THE FIRST FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE of Christianity is repentance from dead works. Repentance is the beginning of our walk with God.
Whenever Jesus Christ came to a town, one of the first things he announced was, “Repent! For the kingdom of God has come near!” (Matt. 4:17).
The main message of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus was similar: “Repent!” (Matt. 3:2).
Peter, on the day of Pentecost, when asked what needed to be done, considering the facts of Christ’s death and resurrection, shouted out to everyone, “Repent!” (Acts 2:38).
The Christian life starts with repentance. It’s the first thing we need to do in order to follow God.
Repentance is not complicated. It just means “to turn” or “to change one’s mind.”
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The Greek word for repentance is metanoeo (metanoeo) which means to change one’s mind or purpose.
Repentance doesn’t mean groveling in condemnation or self-loathing. It doesn’t mean beating oneself with a religious stick and getting depressed. Repentance is not penance. (Penance means paying for your sins by punishing yourself. We can never pay for our sins.) Repentance means changing your mind, changing your direction, and going in a new way.
You’ve been walking on a path in your life. You recognize that how you’ve been living is wrong, because God says so. You repent and turn to a new way.
Repentance means accepting God’s word. God’s word is the communication of himself, and it reveals who God is and what God wants. The Bible is like a spiritual mirror (James 1:22-25) that shows us who we are in the bright light of God’s holiness. When we look into the mirror of God’s word, we discover aspects of our lives that God wants to change. Repentance means submitting to God and changing our lives accordingly.
We All Need to Repent
God says everyone in the world needs to repent because we all have sinned. Our oldest ancestor, Adam, was created perfect by God, but he chose to sin and was kicked out of Paradise (Gen. 3). Adam passed the inheritance of sin to all of us.
“All have sinned and lack the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).
We know that we’re not perfect. We’ve never met anyone who is perfect. We try to excuse our mistakes by saying, “Well, no one’s perfect.”
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10).
Our consciences tell us that we have sinned. Maybe we’ve not committed adultery, but we’ve looked at pornography which according to Jesus is the same thing. Many romance novels are no better. We’ve probably never killed someone, but we’ve hated them – and that’s murder according to Jesus. We’ve stolen, lied, cheated, and done many other things that God didn’t want us to do.
Sin Kills
The Bible compares sin to a boss. The boss of Sin owns us, controls us, and pays us with a salary of death.
“The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23a).
Spiritual death means separation from God. Even if we sinned only once, we would be separated from God, but each of us has sinned much more than once. Separation from God damages people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It ruins people eternally, and it destroys the world, producing sickness, decay, and death.
Jesus Christ is the only person who never sinned. Therefore, he didn’t have to die. But Jesus died anyway. He died not for his own sins (he didn’t have any) but for our sins. Then he rose up again, throwing all these sins away.
The Holy Spirit Shows Us We Must Repent
Left to ourselves, we probably wouldn’t care about Jesus, and we wouldn’t want to repent. We’d enjoy our sins and think that they’re not that bad. The Holy Spirit has to wake us up.
“[The Holy Spirit] will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8b).
God calls us to repent because he loves us.
“The goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4b).
Repentance is not about condemnation; it’s about love. If you love someone, you’ll want what is best for them, and God loves us more than anyone ever could.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
The great love of God compelled Jesus to come rescue us. Jesus didn’t come to tell us how bad we are. He came to give us abundant life. He is the good shepherd who leads us to green pastures and still waters. Repentance is the gateway through which we leave the ways of sin and death and enter into the green pastures of God.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
God loves every single person in the world, and that’s why he wants us all to repent.
“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9b).
Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance
When you’re traveling on a road and realize you’re going in the wrong direction, you might feel sad. But rather than sit on the road crying, you turn around. It’s similar with repentance. The goal of repentance is not to feel sad; the goal of repentance is to turn around.
“Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10).
The “sorrow of the world” doesn’t turn us around. It just leaves us without answers, trudging onward without God. We need to get off this dead-end road; then we’ll feel better. Repentance puts us on the bright path of God and opens the door to lasting joy.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).
