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Harold Smith Copyright Mailbox Club Inc. 1972
COURSE 1 Doctrine of Salvation Lesson 1
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God. . . now commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 17:30b.
This lesson on REPENTANCE is the first in this series on THE DOCTRINES OF SALVATION. You will notice, as you read over the lessons, that some words are embodied from the Scripture quotations.
This has been done purposely so that you will have to look up the reference in the Bible and fill in the blanks. When three or four periods come together in the Scripture quotations it means that a portion of that passage has been omitted. It will be necessary, therefore, to trace on through that passage for the rest of the quotation. Fill in all of the blanks in the Scripture quotations; then study the course very carefully before trying to answer the test questions at the end of the course. There are two groups of questions in this course-study questions and test questions. The study questions are the ones printed at the beginning of this lesson. The test questions are clearly marked in another section of the booklet. The study questions are given to help you study this course more thoroughly. Use the study questions as you study.
However, you should answer the test questions without turning back in the course for the answers. You only cheat yourself by looking back, because the primary purpose of the test is to show you how much you have learned and what points you need to study further. After you have completed the test, return the Test Section to: inchrist@nbnet.nb.ca
We want everyone to do as well as possible; so do not rush through the course. If some part of it is not clear to you, seek help of a Christian friend or someone else who is taking the course. Read all of the instructions very carefully.
There are seven more lessons in this course--Faith, Regeneration, Justification, Adoption, Prayer, Sanctification and Glorification--after which we will send you a certificate, if you satisfactorily complete the course.
An Outline of THE DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE
1. SEVEN REASONS WHY THE DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE IS IMPORTANT
1. WHAT IS TRUE REPENTANCE?
A. Repentance involves a change of mind
B. Repentance involves a change in feeling
C. Repentance involves a change of purpose
1. Change of purpose in confessing our sin to God
2. Change of purpose in forsaking sin
3. Change of purpose in turning to God
3. HOW IS REPENTANCE PRODUCED IN THE LIFE?
A. Repentance is, first, a gift of God
B. Repentance is, on the other hand, produced by certain human means.
4. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF REPENTANCE?
A. Repentance causes rejoicing in heaven
B. Repentance brings pardon and forgiveness of sin
C. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon those who repent
5. CONCLUSION--SUMMARY
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Why must we emphasize the importance of repentance?
(Give seven reasons)
2. What does true repentance involve? What three changes are involved?
3. What three changes are involved in a "change of purpose"?
4. How is repentance produced in our life? (Give two ways)
5. What are the results of repentance? (Give 3)
6. How is Godly sorrow for sin thought about?
1. SEVEN REASONS WHY THE DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE IS IMPORTANT.
l. John the Baptist began his public ministry by calling on men to repent. "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, __ _ _ _ _ for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1, 2).
2. Jesus, also, began His ministry by calling on men to repent "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, _______. for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).
3. Jesus commanded His disciples to preach that men must repent. "And they went out, and preached that men ________ " (Mark 6 :12 )._____________________
4. Before Jesus was taken up into Heaven, He commission His followers to evangelize the world by preaching repentance (Read Luke 24:36-53). "And (Christ) said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that__________ and ____________ __ _____in his name among all nations, beginning, Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47).
5. The Apostles preached repentance. "Then Peter said unto them, __________, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ _____ _____ __________ ____ _____" (Acts 2:38). Paul said, "Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, _______________ _________ _____, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21
6. God's command to all men everywhere is the same. He "now commandeth all men everywhere to __________" (Act 17:30). His mercy is revealed by the fact that He is, "not willing that any should perish, but that ___ _________ _______ _ _____" (11 Peter 3:9b).
7. Failure to heed God's call to repentance can mean only one thing - eternal damnation (Read Luke 13:1-5). "Except___ _________, ye shall all likewise perish"
11. WHAT IS TRUE REPENTANCE? Biblical repentance is three-fold, involving a change of mind a change of feeling, and a change of purpose. A.. REPENTANCE INVOLVES A CHANGE OF MIND
In the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32), the one son said, "I will not: but afterward he __________ ___ __________" (Matthew 21:29). The word here used for "repent" means "to change one's mind" about a thing.
