The Except of Repentance

Temple Baptist Church - 8-19-2012

 

Luke 13:3

 

Introduction:

A. Over the past few decades, the doctrine of repentance has become a battlefield. Many preachers deny the necessity of repentance while others remind me of President Bill Clinton as he tried to define the word “is.”

1. You cannot deny repentance and make it go away!

2. You cannot redefine repentance and change its meaning!

B. Few pastors or evangelists even preach on repentance anymore. Like the doctrine of hell, repentance has become forgotten or ignored.

1. Because many of these preachers have never experienced the reality of repentance: a changed life.

2. Because most sinners do not want to hear it preached. They want to go to heaven; they want to miss hell; and they want to live in their sinfulness.

C. It is a shame when preachers are:

1. More interested in numbers and offerings than they are the souls of men, women, and children. I once asked a children’s evangelist how he preached to children. He replied, “Like they were a bunch of convicts.” He smiled when he said that but I understood his mindset: except these children repent of sin and come to Christ, they may grow up in church but will spend an eternity in hell. That may sound harsh to the church people of today but God does not have one way of salvation for adults and another for children.

2. More interested in popularity with men than popularity with God. Preachers who have stood for anything over the centuries have paid a price for standing. Paul said, “I have suffered the loss of all things,” and yet—most preachers have more than the average saint in the pew.

3. More interested in outlining a sermon than they are in preaching the Word! Homiletics and Hermeneutics are wonderful tools to be used but I have found many preachers that get a good outline and then spend much time trying to find a verse to preach it from rather than finding a good verse and expounding upon it. Paul said, “Preach the WORD!”

D. Denial of biblical repentance is to deny:

1. The message of John the Baptist - Matthew 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, (2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (3) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (The straight path of the Lord is found in repentance.)

2. The message of our Lord Jesus Christ - Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

3. The message of the apostles - Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

 

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. The message of the Bible - Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. (To deny repentance is to deny the clear message of salvation found in the Bible.)

5. God taught Solomon about repentance: 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Repent or perish! What is Biblical Repentance?

1. Biblical Repentance is a Gift granted by God.

a. To Israel - Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 

b. To The Gentiles - Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

2. Biblical Repentance is the Acknowledgement of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

3. Biblical Repentance is a Godly Sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

4. Biblical Repentance is a Change of Mind that brings about a Change of Heart which brings about a Change of Life. 2 Corinthians 7:8-9 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. (9) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

5. Biblical Repentance is the Foundation of Saving Faith. Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

6. Biblical Repentance is God’s Will for Fallen Man. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

7. Biblical Repentance is the Call of the Spirit. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

8. Biblical Repentance is the only Way to God. Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

What has a lack of biblical repentance produced?

1. A Sinfulness With No Godly Sorrow – people continue in sin because they love it!

2. A Salvation With No Conversion – People continue in their old life of sin while claiming to be saved.

3. A “Saint” With No Heart For God – People fill the churches but have no desire for the things of God. (I put The word Saint in quotation marks!)