Confession of Sin
To repent, we must confess our sins.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Confession doesn’t mean weeping and wailing and condemning ourselves. Nor does it mean just saying, “I’m sorry.” Instead, confession means agreement. When we confess our sins, we agree with God that what we’ve done is wrong, stating the specific sins we have done and agreeing with God not to do them again.
Confess your sins directly to God. Only God has the power to forgive sins and cleanse us from evil.
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
In ancient Israel, priests laid hands upon the lambs’ heads and confessed sins. Through confession, the sins were symbolically transferred to these lambs, and then the lambs were killed, taking the death required by God for the sins. The death of these lambs symbolized the death of Jesus.
When we confess our sins to God, we transfer our sins to Jesus, who died for our sins on the cross. After confession, God forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Sometimes we need to confess our sins to others. When we sin against someone, confession can bring healing to that person and to our relationship with that person.
Confessing to another person can help us when we are struggling against a stubborn sin. Sometimes we seem trapped by the power of sin, stuck in a cycle of sin and confess, sin and confess. When this happens, it can be helpful to confess our sin to a spiritually mature person who can pray for us and give us insight from God’s word.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
Forgiveness
Repentance brings forgiveness. Forgiveness means being released. Sin incurs a spiritual debt to God, and when we confess our sins, God releases us from this debt.
God has been merciful to us by forgiving us a huge debt, and we should be merciful to others. When people sin against us, we should forgive them. Sometimes we don’t feel like forgiving someone until they confess their sins, but we need to forgive them anyway. The requirement to forgive extends to everyone who has ever or will ever sin against us, whether or not they repent.
Unforgiveness
If we don’t forgive, we will mar our relationship with God.
“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:15).
If we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us. Why not? Unforgiveness is a sin. As long as we hold onto the sin of unforgiveness, God cannot forgive us of that sin.
Unforgiveness is a particularly dangerous sin because it produces bitterness.
“[We must look] carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15).
Bitterness produces hatred, strife, envy, and many other sins. Bitterness is an internal fountain of evil which can cause depression and even sickness. The best way to get rid of bitterness is to forgive.
As long as we don’t forgive, we hold bitterness and other associated sins inside our hearts. God cannot forgive us of these sins as long as we hold onto them. But the moment we forgive others, God will forgive us of all these sins.
Repentance Heals
Once Jesus healed a lame man and then told him, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14). Jesus didn’t want the man to go, sin again, and get sick again. All problems in the world are because of sin. Repentance forsakes sin, which is why repentance heals.
Although sin causes problems, it is often impossible to trace specific instances of evil back to specific sins. Just because someone got sick doesn’t necessarily mean his sins caused his disease. Billions of sins from billions of different people have compounded together to produce the many problems in the world today.
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (Luke 9:1-3)
The blind man didn’t lack sight due to a specific sin from himself or his parents, but he was blind because he lived in a fallen and broken world. And his blindness gave Jesus an opportunity to do a miracle.
Rejecting Dead Works
When we repent, we turn away from dead works. Dead works are things we do that are contrary to God. It’s obvious that sins like adultery and drunkenness are dead works, but sometimes seemingly good works are actually dead works. You might think you’re a good person. Maybe you give to the poor and volunteer for charity. But it’s possible for these good works to hinder you from coming to God. ‘Good’ people often think they are better than others, and that they don’t need to repent. Many people believe they will get to heaven because of their own goodness. But all the good works in the world cannot get us to heaven.
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isa. 64:6).
Without Christ, all our works are dead, even “good” ones. They cannot give us life, nor can they pay for our sins. Everyone needs Jesus, even “good” people, for there is “none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10).
“They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31b-32).
To go to the doctor, we must first admit we have a disease. To repent and turn to God, we must first admit we have a problem.
After trusting in Christ, the Holy Spirit changes us. All our works that were dead before, now have the potential to become alive because of the Holy Spirit. All works we do apart from God are dead, but all works God does through us are alive. Our good works will be alive if they are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Helping Fellow Christians Repent
When fellow Christians sin against us, we have a responsibility to correct them. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them” (Luke 17:3-4). Rebuking someone means telling them that what they’ve done is wrong.
It’s important to rebuke Christians who sin against us for three main reasons.
