in the scriptures. The word with its different forms is mentioned at least 104 times in the Bible. Repentance has been required by God in every age in order to be accepted of Him. –The world before the flood refused to repent and destroyed - Gen. 7:23 – Prophets taught it - Isa. 1:16; Jonah 3:8-10 –John the Baptist taught it to Israel - Matt. 3:1-2 –Jesus taught it - Matt. 4:17, Lk. 13:3, 5 Required it as a condition of salvation - Lk. 24:46-47 No hope for eternal salvation without it - Acts 17:30 God desires all repent - 2 Pet. 3:9

6 Introduction Repentance is the HARDEST of all God’s commands: –Involves man’s will! –Man’s will has always been the greatest hindrance to salvation! –Will of man is generally stubborn - repentance affects this! The Child of God Sins: –Must repent - 1 Jn. 1:8-10 –A child of God must develop and maintain the proper attitude toward repentance! The child of God must correctly understand the meaning of repentance!

7 What We Will Discuss! The Meaning of Repentance What Motivates One to Repent The Fruits of Repentance

8 Understanding the Meaning

9 It Is All of These! Understanding The Meaning What Repentance is NOT… –Sorrow: It is not shedding tears on the front pew! –Regret: Many regret they were caught in sin-but do not repent! –Reformation: Godly sorrow produces repentance-repentance produces the change or reform of life! - Acts 26:20 –Fear: Fear does not keep the commandments! - Eccl. 12:13 –Praying: Prayer is of no avail if one is not penitent! - Acts 8:22 Psa. 66:18; Prov. 28:9 –Conviction: Individuals who had conviction were commanded to repent! - Acts 2:38 It Is All of These! What Is It Then?

10 Understanding The Meaning A mental act of the mind - to determine to stop sinning! –Matt. 21:28-29 It is a resolution or a determination to leave sinful living! –Lk. 15:11-19 One repents when they cease sinning! The decision to “quit your sinfulness!”

11 Repentance: Two Greek Words are translated “Repent”: Metaneo - “to have another mind” - Acts 2:38, 17:30 A change of mind followed by a change of conduct Metamelomai - “to be careful or concerned with” - Matt. 27:3; 2 Cor. 7:8 Suggests regret Source - Young’s Analytical Concordance “Repentance” Defined

12 Repentance: “The change of the mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good deeds...” (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon, pg. 406) “Repentance” Defined

13 What Leads to Repentance

14 What Motivates One to Repent? Fear of Death and the Judgment: –Heb. 9:27; 12:28-29; Matt. 11:20-24; Acts 17:30- 31; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; ; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Prov. 1: The Goodness of God: –Rom. 2:4-6 –God Is both GOOD and SEVERE! Rom. 11:21-22 Intelligent individuals will not remain in impenitence! They will cease their stubbornness and repent!

15 The Fruits of Repentance

16 The Fruits of Repentance! Restitution: – If possible! Murder - cannot restore a life - murderer must re-pay with his own blood. –Gen. 9:5-6 –Restitution was demanded under the Law of Moses: Lev. 6:1-6; Num. 5:5-10 Separation: – From all things associated with ones sin! 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 1 Pet. 4:1-4; Gal. 5:19-21; Acts 19:18-20 Ezra 10:1-12 Confession: –Sin must be admitted! –1 Jn. 1:7-10; Lk. 18:13-14; Rom. 3:3 Resolution: –The change or resolve of will to cease sin! –The decision to turn away from sin—a change of conduct or course! Acts 14:15; 26:18; 2 Pet. 2:21-22; Eph. 4:21-32 Contrition: –Expression of sorrow for sinning against God! - Ps. 51:17 –All sin is against God! 1 Jn. 3:4; Gen 39:9; Acts 5:1-4

17 Sin Is Sin Before & After Baptism? If You Steal A Man's Car Before, Can You Keep It After? If You Gamble & Drink Alcohol Before, Can You Gamble & Drink After? If You Are Living In Adultery Before, Relationship Is Adulterous After! MUST CEASE THE SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6:1-23 “Repent or Perish” (Luke 13: 3, 5)

18 How Do You Show Repentance? If You Steal A Man's Radio You Give It Back! If You Steal A Man's Camcorder You Give It Back! If You Steal A Man's Wife Do You Keep Her? Note: The offended party may concede a radio or camcorder but can’t give his wife the right to marry another (Acts 5:4; Matt.5:32; 19:9) “Repent or Perish” (Luke 13: 3, 5)

19 Some Say “No Adultery After Baptism” If Homosexuals Before, What About After Baptism? If You Gamble & Drink Alcohol Before, Can You Gamble & Drink Alcohol After? If In an Unscriptural Marriage Before, The Marriage Is Scriptural After Baptism! “Repent or Perish” (Luke 13:3, 5) MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6:1-23

20 Some Say “No Adultery After Baptism” If a Polygamist Before, What About After Baptism? If You Are A Thief Before, Can You Be A Thief After? If In an Unscriptural Marriage Before, The Marriage Is Scriptural After Baptism! “Repent or Perish” (Luke 13:3, 5) MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6:1-23

21 Some Say “No Adultery After Baptism” because What About After Baptism? If A Man is Married to a Goat Before, If In an Unscriptural Marriage Before, The Marriage Is Scriptural After Baptism! “raised to walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4) “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17) “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” (1 Cor. 7:20) MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6:1-23 “Repent or Perish” (Luke 13:3, 5) “Repent or Perish” (Luke 13:3, 5)

22 “Sudan man forced to ‘marry’ goat” A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his “wife”, after he was caught having sex with the animal. The goat’s owner, Mr. Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders. They ordered the man, Mr. Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr. Alifi. “We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together,” Mr. Alifi said. Mr. Alifi, of Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr. Tombe with his goat. “When I asked him: ‘What are you doing there?’, he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up.” Mr. Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case. “They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife,” Mr. Alifi told the newspaper. Story from BBC NEWS: Published: 2006/02/24 17:37:52 GMT, © BBC MMIX

23 Fornication Defined Adultery Rom. 7:2, 3 Incest Bestiality Lesbianism Prostitution Homosexuality Pedophilia Fornication - “Prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful intercourse.” (Walter Bauer, A Greek - English Lexicon Of The New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 693) Thayer says, “prop. of illicit sexual intercourse in general.” (P. 532). Generally, the word “fornication” refers to unlawful sexual intercourse of the unmarried (in order to avoid fornication, one is to marry - 1 Cor. 7:2-5). However, the term is applied also to illicit sexual conduct of married people (1 Cor. 5:1; Rev. 2:20). Polygamy Concubinage

24 Conclusion! Must Understand the Meaning of Repentance Must Be Lead by God to Repentance! Must Bring Forth Fruits Worthy of Repentance!

25 Acts 17:30, 31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.