1. Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ!
We gather Sunday at 9 AM (class), 10 AM, 5 PM, & Wednesday at 7 PM
See the bulletin for various announcements

2. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)
Sept. 17, 2017

3. Express thanks to God for our recent gospel meeting. How did you grow?

4. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 115:1, 18 NKJV)

5. Repentance and its fruit

6. Repentance and its fruit
Basics of sin God’s view Heb. 1:1-2 of us inward and outward Mt. 22:37-39; Jn. 14:15 commands, forbids Col. 3:17 general and specific Mk. 16:15 states and implies Acts 10:15, 34-35
I. Basics of Sin
A. God’s view
1. God has spoken Heb. 1:1-2
a. what He expects of us inward and outward Mt. 22:37-39; Jn. 14:15 God is not seeking inward devotion alone or outward obedience alone
b. what is commanded and forbidden Col. 3:17 we must have His approval for all we say and do
c. general and specific Mk. 16:15 go (general “how”) preach gospel (specific “what”)
d. He has stated and implied His will Acts 10:15, direct: do not call...; indirect: no partiality
2. sin-iniquity-transgress-evil-wicked-trespass-disobey
3. wages is death (separating us from God, requiring death of Jesus) Rom. 6:23
B. man’s view
1. personal sin known by God’s word (Rom. 5:13) and examining self inwardly, outwardly (Js. 1:25)
2. 1 Cor. 2:11 others’ inward sins are not known until outward action
C. man-made religion’s views
1. invent spiritual categories: mortal and venial
“...as regards their gravity, into mortal and venial. This last named division is indeed the most important of all and it calls for special treatment.” (
“This distinction is commonly rejected by all heretics ancient and modern.” ibid
2. invent explanations for sin: inherited sin, sinful nature
3. By clouding and complicating the subject of sin, the same happens with repentance
Repentance and its fruit

7. Repentance and its fruit
Basics of sin God’s view Heb. 1:1-2 Man’s view Rom. 5:13; Js. 1:25; 1 Cor. 2:11
I. Basics of Sin
A. God’s view
1. God has spoken Heb. 1:1-2
a. what He expects of us inward and outward Mt. 22:37-39; Jn. 14:15 God is not seeking inward devotion alone or outward obedience alone
b. what is commanded and forbidden Col. 3:17 we must have His approval for all we say and do
c. general and specific Mk. 16:15 go (general “how”) preach gospel (specific “what”)
d. He has stated and implied His will Acts 10:15, direct: do not call...; indirect: no partiality
2. sin-iniquity-transgress-evil-wicked-trespass-disobey
3. wages is death (separating us from God, requiring death of Jesus) Rom. 6:23
B. man’s view
1. personal sin known by God’s word (Rom. 5:13) and examining self inwardly, outwardly (Js. 1:25)
2. 1 Cor. 2:11 others’ inward sins are not known until outward action
C. man-made religion’s views
1. invent spiritual categories: mortal and venial
“...as regards their gravity, into mortal and venial. This last named division is indeed the most important of all and it calls for special treatment.” (
“This distinction is commonly rejected by all heretics ancient and modern.” ibid
2. invent explanations for sin: inherited sin, sinful nature
3. By clouding and complicating the subject of sin, the same happens with repentance
Repentance and its fruit

8. Repentance and its fruit
Basics of sin God’s view Heb. 1:1-2 Man’s view Man-made religion’s view
I. Basics of Sin
A. God’s view
B. man’s view
C. man-made religion’s views
1. invent spiritual categories: mortal and venial
“...as regards their gravity, into mortal and venial. This last named division is indeed the most important of all and it calls for special treatment.” (
“This distinction is commonly rejected by all heretics ancient and modern.” ibid
2. invent explanations for sin: inherited sin, sinful nature
3. By clouding and complicating the subject of sin, the same happens with repentance
Repentance and its fruit

9. “. as regards their gravity, into mortal and venial
“...as regards their gravity, into mortal and venial. This last named division is indeed the most important of all and it calls for special treatment.” “This distinction is commonly rejected by all heretics ancient and modern.”

