what’s the hardest command of god’s word to obey?

WHAT’S THE HARDEST WHAT’S THE HARDEST COMMAND OF GOD’S WORD COMMAND OF GOD’S WORD

TO OBEY?TO OBEY?

Acts 17:30-31Acts 17:30-31

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

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Luke 13:3Luke 13:3

“…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 13:3Luke 13:3

““and that repentance and remission and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”Jerusalem.”

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Repentance Is Essential ToRepentance Is Essential ToSalvationSalvation

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In order to find favor with GodIn order to find favor with God man must repent man must repent

Sin separates man from God

“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.

2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1,2

One of the hardest commands to obeyOne of the hardest commands to obey

RepentRepentFor The Non-Christian

Baptism is easyonce he repents

Acts 2:38

For The ChristianConfession is easy

once he repentsActs 8:22

It is Hard Because:• It is the turning point – mind making decision

• It involves surrendering the will over to the Will of God • The will is actually crushed and replaced with humility

What Repentance Is Not?

• Confession of sin- (possible without repent)

• Regret and sorrow - (Matt. 27:2-4) – tears

cannot be a substitute for genuine repentance

• Forced change of conduct – (Gen. 19:26)

• Outward Change or Reform – (Joel 2:12-13)

• A Promise to do better – (Jeremiah 15:6)

The Elements of Repentance

1. Recognition of Sin1. Recognition of Sin1. Recognition of Sin1. Recognition of Sin

• David did not make excuses or try to lay the blame on others. (2 Sam 12:13)

Psalm 51:3 - “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.”


2. Godly Sorrow2. Godly Sorrow2. Godly Sorrow2. Godly Sorrow

• Repentance is preceded by godly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

God

ly S

orr

ow

Godly sorrow involves a complete sorrow involves a complete focus on God.focus on God.

Psalms 51:1-4 – David sorrowed with a godly sorrow over his sin

God

ly S

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ow Psalm 51:1-4 - Have mercy upon me, O

God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.


• Satan's substitute for this is worldly sorrow.

• In worldly sorrow we are sad about the consequences or being caught.

• Many have this kind of sorrow over their sin.


Worldly SorrowWorldly Sorrow

JEROBOAM

1 Kings 12:28-3113:1-6

Concerned for the

consequences

Godly SorrowGodly Sorrow

DAVID

2 Sam. 12:13Psalms 51

Concerned for relationship with

God


Worldly SorrowWorldly Sorrow

JUDAS

Matthew 27:1-4

Deep regret but didn’t change his

heart

He gave up and hung himself

Godly SorrowGodly Sorrow

PETER

Matthew 26:75

Wept bitterly over his sins before

the Lord

He picked himself up


This is whatrepentance

means!

1. Recognition of Sin

2. Godly Sorrow

3. Change of Heart / Mind


The Attitude of Heart in Repentance

Matthew 5:3-6

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

5 Blessed are the meek,

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,



2. Godly Sorrow

3. Change of Heart

4. Change of Life

Repentance

(Changeof Mind)

GodlySorrow

DeepContrition

Produces

Changeof

Life

Produces

•Thayer: “to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins” (405).

• W. E. Vine says “this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God” (III: 281).

• Kittel’s Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament suggest that repentance involves turning away from evil (IV: 1004).

• A. T. Robertson said that when John called upon his hearers to repent, “John did not call on people to be sorry, but to change their mental attitudes and conduct” (Word Pictures In The New Testament, I: 24)

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e1. Involves Turning From Evil1. Involves Turning From Evil

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Nineveh “…repented at thepreaching of Jonah…”

(Matt. 12:41)

“…they turned from theirevil way…”(Jonah 3:10)

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2. Ceasing of Sin2. Ceasing of Sin

This includes an abhorrence of sin not just a cessation and separation from it.

“Abhor what is evil, cleave to what is good.” Romans 12:9

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3. Restitution when possible3. Restitution when possible

Will want to undo the wrong that’s been done – Acts 16:34

This will involve confession to those we have wronged.

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4. Fruits of repentance (Matt. 3:8)4. Fruits of repentance (Matt. 3:8)

Matthew 3:1-8

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”….

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

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4. Fruits of repentance (Matt. 3:8)4. Fruits of repentance (Matt. 3:8)

5. A Longing for forgiveness5. A Longing for forgiveness

Comes hungering and thirsting for God’s righteousness knowing that Christ is the only means of obtaining salvation. Acts 2:37-38; Acts 8:18-24

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2. Godly Sorrow

3. Change of Heart

4. Change of Life

Example – The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32

what’s the hardest command of god’s word to obey?

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