True Repentance
By Pastor Steve Maile
Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
To become a true follower of Christ, you must be born again, which means begin a new life, a life of righteousness free from sin. In order to do that the right foundations must be built.
Last week we talked about digging deep until we hit bedrock, we learned that Christ is the Rock and the strong foundation and without Him our lives will end up in ruins. In this lesson we will continue to talk about repentance, the difference between worldly sorrow and true godly repentance.
First, we will remind ourselves of the foundational stones we must lay in our lives, these foundational stones taught by the Apostles are so very important and each one necessary. They are:
A. Repentance from dead works
B. Faith towards God.
C. The doctrine of baptism
D. Laying on of hands
E. Resurrection of the dead
F. Eternal Judgement
1- What is godly repentance?
In the Old Testament are two words translated “repent.” “Naham” and “Shubh.” Naham means to lament or to grieve and refers to the aroused emotions when undertaking a different course of action. Shubh is most generally used to express the Scriptural idea of genuine repentance. This second one is used extensively by the prophets and means, “radical change in one’s attitude towards sin and God. It implies a conscious moral separation and a personal decision to forsake sin and enter into fellowship with God.
In the New Testament are also two words translated “repent.””Metamelomai” and “Metanoeo.”
Metamelomai has the same meaning as Naham, to have a feeling or care, concern or regret.
Metanoeo means to have another mind, and occurs in the noun and verb form 57 times. It is also associated with the word “turn” and describes that deep and radical change whereby a sinner turns from idols of sin and self unto God.
Charles Finney defined repentance thus: “It implies an intellectual and a hearty giving up of all controversy with God upon all and every point. It implies a conviction that God is wholly right and the sinner wholly wrong and thorough and hearty abandonment of all excuses and apologies for sin.”
Repentance is a change of heart concerning Jesus Christ, it implies to turn from sin and turn to Him and enter into fellowship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Look what Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Why will His goodness leads us to repentance? Because He wants us free from sin, and when we are free from sin we can enjoy a relationship with Him.
2- What is worldly sorrow?
There are two types of sorrow, the godly sorrow that produces change, bringing life, freedom and joy, and a worldly sorrow that brings grief and death but not a change of heart. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”Many people in denominational churches who may be faithful church goers are not saved, unfortunately they are religious with an outward appearance but have not received a new nature in Christ because they haven’t repented properly.
In Acts 17:30 NKJV it says, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,” Repentance is not an option or some religious thing but a command, the heart and the mind requires change, so if there is no change then is no repentance. You have to make the decision to repent because unless you repent you will perish. (Luke 13:3 and 5 NKJV) This is the reason Christ came, in Luke 5:32 NKJV Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” God’s will for us is that we are saved from eternal damnation. How can we be saved? See what 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” True repentance is the only way to find salvation. You agree with God against yourself that God is right and you are wrong about everything. Grace is available and has made a way through repentance that the very heart of man can be changed and have God’s heart rather than their own.
3- The mirror of the Word.
James 1:25 AMP
“But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favoured by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].”
True repentance needs to be preached for people to get saved. It’s great to be saved but don’t stay as a baby, that’s only the start. We are to go on to perfection, which is maturity (Hebrews 6:1). How do we mature? Looking into God’s Word. James tells us that the Bible, which is God’s written Word, is a mirror because it tells us who we are, how we are, and what we must do in Christ. It reflects the true state of our lives. Some mirrors have a distorted reflection, they can make you look tall and slim or short and wide but that’s not a true reflection. God’s Word never lies, God’s Word is truth. But we need to stay in it and know the full counsel of God, not just feed with a few verses here and there. This is the main reason many Christians don’t grow, because they feed with crumbs not the full bread of God.
The way we look at the Word is with the help of the Holy Spirit not with a religious spirit or in condemnation. We must become doers and goers not stayers and moaners. The reason some are not doing is because they are not hearing right with their hearts. When you go to Church and hear the Word preached are you actually taking it in? If you hear right you will do right, and the more you do the more you want to do.
Get into God’s Word, let aside self righteousness and pre conceived ideas or assumptions and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and show you the true state of your heart. Let the goodness of God lead you to repentance to set you free from things that shouldn’t be in your life. (Romans 2:4 NKJV) What a privilege it is to look carefully into the perfect Law of Liberty and abide by it.