The King's Church in Ilford
The following is the text of the talk given on 23rd November 2008 by Georges Kisombola
"Repentance"
1 John 1:7-10, Hebrews 6:1-2, Ephesians 5:8-11
For those who were not here last Sunday, Dave reminded us that we are part of a movement called Newfrontiers. One of the values that we strongly preach and encourage fellow Christians to understand and to act upon is Repentance.
The Bible describes becoming a Christian as a process in which there are number of significant stages (See Heb 6:1-3). So Repentance is very crucial in that process of salvation. When one explores Scripture there is much said about repentance. Not only is repentance a necessity for salvation it is also to be an ongoing aspect in the life of a Christian. It has to be a habitual and conscious act that reinforces our walk with God. So what is repentance?
A definition of repentance would be a heart felt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to the ways of God. There is an intellectual understanding where the mind acknowledges that sin is wrong. There is an emotional aspect of repentance in that an accompanying feeling of sorrow for sin and a hatred of that sin will manifest itself. There is an involvement of the will of the person in that he will have to renounce that sin and determine to forsake that lifestyle and turn away from it. Genuine repentance will result in a changed life.
Repentance is something that takes place in the heart and then is lived out in our actions. Simple grief for the act is not enough. Paul did not rejoice over the fact that the Corinthian were grieved by their sin but he rejoiced only when their grief brought them to a clear point of salvation (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
- Genuine repentance will plead with God to remove the burden of sin.
- Genuine repentance is not behavior modification or reform.
- Genuine repentance is a change of purpose and inward turning away from sin.
- Genuine repentance is having a great sorrow for a sin against a holy God.
- Genuine repentance is a longing to be released from the defilement and helplessness of sin.
- Genuine repentance is a total surrender of the human will to the divine purpose of God.
- Genuine repentance is a change of mind and a change of heart.
- Genuine repentance will lead to restitution of the damage that the sin accomplished.
- Genuine repentance will be motivated by faith in God.
Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. The writer of Hebrews identified some foundational principles and doctrines for the Church to adhere to. The inclusion of the foundational principles included "repentance from dead works." Repentance is the initial step working in tandem with faith in God that would open the door for Christian. If repentance was not present, there would be no salvation! Today we will look together two words which together give meaning to Repentance
A. The First Word - Cleansed
1 John 1:7-10 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
John opens up this verse with the conjunction "but" which he uses to show the difference between a Christian and a sinner. There are three particular words that need to be noted in this verse that are conditional if one will walk in the light. It is important to note the contrasting manner in which John penned these words.
1. Walk
The word "walk" is a term used in the New Testament to show the index of the soul. The man walking in the light is one who is in fellowship with God. In consideration of the word "walk," notice some of the places that we are to walk:
- Psalm 26:11 -- Walk in integrity.
- Psalm 86:11 -- Walk in truth.
- Psalm 119:1 -- Walk in the law of the Lord.
- Psalm 119:3 -- Walk in His ways.
- Proverbs 2:20 -- Walk in the way of good men and in the path of the righteous.
- Romans 4:12 -- Walk in the steps of faith.
- Romans 6:4 -- Walk in newness of life.
- Romans 8:1 -- Walk after the Spirit. (Also Galatians 5:16; 5:25)
- Romans 13:13 -- Walk honestly.
- Ephesians 2:10 -- Walk in good works.
- Ephesians 4:1 -- Walk worthy.
- Ephesians 5:2 -- Walk in love.
- Ephesians 5:8 -- Walk as children of the light.
- Ephesians 5:15 -- Walk cautiously
- Colossians 4:5 -- Walk in wisdom.
- 3 John 4 -- Walk in truth.
Ephesians 5:8-11 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Both John and Paul are striking the same chord when they encourage the Christians to walk in the light. A synonymous term with light in this case would be the word "holiness." It would be very closely associated in purpose and intent of a lifestyle that is different from the world. To walk in the light would be to have a heart that desires to walk in harmony with the revealed light that comes from Scripture. To walk in the light would also be marked by a life that will practice holiness. To walk also indicates that this is not a static position that one is holding but rather a very dynamic and moving ahead in a growth of holiness and Christian maturity.