1. It can help them repent and be restored to God.
2. It can protect us from being harmed by that person if they are repeatedly sinning against us.
3. It can protect other people in the church from being corrupted by sin.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Purge out therefore the old leaven” (1 Cor. 5:7).
Sin spreads among people, and Jesus doesn’t want sin spreading within his church. God wants sin expelled from his people so his church can be holy. “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).
We don’t need to rebuke our brethren each time they sin. We must do everything in love, and “love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). In the body of Christ there will be close relationships, and we will grate on each other. We need a lot of love. Let’s be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about when to rebuke our brothers and sisters for sin, but let’s not become nitpicky.
Sometimes we must separate ourselves from someone who refuses to repent. If we stay in a close relationship with such a person, we may get abused. Abuse is wrong, and it’s certainly not God’s will. We need to draw boundaries and protect ourselves. Although we must forgive everyone, we don’t have to be in a close relationship with everyone.
Fruits of Repentance
True repentance can usually be seen. An alcoholic will throw away his bottle. An adulterer will break off his wrong relationship. Zaccheus, a greedy tax collector, gave away many of his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8). Those who stole were called to stop stealing, and start working (Eph. 4:28-29). Witches, sorcerers, and astrologers burned their occult books (Acts 19:19).
“Bear fruits worthy of repentance,” Jesus said (Matt 3:8).
Repentance means cleaning up our lives. When we repent we’ll need to go through our homes, eliminating things that might lead us astray. We might need to throw out movies, songs, video games, books, magazines, statues, pictures, or other things that are displeasing to God or that might tempt us to sin. We may need to stop going to certain places, spending money on sinful things, and wasting our time on screens.
“Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:14b).
Many movies, songs, and video games are created to entertain people through sin: murder, adultery and fornication, theft, or lawbreaking. Sin is not entertainment. Sin put Jesus on the cross and drove the nails through his hands. Let’s not entertain ourselves with the things that killed Jesus.
Christians who enjoy sin are like those “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32).
We should not enjoy watching people sin, whether in real life or in movies. Sin should not be fun. We are called to hate sin.
“Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Rom. 12:9b).
When we repent we’ll have to start telling our friends about God, and some of our relationships might have to end. “What part has a believer with an unbeliever?” (2 Cor. 6:15b). We’ll change the way we treat our spouse, our parents, and our children.
Repentance is an ongoing process. As we grow spiritually, God will show us more and more things that he wants to change about our lives. We must stay humble and teachable, and constantly allow our lives to be molded by God’s word.
Glut Yourself on God
We are not called to repent so we can reject the things of the world and become sad and depressed. We are called away from the empty things of the world so we can experience the joy that comes from God alone. Repentance is about turning away from the empty things of the world and finding true satisfaction in God.
For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jer. 2:13)
It’s silly to abandon God, the fountain of living water, and try to slake our thirst by pressing our parched lips against broken vessels that have no water. Sin will always leave us empty. Repentance turns us away from the broken vessels of the world to the fountains of living water that stream out from the awesome throne of God.
If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37b-38)
The Holy Spirit inside us will become living water in our souls, and we will never be thirsty again.
Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)
True joy and satisfaction is found in God alone.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps. 16:11)
Repentance Prepares the Way for Revival
Throughout history, repentance has been the precursor to revival and outpourings of the Holy Spirit.
In one of Peter’s first messages he said, “Repent, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send Jesus Christ” (Acts 3:19).
God wants to pour out his Spirit on us so we can be refreshed. He’s waiting for us to repent so that we can receive the rain of the Holy Spirit. Great transformation will happen wherever the spiritual rain of the Holy Spirit falls. In addition to preparing for revival, repentance prepares the way for Jesus to return to the earth, because repentance prepares his people for his coming.
When we repent, we prepare ourselves to be filled with God’s presence and power. We will encounter God, and there’s nothing better than that.
