1. Repentance-The Hardest Command
Defined- OT, Hebrew word “naham” literally to lose one’s breathe, to pant, sight or groan. To lament and grieve. When used regarding wrongdoing, it is the expression of the heart which longs to return to relationship and to rue or truly regret and hurt over what severed the relationship.

2. Repentance-The Hardest Command
Naham is used over 40 times in the OT and is used extensively to refer to God repenting. It does not mean God did wrong( 1 Sam. 15:29; Job 42:6;Jer.8:6- “God is not a man that He should repent”). God’s heart is grieved at man’s iniquity and in love He bestows His grace, or in justice He terminates His mercy. It indicates the aroused emotions of God which prompt Him to a different course in dealing with His people. When God repents it is not for anything He has done, but His reaction to how man reacts to God’s commands and precepts.

3. Repentance-The Hardest Command
OT Hebrew word, shubh, a conscious moral separation and a personal decision to forsake sin and enter into fellowship with God. To TURN or RETURN.
NT, metamelomai, to have a feeling of care, concern or regret. It expresses the emotional aspect of repentance. It signifies to be careful or concerned about and be sorry but not in the sense of abandonment of sin (Matt. 21:29,32; 27:3) Judas repented in that he had remorse or regret, but not to the point of being sick over sin.

4. Repentance-The Hardest Command
NT, Gr. Metanoeo, to have another mind. To change the mind. To turn. This repentance shows its reality in producing good fruits appropriate to a spiritual life (Matt. 3:8).
NT, Gr. Epistrepho, to turn over, to turn upon, to turn unto.
Repentance- a change of mind accompanied by grief over sin which result in a change of actions (fruits). True repentance (as it refers to man) involves all of these aspects. One can be in grief over being caught but only to point of getting over the immediate problem. The Bible teaches that “godly sorrow works repentance” (2Cor. 7:9-11).

5. Repentance- The Hardest Command
THREE ELEMENTS OF REPENTANCE
1. Intellectual Element- The change in a sinners heart that moves him to change his evil ways. Man must see sin as an utterly offensive act against God. He must also realize that God’s ways are perfect and right and long to stay in relationship with God’s right Way. He must be aware of the consequences of his actions (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Sin separates, repentance restores relationship and makes whole again.

6. Repentance-The Hardest Command
2. The Emotional Element- One may have a knowledge of his sin without being touched by how awful it is. One may dread punishment but not hate his sin. An emotional element must accompany true repentance. See Psalm 51:1,2; and David’s description of his feelings over his sins and his humility in appealing to God for mercy (indicating his feeling of true sorrow over offending God).

7. Repentance-The Hardest Command
3. The Voluntary Element- This involves the conscious decision to turn or return. The demand for repentance implies free will and individual responsibility for sin. All of these elements must be present in true biblical repentance. Repentance is plainly an intellectual awareness of what sin is which moves one to emotional sorrow over offending God resulting in a voluntary decision to return to relationship with God.

8. Repentance-The Hardest Command
INDUCEMENTS TO REPENT:
Goodness of God-Rom. 2:4-…The goodness of God lead to repentance.
Severity of God- Rom. 11:22-Behold the goodness and severity of God, on those who fell severity, but toward thee goodness, if you continue in His goodness; or else you will be cut off.
Assurance of God- Act 17:30-God commands all men to repent.
Judgment of God- 2 Cor. 5:10-we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
REPENT OR PERISH- TURN OR BURN!

9. REPENTANCE Faith Repentance Confession Baptism
Luke 13:5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Acts 17:30

10. Romans 3:23 Sinners need to repent
REPENTANCE
Why Preach on Repentance?
Romans 3:23
Sinners need to repent
1 John 1:8
Back-sliding Christians need to repent

11. Repentance = “a change of mind which results in a change of conduct”
Turn from evil and turn to the good!

12. Nineveh “…repented at the
1. Involves Turning From Evil
2. Ceasing of Sin
Repentance
Nineveh “…repented at the
preaching of Jonah…”
(Matt. 12:41)
“…they turned from their
evil way…”
(Jonah 3:10)
Change of Life

13. “Let your hearts be broken, and not your clothing,”
REPENTANCE
“Let your hearts be broken, and not your clothing,”
“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:13

14. Repentance Regret Resolve Reform Restore
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 = Two Words for repent
[1] Metamelomai = “after-care”
remorse or regret
Judas is an example
[2] Metanoeo = “after-knowledge”
a change of mind that includes:
Regret
Resolve
Reform
Restore

15. Change of opinion in regard to sin
True REPENTANCE
Change of opinion in regard to sin
Change of opinion in regard to the nature of sin
Change of opinion about sin and God
Change of opinion about the punishment of sin

16. Change of feeling about SIN
True REPENTANCE
Change of feeling about SIN
He abhors and hates sin in his heart
He desires to stop sin

17. True REPENTANCE Fruits Change in your mind about sin
Do not have the desire to repeat sin
Reformation of conduct
Leads to confession and restitution

18. Not a change of opinion about sin Founded on selfishness
False REPENTANCE
Sorrow of the world - sorrow for sin
Not a change of opinion about sin
Founded on selfishness

19. False REPENTANCE How can false repentance be known ?
Leaves the feelings unchanged
Still in love with the sin (return over and over)
By someone’s fruits
Works Death
Only partial reformation of conduct
It is temporary
A forced reformation

20. Repentance is an inside job, not an outside job !
“Rend your hearts not your garments” Joel 2:13
Repentance is an inside job, not an outside job !
True
False
Godly Sorrow
Worldly Sorrow

21. Change of
Life
Produces
Godly
Sorrow
Deep
Contrition
Produces
Repentance
Change
of Mind

22. REPENTANCE IS NOT JUST: Regret
Giving a report to someone about what you did
Being filled with sorrow
Walking down the aisle in the church building
Saying “I’m sorry”
Just stopping the doing of wrong
Starting to attend the services

23. REPENTANCE IS : A way of life
True hatred of what was done and a resolve never to do it again
Being Ashamed of what you did
Not just a one time event
Continual - as long as we live

24. Repentance is a Turning…
Evil
Darkness
Power of Satan
Sin
Dead Works
Wickedness
1 Pet. 3:10-12
Acts 26:17-18
Acts 26:18; Rom. 1:16
Ezek. 18:24-28
Heb. 6:1; Rev. 2:5
Acts 8:22
Good
Light
Power of God
Righteousness
Faith
Forgiveness
From Sin
Toward God

25. Baptized (Gal.3:27) Confess (Rom.10:10) Repent (Lk.13:3)
What Must I Do
To be Saved ?
In Christ = SAVED
Baptized (Gal.3:27)
Confess (Rom.10:10)
Repent (Lk.13:3)
Faith (Jn.8:24)
Hear (Rom.10:17)

26. Cleansed Forgiven Pray – Acts 8:22 Confess sins – 1 Jn.1:9
What Must I Do
To be Restored ?
Cleansed
1 Jn. 1:9
Forgiven
Pray – Acts 8:22
Confess sins – 1 Jn.1:9
Repent of sins – Acts 8:22

27. For The erring Christian
One of the hardest commands to obey
Repent
For The Non-Christian
Baptism is easy
once he repents
For The erring Christian
Confession is easy
once he repents
It is Hard Because:
It is the turning point – decision making point
It takes humility
It involves an admission of wrong

28. REPENT Or
Perish
Luke 13:5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

29. True REPENTANCE
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted;” 2 Cor.7:10a NKJV