Repentance In Salvation

 

This is the manuscript of the sermon delivered at Christ Church on March 7, 2021. This is the fourth sermon in a series "The Answer To Eternity's Most Important Questions"

Theologians and Bible students sometimes refer to “the scarlet thread running through the Bible.” By this they mean that the Bible’s theme is Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.  This scarlet thread which runs through the Bible also, identifies the message of salvation through faith in God. 

One element of salvation is the act of repentance. Before we can be saved from our sins, we must repent of those sins. This theme of repentance also runs through the Bible like a scarlet thread. Repentance is an absolute necessity in our Christian experience.

For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.  

To see a video of the entire service click this link https://youtu.be/PzZFRe57Jgw

Scripture Reading: 

Mark 1:1–15 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,  as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” —  “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”  And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.  After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Text:

Mark 1:14‭-‬15 NIV After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Introduction

Theologians and Bible students sometimes refer to “the scarlet thread running through the Bible.” By this they mean that the Bible’s theme is Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.  This scarlet thread which runs through the Bible also, identifies the message of salvation through faith in God. 

One element of salvation is the act of repentance. Before we can be saved from our sins, we must repent of those sins. This theme of repentance also runs through the Bible like a scarlet thread. Repentance is an absolute necessity in our Christian experience. We read just the first 15 verses of Mark chapter one, but I encourage you to read all of it because it tells of Jesus’ early preaching in Galilee.   The entire chapter gives us the two elements of salvation: repentance and faith. These two, repentance and faith cannot be separated. It is even hard to say at what point repentance ends and faith begins.

In this series we have seen what it means to be lost and what it means to be saved. Today and next Sunday we are going to talk about two elements of salvation: repentance and faith.

I. Repentance in salvation involves a knowledge of sin.

“Repent.” is a churchy word that many, even those outside of the church, are familiar with, having seen it on billboards or heard about it in sermons. 

The basic meaning of the Greek word for “repentance” is a changing of mind or a turning away. So repentance means that we must change our minds about sin and turn away from it. 

This begins with a knowledge of sin.

But what actually comprises repentance? The word “repent,”  means literally to stop and think again. With our culture moving along from day to day at a blistering pace, it is imperative that we first stop and think soberly about what we believe regarding eternity— we must repent. 

The second aspect of repentance when someone is coming to faith in Christ is a change of mindset when they realize they have been wrong regarding their beliefs about Him, and their complete dependence on Him for forgiveness from their sins. 

Third, repentance is to no longer rely on our own capacity and wisdom. 

And finally, repentance is complete submission to God and His Word. 

Repentance, and this is important, is not when you cry over your sin, it’s when you turn from it and change to follow the Lord instead.

A. Admission of sin. 

Someone has said that the three hardest words for a person to say are “I have sinned.” But this is exactly where we must start in repentance. We must admit to ourselves and to God that we have sinned and that we are unworthy.  

Isaiah 64:6 NIV All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Romans 3:21‭-‬24 NIV But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Sometimes the first step in salvation is realizing that you need it.  It’s like looking in the mirror and suddenly saying you are a “dirty rat".  I realize that’s pretty drastic and dramatic but I want us to understand how important that first step is; this is not an easy admission to make because most of us have a pretty high opinion of ourselves. Nonetheless, this is where we must start in repentance. 

Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  

“When we repent, we think like God thinks about sin. We renounce it just as Christ renounced it.

B. Sin against God. 

In the knowledge of sin, we not only see ourselves as sinners but we also come to realize that all sin is against God.   Here’s what David said;

Psalms 51:4 NIV Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

God has placed us here on earth with free will; we have a freedom of moral choice, and he has revealed to us His way of life. When we fail to do it His way, we fail God himself. We sin against Him, and ultimately only He can forgive our sin.

II. Repentance in salvation involves sorrow for sin.

A. As we realize that our sin is against God, we must have sorrow for that sin. 

This is the very reason that repentance is necessary before we can be forgiven. If forgiveness were indiscriminately passed out without any regard for the person’s sense of sin and need of forgiveness, it would be nothing but a light treatment of sin, with no real meaning.   Forgiveness is never just mere toleration of sin. Toleration passes too easily into indifference. Forgiveness is the restoration of right relationships between God and people.

A distinction must be made between real sorrow and mere remorse or a guilty conscience. You can go to any prison and find people who are sorry for what they have done and even sorrier that they got caught. But they are not so sorry that they would never do it again. Fear of punishment is not all that is involved in repentance. You can easily have great emotion because of sin and still not repent. Repentance carries an element of sorrow, sincere regret that leads people away from their sin and causes them to turn to God for forgiveness.