Before I was saved, I thought I lived a pretty good life, but began to read the Bible and found that "we are _____ ____ ____ ________ ________, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6a), and that "____ _______ __________, and come short
I had thought, too, that God was a God of hate and wrath if He would condemn good men like me and send them to Hell, but now I saw that,"there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:12b). Then I learned that God "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that ______________ _________ ____ _____ __________ ____ ___________ have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God was to me no longer God of wrath but a just God of love who had gone to the limit save men from Hell. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have ___ _____________ ___ ____ _______ ___ ___ ______; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die (Ezekiel 33:11). I also changed my mind about God and His justice and righteousness.
The prodigal son (Luke 15: 24), when he had spent all that he had in riotous living in a far country and had nothing to eat but the husks that the swine ate, came to himself. He change his mind about the freedom and privileges of the far country and realized that the things he really sought were to be found not in the far country by riotous living but in his father's own household that he had left. "He said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" (Luke 15:17). This young man had a great change of mind.
When Peter on the day of Pentecost called the Jews to repent (Acts 2:14-40), he called upon them to change their minds regarding Christ. They had considered Christ to be nothing more than another man, but Peter says His resurrection from the dead and His ascension were positive proofs that He was none other than the Son of God and the Saviour of the world that He ha claimed to be. They should now change their minds about Him and accept Him as their long-awaited Messiah.
B. REPENTANCE INVOLVES A CHANGE OF FEELING.
"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to______________: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing (11 Corinthians 7:9)
Light attitudes toward sin always produce shallow conversions. Men who do not realize how black and terrible sin is and that is an offense against a holy and righteous God will see little need for any change of heart. But when men come face to face with their sin placed along side of the perfect righteousness and sinlessness of Christ, they realize how far down the ladder they have gone. This realization of sin and complete unworthiness should make men automatically hate sin that has brought them so low.
The Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14) showed two completely different attitudes toward sin. The Pharisee's sin was so hidden behind his own self-righteousness that he did not see it, but the Publican's sin, open before God and himself, showed him how black it was so that he beat upon his breast (Luke 18:13), indicating his sorrow of heart in sinning against a holy God. Every man who truly comes face to face with his sin will experience some sorrow of heart for his sin, and 11 Corinthians 7:10 says, "godly sorrow worketh ___________________________________________ not to be repented of: but the sorrow of he world worketh death." Godly sorrow will lead to a change of mind and a turning away from sin, but not all sorrow for sin is godly sorrow.
A man who gets caught robbing a shop kills the shopkeeper in an attempt to escape; he is soon captured by the police, found guilty of murder and is sentenced to die. As he faces death he says he is sorry, but what he really means is that he is sorry he got caught and has to die for the crime.
A girl lives a life of sin with many men because of the lust of the flesh. When the wages of sin begin to catch up with her and she lies dying of a dreadful disease, she says she is sorry and wishes she had her life to live over again, but she is really only sorry that she has to reap what she has sown.
If the man who murdered the shopkeeper could turn back the pages of time and live his life over again, he thinks he would do differently, but he would not, because he is a murderer at heart. The girl who sold her body to her own lust would yield her body to the same evil desires again if she had her life to live over again, because she is an adulteress at heart.
"Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation... but the sorrow of the world worketh death" 11 Corinthians 7:10). Godly sorrow is realizing that when we sin we have broken God's commandments and sinned against Him. David sinned against God (II Samuel 11) but repented in tears with a sorrowful heart. Writing his Psalm of repentance (Psalm 51), he said, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight" (Psalm 51:4). Saul, also, sinned against the Lord (I Samuel 15) and said, "I have sinned: for I have transgress the commandment of the Lord"(l Samuel 15:24), but he regardeth his sin lightly and wanted it hidden from the people (I Samuel 15:30) so that he might go on as their king as though nothing had happened. Godly sorrow causes us to turn from sin unto God. We might put it this way: True repentance is being so sorry for your sin that you are going to quit it and turn to God for strength to live for Him. There can be no longer any of the old hardness to sin.
C. REPENTANCE INVOLVES A CHANGE OF PURPOSE
This change of purpose includes confession of sin to God forsaking of sin, and turning unto God. The three go hand-in-hand and cannot be separated. One, or even two, are not enough; all three are required.
