STEP 3: REPENT!
“Freewill” is a natural part of man’s being. God
made man
with the attribute of “freewill” and he, therefore, is fully capable of
choosing to serve either God or Satan (cf. Joshua 24:15). Being that
all
accountable persons have exercised their freewill in choosing to sin,
it is
equally true that the freewill of sinful man I necessarily involved in
his
choice to return to God (Rom.
The Lord, our only Savior, requires repentance of
taught
believers. He did not come to call the righteous, "but sinners to
repentance"
(Matt.
What is involved in the mind and life of one when
he or she
repents? This question must be answered, because if one would be saved
by
Christ that one must repent (Acts
Repentance is the way we must get ready and prepare for the coming of salvation. There is no salvation where there is no repentance. What is required is not that we try to escape from predicaments and crises, but a repentance wherein one sincerely turns to God. What is required is a life that repents (or turns) and walks with God.
What produces repentance? GODLY SORROW produces REPENTANCE (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Repentance then results in a REFORMATION OF LIFE (Luke 3:8). Therefore, Repentance is both an effect and a cause. It is the effect of godly sorrow and the cause of a reformation of life.
God has two ways to bring mankind to repentance.
1) From the
word of God we are caused to see the fearful and eternal consequences
of a life
lived in sin (Matt.
The time is limited. Indeed, God has set the time
of the
end. The time when he is calling out for repentance will not go on for
ever.
Consequently, the apostle Paul has so spoken in the following way in
the
epistle addressed to the church at
We should not take lightly God's forgiveness of
those who
come to him repenting and God's abundant loving kindness, forbearance,
and
endurance which allows us to live in a righteous relationship with Him
above. Remember: repent means to turn
away from sin (change your mind about sin) and turn
to God.
Please
answer the four questions below by reading the
scripture and filling in the blanks:
Who commands us to repent?
Matthew 4:17… We are commanded to repent by _______________.
Acts 17:30… We are commanded to repent by ________________.
Of what should we repent?
Acts 8:22… We should repent of our _______________.
What will happen if we repent?
Luke 15:7… If we repent there will be ________________ in ______________.
What will happen if we do not repent?
Luke 13:3… If we don’t repent we will ______________.