Lessons for the Salvation Seminar

Bible Doctrine of Salvation
Soteriology

Lessons: Salvation, Regeneration, Repentance, Faith, Justification,
How to Be Born Again, Sanctification. 

III. Repentance

Repentance:

To experience such sorrow for sin that a person will turn from sin
and turn to God. 

 1. Repentance involves a change of MIND (Romans 12:2). 

	The "prodigal" son came to himself, realizing that he
	had sinned against heaven and returned home (Luke
	15:17-18).

	Zachaeus recognized that he had stolen from others
	and repaid four times the original amount (Luke 19:8).

 2. Repentance involves a change of the WILL (the do). 

	Actions speak louder than words. Although thinking
	and feeling undergo change, the substantial
	transformation is the will. At conversion, Paul asked,
	"Lord, what will Thou have me to do?" Repentance
	leads to service (1 Thessalonians 1:9). "Make me thy
	servant," the son said (Luke 15:19). It is important for a
	person to think or even say firmly when faced with
	temptation, "I CHOOSE NOT TO...or I CHOOSE
	TO..." obey God. 

 3. Repentance involves a change of the heart (feelings,
    emotions). 

	The affections and emotional desires change in
	repentance. The sorrow for sin replaces the "pleasure"
	in evil. Holy shame that leads to contrition and
	confession is the evidence of real repentance (2
	Corinthians 7:7-11). David wrote, "I hate every false
	way...." Paul describes those who will not
	acknowledge God but are given over to sin as having
	pleasure in unrighteousness (Romans 1:32).

At regeneration a person receives the ability to turn from sin and do
God's will, BUT he must choose to stop lying, stealing, living
immorally or whatever other sins he has been committing.

Repentance is always the inward change of the heart first, followed
by the transformation of the life--never the other way around.

Repentance - turning from sin to God - is the result of thoughtfulness
and thankfulness and brings joy in heaven, on earth, and in the heart
and life (Luke 15:6, 7, 9, 24).

The Necessity of Repentance: 

A great number of preachers today talk about "faith" or "believing" to
be saved but omit to emphasize the necessity of repentance.

 1. God has commanded all to repent (Acts 17:30). A command
    of God presumes the ability to do so. God would not
    command man to do what he cannot. One may refuse to obey
    this command but cannot escape the consequence of that
    decision. 
 2. Jesus said, "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,
    5). 
 3. "Repentance" was 
	The first word from John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-2)
	The initial message of Jesus (Mark 1:14-15)
	The theme of Peter's preaching at Pentecost (Acts
	2:38)
	The essence of Paul's ministry - testifying to all,
	"...repentance toward God..." (Acts 20:21).
	The final warning of Jesus to the church (Revelation 
	2-3).
	Must be preached in His Name among all nations
	(Luke 24:47).

Different Aspects of Repentance. 

Conviction: The awareness of guilt before God.

The recognition of responsibility for sin and desire to turn. (See Acts
26:9; Philippians 3:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:9.)

Contrition: The sorrow of heart and conscience that senses the need
of God.

Attrition: An acknowledgment of shortcomings before God.

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