The prodigal son said, "I will arise . . . And he arose" Luke 18:18,20). He not only thought upon his ways and felt sorry because of them, but he turned his steps in the direction of home. Repentance is not only a heart broken for sin, but from sin, also.
1. CHANGE OF PURPOSE IN CONFESSING OUR SIN TO GOD
Our whole purpose in the past has been to try to hide our sins both from those around us and from God. Nothing, however, can be hidden from God. His all-seeing eye is constantly upon us! "The eyes of the Lord are in _______ __________ __________ ____ ______and the good." (Proverbs 15:3).
The Psalmist said, "I will declare mine iniquity, I will be sorry for _____ _____" (Psalm 38:18). When the publican prayed, he beat upon his breast and said, "God be merciful to me a __________" (Luke 18:13). The lost son said, "I have __________ against heaven" (Luke 15:21). "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso _____________ _______ and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
We must confess to God the sin we expect Him to forgive and blot out. We must also confess to men in so far as they have been wronged by our sin. "Therefore if thou wilt bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first___ ____________ ____ _____ _________and then come and offer thy gift" (Matthew 5:23,24). "Confess your faults ___ ____ ______, and pray one for another' (James 5:16).
Many Christians are separated today by sin that has been confessed to God but which has not been confessed to fellow workers who know the sin is there and have been hurt by it. These sins remain a constant wall to hinder our labouring together in love. Extreme caution must be exercised here, however, to be sure that more harm is not done by confessing the sin than is already done. Sins that are known to one another should be confessed to one another, but sins that are not known to the one against whom the offense is committed should nor he confessed to him, if by your confession you would lead him to sin in a wrong attitude toward you.If an offended brother does not know about a particular sin which you have confessed to God, but is conscious that something has come between you to break the fellowship, that sin that brought the offense and broke the fellowship should be confessed to him that the fellowship in the Lord might be restored. "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship _____ _____ __________, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1 :7)
2. CHANGE OF PURPOSE IN FORSAKING SIN "Let the wicked __________ his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord" (Isaiah 55:7). "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and __________ them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Some people seem to thoroughly enjoy confessing their sins over and over again in such vivid and picturesque terms that they live again the experience of the original sin. Once the sin is buried with Christ in open confession, it must I forever forgotten. We must put from our minds that which God has already blotted out of His remembrance. Forsaking sin means turning away from it never to return to review the remains. If could see sin as the vicious serpent it is, we would not hesitate to let it go once and for all to be blotted out by the blood Jesus Christ that "cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7.
3. CHANGE OF PURPOSE IN TURNING TO GOD Every step man takes is away from God. Turning from sin does not profit anything unless we turn to God. Paul reminded the Thessalonians how they had turned "from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9). When Paul was giving his testimony before King Agrippa, he told how Jesus had spoken to him in a vision on the road to Damascus, telling him that he was to turn men "from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins" (Acts 26:18).
III. HOW IS REPENTANCE PRODUCED IN THE LIFE?
A. REPENTANCE IS, FIRST, A GIFT OF GOD
"Then hath ___ also to the Gentiles ________ __________ unto life." (Acts 11:18). If God peradventure _____ _____ ________ ______________ to the acknowledging of the truth" (II Timothy 2:25). "The God of out fathers raised Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for ___ _____ _____________ and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30,31
Repentance cannot be worked up from within like pumping water
from
a well. It is a gift of God. You may rightly say, then. "How am 1
responsible
for not having it? "We are commanded to repent in order that we may
realize
how utterly helpless we are to do it. We then see the need of help from
outside ourselves and a need of throwing ourselves completely upon
God's
mercy and grace and asking Him to do in our hearts that which we have
learned
we cannot do for ourselves. We just naturally want to do for ourselves
what we can, and it is not until we realize our utter helplessness that
we will call upon God.
