Repent and Turn to God

1. Read: Acts 26:20

2. About the Text:

1) Commanded by God (Acts 17:30).

2) It was Jesus’ plan that his disciples preach the gospel (Luke 24:46-47).

3) The message of this gospel includes the doctrine of repentance.

4) They did this!

5) Consider Acts 2:38 “repent and be baptized”, Acts 3:19 “repent and be converted”; Acts 11:18 – Gentiles “repentance unto life.”

3. Repentance

1) Many want Jesus to save them with no change required in their life.

2) Is this what the gospel teaches?

3) What is the command to repent?

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God has concluded that all are under sin.

1) “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9).

2) “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22).

2. Sinners are called to repentance. “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

3. One must know what sin is before one can repent.

1) One cannot repent of something of which he is ignorant.

2) God’s word educates us. “…by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

4. One must believe God’s definition of sin.

1) Sin is lawlessness – “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).

2) Specifically, it is living as if we don’t have to obey God’s law (1 Timothy 1:8-11).

1. From the Greek word METANOIA which literally means to change the mind.

2. To change the mind, we must change our thinking.

1) From disobedience to obedience. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

2) From the discouraging to the encouraging. Phil.4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

3) From the carnal and to the spiritual. Galatians 5:24, 25 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

3. To change the mind we have to change our attitude/orientation toward life.

1) To fully commit ourselves to God.

a. To love God with everything we have. Matthew 22:37

b. To not go back. Hebrews 10:38, 39 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

2) To go the extra mile.

a. “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (Matt.5:41).

b. Abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Cor.15:58

4. To change the mind we must change the heart.

1) To a broken heart instead of a proud one.

a. Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

b. Proverbs 16:18, 19 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

2) To a pure heart instead of a corrupt one.

a. “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

b. “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).

1. Repentance is not just saying, “I’m sorry.”

1) “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. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

2) Matthew 21:28-32.

2. The penitent stop practicing sin.

1) “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.” (Romans 6:1).

2) “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

3. The penitent practice right instead of wrong.

1) Romans 6:17-18.

2) Col.3:9-10.

4. This involves restitution where possible.

1) John the baptizer taught this (Luke 3:7-14).

2) Jesus taught this (Luke 19:8).

3) Paul taught this (Acts 26:20).

1. God commands repentance (Acts 17:30)!

2. When we repent, God blesses us.

1) “Remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

2) “Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

3) Restoration of fellowship (Luke 17:4) “…I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

4) Rejoicing in heaven. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10).

5) Invitation