2. Fellowship
Furthermore to walk in the Light will mean that there is a fellowship involved with the Lord and with the Church. It is very important that godly fellowship be a priority in our lives and service to God. As our fellowship with God heightens, the greater tendency that one's observation of their personal sin may be. The presence of God actually convicts one immediately of sin. The presence of Light causes us to see all the things that will dwell in the darkness. A classic example of this is found in Luke 5.
Luke 5:1-11
The disciples had worked all night long trying to catch some fish and they had miserably failed. When the Lord sent them back again to the sea they gathered a large catch. Once Peter was exposed to this great display of the power of God, he was so convicted that he found himself at the knees of Jesus with a plea for the Lord to depart from him because of the great sin that he felt within himself.
3. Blood
When a Christian finds himself committing a sin, the blood of Jesus Christ continues to cleanse us. Some would dare to think that once we have received the Holy Spirit that our struggles will be over. There will be no more temptation to sin, or struggles with the flesh. A preacher once said, "There is no permanent spiritual victories this side of the Rapture." This allows us to understand that we are involved very much in a spiritual battle and that obedience to the Word of God and sensitivity to the Spirit of God will be a constant requirement in the process of walking with God.
In a book written by Jerry Bridges entitled Respectable Sins, he identifies some of the things that commonly have to be fought against. They are listed as follow:
- Ungodliness
- Anxiety and Frustration
- Discontentment
- Unthankfulness
- Pride
- Selfishness
- Lack of Self-Control
- Impatience and Irritability
- Anger
- Weeds of Anger
- Judgmental
- Envy, Jealousy, and Related Sins
- Sins of the Tongue
- Worldliness
What one must understand is that these things will have to be fought against very vigilantly and soberly (1 Peter 5:8-9). To a certain degree, no matter how strong our relationship with God may be, if we are willing to be honest with ourselves, all of these things pull at us more times! Since we are acutely aware that sin is not acceptable in the eyes of God, this presents a dilemma. Are these sins going to disqualify one from salvation?
If justification and sanctification are at play in the process of salvation, again the looming question must be addressed: Will this sin cancel the process of salvation? The focus and intent of the sin must be taken into consideration. The man who is diligently serving the Lord is in a whole different category as a professing believer who lives in a constant state of a sinful lifestyle.
The blood of Jesus Christ has the ability to continually cleanse Christian from any exposure to sin that he may encounter. This is the active power of the atoning work of Calvary. The supply of redemption will be a continuous work of grace in the life of a Christian.
A Christian who has been born of water and Spirit are justified by the Spirit and do not need to be reborn again and again. What is needed is a constant and continual cleansing from the defilement that is picked up along the path of the journey. The constant cleansing comes from the efficacy of the blood of Calvary which makes a constant provision for the Christian to have continuous and unbroken fellowship with God. Church, we all need to be continually cleansed as individuals and as a Church. But this may be hindered when we do not apply the second word for today.
B. The Second Word -- Confess 1 John 1:9
The next word that we encounter is "confess." With the previous word, "cleansed," John opens the verse with the conjunction "but" in the effort to show the difference between the Christian and the sinner. However, with the word "if" John shows that there are some conditions that must be applied in regards to sin. "If we confess" show responsibility of the Christian, the cleansing part belongs to God. Therefore, confession belongs to the Christian, cleansing belongs to God. It is with this understanding that we should grasp with faith that promise that God is faithful and just and is able to fulfill His portion of the covenant that He has with the Church. In Jeremiah 31:34 (also cf. Hebrews 10:17-18), one finds the promise of the New Covenant and what will happen to the sin. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
After the New Birth experience has taken place a very important process will begin to take place. The process of sanctification is set into motion. The atoning work of Jesus Christ at Calvary dealt with the guilt of sin and the polluting effect that it has on one's life. However, it was not completed at this point. A resurrection had to occur and it is the work of the risen Christ that gives us hope. It is through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit that a process called sanctification takes place. Sanctification is the continuous work of the Spirit taking place in the daily routines of life. Sanctification now gives us the ability to look upon sin as God does.
In conclusion why should we repent?
We need to repent because:
- (a) we are born sinful therefore the need for repentance . (1 Cor 15:22)
- (b) we sin deliberately, knowing what we're doing, and must take personal responsibility.
- (c) we are accountable to God, and therefore under His judgement. (Rom 6:23)
- (d) there will come a Judgement Day where there is a record of all things (Rev 20:11-15).
- (e) We will go to hell if we don't repent. This is a place of punishment and eternal separation from God.
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1