10. Repentance and its fruit
Basics of sin God’s view Heb. 1:1-2 Man’s view Man-made religion’s view
I. Basics of Sin
A. God’s view
B. man’s view
C. man-made religion’s views
1. invent spiritual categories: mortal and venial
“...as regards their gravity, into mortal and venial. This last named division is indeed the most important of all and it calls for special treatment.” (
“This distinction is commonly rejected by all heretics ancient and modern.” ibid
2. invent explanations for sin: inherited sin, sinful nature
3. By clouding and complicating the subject of sin, the same happens with repentance
Repentance and its fruit

11. Repentance and its fruit
Basics of repentance “to think differently...reconsider” (Strong’s Dictionary) Acts 26:20 2 Cor. 7:9-10
II. Basics of Repentance
A. “to think differently...reconsider” (a decision, not a consideration)
- repent of my nature? of what Adam did?
B. Acts 26:20 repent is among the first principles of the gospel, a test of our faith
- for someone claiming “This verse says nothing of baptism,” other vss show baptism is part of turning to God.
C. 2 Cor. 7 It doesn’t end at conversion
1. v8-10a godly sorrow (against God, Creator, Father, King, Friend) – repentance – salvation (Peter)
2. v10b worldly sorrow (against man, caught, plan failed, ignore God) – no repentance – death (Judas)
D. Since repentance happens in the heart/mind, it is known only by that person and God
- how can we know whether someone is really repenting? We can’t at that moment, until we see--
Repentance and its fruit

12. Fruit of repentance Matt. 21:28-31 Lk. 3:7-8 (Mt. 3:8) 2 Cor. 7:11
III. Fruit of repentance
A. when an inward decision/change is made, it will produce outward change, especially when that repentance is in response to God.
B. Mt. 21:28-31
1. the first repented and the fruit of repentance = obeyed
2. either this son lied, never intending to go or he too repented (changed his mind) and fruit = disobey
C. Some fruits accompany repentance Mt. 3:8; Lk. 3:8
1. John refused to baptize them, not based on miraculously seeing their hearts but by what he knew of them, including at that moment.
2. His words provided an opportunity for them to show the fruit of repentance.
3. Acts 19:19 getting rid of the books
D. Some fruits follow repentance 2 Cor. 7:11
1. What diligence it produced in you Visible change (as described in Ps. 51)
2. what clearing of yourselves
3. what indignation hatred of the things once practiced, evident in word and deed
4. what fear different approach than before
5. what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! The fruit of a renewed mind
6. In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. In all that can be outwardly seen
7. Whether it was sexual immorality, lewdness, outbursts of wrath, or compromising with false religion—a change of mind is known by what is shown = fruit of repentance.
Repentance and its fruit

13. Repentance and its fruit
“Must I forgive someone before I see the fruit of repentance?” Matt. 18:21-35 Lk. 17:3-4
IV. “What role does the fruit of repentance play in my duty to forgive others? Must I forgive someone before I see the fruit of repentance?”
A. Remember,
1. We can never fully know someone’s thoughts or intentions
2. Some fruit of repentance is present at the request for forgiveness—varies depending on the sin
3. As in the case of John and those coming to him, when someone asks for forgiveness without godly sorrow, then God does not forgive and neither can we.
B. Matt. 18
1. v21 After teaching us how to deal with sins against us (v15-17), Peter asks a natural question and probably believes he makes a generous offer
2. v22 Jesus says the standard is higher
3. v Parable of two debtors
4. v35
a. no matter in what way or how often men sin against us, we have done worse to God who is always willing to forgive us and expects us to imitate him and forgive those who ask
b. forgiveness is not earned, though trust is
C. Lk. 17:3-4
1. Of course, forgiveness first comes from God (already repented)---don’t wait until Sunday or Wednesday to seek forgiveness from God!
2. The willingness to admit guilt and ask forgiveness is fruit of repentance---unless there is evidence proving this is insincere, we must forgive.
3. It takes time to see the fruit that follows repentance (2 Cor. 7:11), but we do not have the right to withhold forgiveness until the latter fruit is present, even seven times in a day.
Repentance and its fruit

14. Repentance and its fruit
Acts 26:20
"but declared that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. “
Repentance and its fruit