~ Prayer ~
Heavenly Father, your way is the best way, and my ways apart from you are pointless. I confess that I have often done things that were not according to your word. I have lived for myself and not for you. Help me turn away from sin. Help me clean out my life from everything that displeases you. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that cleanses me. Heal me from all the effects of my sins. Heal the people that I have hurt by sinning against them. Give me grace to forgive everyone who has sinned against me and hurt me. I forgive them and release them. Give me understanding of your word so that I can walk in your ways. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Victory Over False Teachings
- No Original Sin. Some churches believe that people are not born in sin; that we are all inherently good. But the Bible says that Adam’s sin has corrupted us all (Rom. 5:12).
- No Christian Repentance. Some churches believe that it is not necessary for Christians to repent, because Jesus’ blood covers all their sins – past, present and future. Whatever sins they commit are already under the blood of Jesus, so why should they confess them? But the Bible says that we (Christians) must confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and Jesus commanded 5 out of 7 churches in the Book of Revelation to repent (Rev. 2 and 3).
- Confession to a Priest. Some churches teach that the only way to get forgiveness from God is to confess sins to a priest. But the Bible says that we need to confess our sins directly to God.
- Salvation by Works. Some churches believe that we are saved by works – going to church, being baptized, or doing other good things. But the Bible says that good works cannot save anyone. Only Jesus can save (Eph. 2:8-9).
Foundations Study 1: Repentance from Dead Works
Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:38
- What is the difference between repentance and penance? Is penance a Biblical concept?
- Is repentance a positive or negative thing?
- How should we call people to repent?
- In what way is repentance both for our own sakes and for God’s sake?
2 Peter 3:9, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3
- Why is everyone born into this world automatically a sinner?
- If God wants everyone to repent, why don’t they?
- Is it possible for human free will to thwart God’s will?
- Where did evil come from?
Galatians 5:19-21, Isaiah 64:6
- What is the fundamental difference between dead works and living works?
- In what way can good works be dead?
- Why do people with many good works sometimes find it hard to repent?
James 1:22-25
- How does someone who doesn’t obey the word of God deceive himself?
- Why is it important to regularly read the Bible? How often do you read the Bible?
John 16:8
Have you ever felt convicted by the Holy Spirit? What does that feel like? How do you get rid of that feeling?
Romans 2:4
How does a call to repentance reflect the goodness of God?
2 Corinthians 7:10
- What are some differences between godly sorrow and the sorrow of this world?
- How does repentance take away sorrow?
1 John 1:9-10, Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16
- What is the difference between confessing and saying “sorry”?
- Why do we need to confess our sins directly to God?
- Why does healing come when we confess sin?
- Can sin lead to physical sickness?
- Is all sickness a result of sin?
- If a Christian dies without confessing a specific sin, will he or she go into hell? Why or why not?
Luke 17:3-4
- What should we do when a fellow Christian sins against us?
- Why are we commanded to rebuke believers and not unbelievers?
Matthew 18:21, Matthew 6:15, Mark 11:25, Hebrews 12:15
- Do we need to forgive people even if they don’t repent?
- Why is forgiveness so important?
- How does unforgiveness lead to bitterness?
- What sins stem from bitterness?
- Why is God unable to forgive us if we don’t forgive others?
- Have you ever held a grudge? How did that affect you?
Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:6-12
- At what point should we separate from unrepentant Christians?
- What can happen if we don’t separate from them?
- Do we ever need to separate from unbelievers?
- How can we forgive someone and still separate from them?
- When should we restore fellowship with someone from whom we have separated?
Matthew 3:8, Luke 19:8, Matthew 9:9, John 8:10-11, Ephesians 4:28-29, Acts 19:19
- How do we know if repentance is genuine?
- How do we test fruits of repentance in our own lives?
- Should we test the fruits of repentance in the lives of others?
Romans 13:14
- How does a person make no provision for the flesh?
- How can parents help their children make no provision for the flesh?
Acts 3:19
- What are the “times of refreshing”?
- How does repentance pave the way for revival?
- How does repentance make it possible for Jesus to come back to the earth?
Jeremiah 2:13
- What are some broken cisterns you have drunk from? How did that make you feel?
- Why does the world never satisfy us?
- How do we practically enjoy God?
Romans 2:5
- Why is there judgment on those who don’t repent?
- Will this judgment come now, or only at the end of time?
- Why can’t God save people who don’t repent?
Bethel Cornerstone 