B. REPENTANCE IS, ON THE OTHER HAND, PRODUCED BY CERTAIN HUMAN MEANS
Acts 2:37,38,41:
"Now _________ ________ __________ this, they __________ __________ _____ ________! ___________, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, __________, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ_____ ____ __________________ ____ _____, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. The very Gospel which demands repentance produces it. With every command to repent is given ability to do what is commanded. When the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-10) heard the preaching of the Word of God, they believed the message and turned to God. It is not just any message that produces repentance but the message of the Gospel that God uses as an instrument to bring about repentance. This message must also be preached in the power of the Spirit. (I thessalonians 1:5-10)
"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness____ _____ _____________ ____ _____ _____________? (Romans 2:4). "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, no willing that any should perish. but that ___ __________ _____ __ ___________ (11 Peter 3:9) Prosperity often leads men away from God, but God intends it should lead men to Him. Great revivals usually come in time of great difficulty and panic.
"As many as I love, ___ __________ and _________ be zealous therefore, and ___________" (Revelation 3:19@. " For whom the Lord loveth he __ ______________, and ____________ every son whom he receiveth. For they(earthly fathers) verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he _____ _____ __________, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:6,10,11). These scriptures teach us that the chastisement of the Lord are sometimes for the purpose of bringing His wandering children to repentance. God often times uses the loving, Christian reproof of a brother to be the means of bringing us back to God. "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient in _________ __________ ______________ _____ ________ ______; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (11 Timothy 2:24, 25).
IV. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF REPENTANCE?
A. REPENTANCE CAUSES REJOICING IN HEAVEN
"I say unto you, that likewise_____ ______ ___ __ _________ over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety ant nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7,10).
B. REPENTANCE BRINGS PARDON AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts:
and let him return unto the Lord, and he ____ _____ ______ upon him;
and
to our God, for he ____ _________ _____ ____" (Isaiah 55:7). "Repent ye
therefore, and be converted, that your sins _____ ____ __________ ____,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord"
(Acts 3:19). Repentance is a condition of forgiveness and qualifies us
for pardon.
C. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS POURED OUT UPON THOSE WHO REPENT
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ
for the remission of sins, and ___ ______ _________ ______ _____ _____
________ ___________(Acts 2:38). The person who stubbornly refuses to
repent
prevents the Holy Spirit from coming into his heart.
V. CONCLUSION--SUMMARY
The importance of repentance is shown by the prominence it is given
in the Word of God and cannot be emphasized too much. It is threefold:
FIRST: It involves a change in view--recognizing sin as personal guilt, defilement, and helplessness. This is what is known in the Scripture as "the knowledge of sin" (Compare Romans 3:20 with Romans 1:32). If this knowledge is not accompanied by godly sorrow and a turning from sin, it may appear as a deep fear of punishment without any hatred for the sin that caused the fear.
SECOND: There is a change of feeling which shows itself in sorrow for sin committed against a holy and just God. "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation" (Psalm 51:2,10,14 ). When this sorrow for sin is accompanied by a turning from sin and seeking of pardon and cleansing, it is godly sorrow, but if not, it is the sorrow of the world, which "worketh death," and is revealed in a feeling of remorse and despair such as Judas experienced. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying,I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went out and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:3-5). When asked by the rich young ruler what he must do to inherit eternal life, Christ said he must sell all that be had and give it to the poor. "When he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for be was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Luke 18:23, 24).
THIRD: There is also a change in purpose--a turning from sin with an effort to seek pardon and cleansing. "Behold, I was shapened in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:5,7,10). "They said, Turn ye again now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever" Jeremiah 25:5).
This last act of repentance includes the other two steps and is most important of all. The first two steps are made in vain if they are not followed by the act of turning from sin, Many come this far on the road to repentance and stop because they do not want to give up their sin. They enjoy it too much to leave it forever. It is at this point that Satan will rush in with all the force he can gather, because this is his crucial moment. It is here that the will either meet his defeat forever or win a smashing victory. It is at this moment that you must surrender all to the Lord and place the battle in His hands. Here we realize, as never before that His "strength is made perfect in weakness" (11 Corinthians 12:9)--when we realize out weakness and helplessness and commit the battle to Him to show His might strength and power.
TEST SECTION INTRODUCTION TO EXAMINATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE
Do not try to answer the questions in this test section until you have filled in all of the blanks in the Scripture quotations in the lesson section and have studied the course thoroughly. Answer the questions from memory. Do not turn back to the lesson to look up your answers. You will only cheat yourself by doing so. The primary purpose of this test is to show you how much you have learned and what you need to study again.
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