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Preaching Repentance

June 28, 2009

All the prophets of Israel preached repentance

Jeremiah 25:4-5 "And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 "They said, 'Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever.

John the Baptist preached repentance

Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus Christ preached repentance

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

The Lord’s apostles preached repentance

Mark 6:7,12 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Peter

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

Paul

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 20:20-21 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus commissioned His church to preach repentance

Luke 24:46-47 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

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Repentance is not a well-liked message

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

False prophets don’t preach it

Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets had nothing to tell you but lies; Their preaching deceived you by never exposing your sin. They made you think you did not need to repent. (GNB)

Six Aspects of Repentance

1. Preaching – warnings, judgments, and promises!

Luke 11:32 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;

2. CONVICTION - God points His finger at me! I am guilty!

2 Kings 22:11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.

John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience,

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

1 Thessalonians 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

3. SORROW

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.

2 Chronicles 34:27 "because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.

4. A TURNING OR CHANGE OF MIND

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt."

Ezekiel 18:30 " Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

5. Revealed in actions

Matthew 3:1,8. "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ... Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance."

Matthew 21:28-29. "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went."

Acts 26:20 “…they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Acts 2:38,41-42 Then Peter said unto them, Repent…41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

6. SALVATION OR DELIVERANCE – forgiveness

Isaiah 30:15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing,

Jeremiah 36:3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works [of repentance], that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.