When John the Baptist preached to the people from the shores of the Jordan River, he demanded from them “fruits worthy of repentance”

Luke 3:7‭-‬9 NIV John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

What he meant was that, if we have repented of our sins, we need to show it in the way we live.

B. This is the repentance of complete submission and commitment your life to Christ. 

One of the greatest stories in Christian literature is the story of Saint Augustine. He was a debonair and sophisticated. And like all the wealthy young men of his generation, he had a mistress. His first mistress he kept for sixteen years. After he got tired of her, he got himself another one, and later, yet another. 

Augustine also liked to go to church on Sunday and would hear messages that would lift him and cause him to reach for spiritual things. So he had a conflict with himself. He prayed, “O Lord, I want thee. I will give myself to thee” but, in his mind there was a little parenthesis—he was not going to give up his mistress. So God didn’t answer the prayer with the parenthesis. He did not give Augustine spiritual power. Finally, one day he got down on his knees and prayed. He gave the Lord his whole self, including that parenthesis. And the minute he did, he received forgiveness and power.

 III. Repentance in salvation involves turning from sin.

First repentance in salvation involves a knowledge of sin, second repentance in salvation involves sorrow for sin.

The third element in repentance involves the renunciation, repudiation, and the actual turning from sin as an act of the will. When we realize that we have sinned, and when we become sorry for that sin, we turn away from our sin and turn to God. Repentance is not complete in just knowing that we are sinners. Neither is repentance complete in feeling sorrow or remorse for our sin. It becomes complete when as an act of the will we repudiate our sin and turn from it. All three elements are necessary for repentance: knowledge of sin, sorrow for sin, and turning from sin.

The requirements of true repentance indicate that the decision to turn away from sin is not simply an intellectual change of mind. The mind includes the whole moral nature of an individual. When we repent of our sin, our whole life is reoriented with Jesus Christ as the center.

Repentance is not a once-and-for-all act. The Christian life, is a life, of repentance. The initial act of repentance when we first trust Christ as Savior is just the beginning of a life of repentance.

Repentance, then, is an act of grace whereby we realize our sin, experience sorrow for that sin, and turn to God in faith. It is a change of mind toward sin as well as a change of action. It involves the emotions, the intellect, and the will.

Generations later, we are still drawn to sin, just like Adam and Eve. We evade the truth, we make excuses, and lay the blame on others. We must constantly confess our sins and repent often on a daily basis and some days many times. 

God has issued us a command that has eternal consequences.

Luke 13:1‭-‬5 NIV Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.  Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Acts 17:29‭-‬31 NIV “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

This is God’s wish for us. And it should be a command that we take pleasure in following.

Repentance and faith are really two sides of the same coin. Repentance is turning from sin. Faith is turning to, trusting in, and relying on Christ. Repentance is not a “work” anymore than faith is: we simply renounce our sin and rely on Christ.

 Conclusion

Luke 23:39‭-‬42 NIV One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ”

In other words this criminal repented.  Here was Jesus’ response

Luke 23:43 NIV Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

With his response, Jesus gave four characteristics of salvation that you can trust and believe in.

First, he said “today.” When you die, you either go straight into the presence of God or you go straight into separation from God. Salvation is immediate. The moment you ask Jesus Christ to save you, it’s done. 

Second, salvation is certain. He said, “Today you will.” He didn’t say, “You might” or “I hope.” His answer wasn’t, “Let me think about it” Jesus said, “You will.” When you accept Christ, you can be certain of your salvation.

Third, salvation is a relationship. Jesus said, “You will be with me.” 

Salvation is not a religion. It’s not rules or regulations or rituals. It’s a relationship. That relationship doesn’t begin when you get to heaven. It begins here on Earth. Jesus Christ wants to be your best friend; he wants to talk with you all the time. God made you for a relationship with him!

Fourth, Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Heaven is a real place, and it’s forever. 

Now to anybody that has not accepted Jesus as Savior I want to point something out to you.

Two criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on either side. Jesus gave them the choice of salvation, and he gives you the same choice. He won’t force you to love him. He’s not going to force you to trust him or accept heaven.

One of the two criminals rejected Jesus. The other turned to him in faith.  If you haven't done it already you have the same choice today.  

The Bible says, “This is the hour to receive God’s favor; today is the day to be saved!” (2 Corinthians 6:2 GNT).

Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (NIV). Do you believe these truths about salvation? Are you ready to call on the name of the Lord? 

Repentance involves knowledge of our sin, sorrow for that sin, and turning away from that sin to God. The turning away from sin is faith. Repentance and faith belong together. As you now repent of your sins, will you not also turn to God in faith to accept his forgiveness and his offer of salvation?

Choose to settle the issue of your eternal destiny today. 

Sermon Audio