Beginning the Christian Life - 3 - Additional Definitions

Scripture reading: Ephesians 2:17

"Repentance may be defined as the voluntary change in the mind of the sinner whereby he turns from sin. It involves a change of view, a change of feeling, and a change of purpose." - Pardington.

"Repentance expresses that mighty change in mind, heart, and life wrought by the Spirit of God." - Trench.

"It describes that deep and radical change whereby a sinner turns from the idols of self and sin unto God, and devotes every movement of the inner and outer man to the captivity of His obedience."

- Chalmers.

"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 a thorough and hearty abandonment of all excuses and apologies for sin." - Finney.

1.WHAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH REPENTANCE?

a) FAITH

Mark 1:15 - - "Repent ye, and BELIEVE the Gospel."

Acts 20:21 - - "REPENTANCE toward God and FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

b) BAPTISM

Acts 20:21 - - "REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you"

c) CONVERSION (see supplementary study)

Acts 3:19 - - "REPENT ye therefore, and be CONVERTED..."

d) TURNING TO GOD

Acts 26:20 - - "The Gentiles should REPENT and TURN TO GOD"

e) WORKS

Acts 26:20 - - "The Gentiles should REPENT and turn to God, and DO WORKS meet for REPENTANCE."

Revelations 2:5)

f) FRUITS

Matthew 3:8 - - "Bring forth therefore FRUITS meet for REPENTANCE." (Revelations 2:5)

5. DO CHRISTIANS REPENT?

Where ever there is sin , there must be repentance!

a) THE CORINTHIANS

2 Corinthians 7:9 - - "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to REPENTANCE..."

Corinthians 12:20-21 - - "For I fear, lest, when I come...my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not REPENTED of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed."

b) THE EPHESIANS

Revelations 2:5 - - "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT and do thy first works..."

c) IN PERGAMOS

Revelations 2:16 - - "REPENT; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

d) IN SARDIS

Revelations 3:3 - - "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT..."

e) IN LAODICEA

Revelations 3:19 - - "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and REPENT."