Why Do You Practice Repentance?

As we know, God's spring Holy Day season is soon upon us. In one month, three days or so, we will be observing Passover and then the days of Unleavened Bread. And so, yes, we have entered that time prior to Passover, that time of introspection, a time for self-examination with regards to our spiritual condition, with regards to our relationship with God and our relationship with neighbor. This is a very important period of time. It's in our tradition in the church for decades is to use this time, and even as we heard in today's sermonette, to study God's Word, to evaluate, to use God's Word as a mirror, as a source, as a light to shine in our hearts and minds, to see how well we're doing, how are we doing with our commitment to be ever-submissive and faithful to God to follow our calling.

And so, at this time of self-examination in mind in today's sermon, we are going to consider the importance of repentance. Over the next upcoming Sabbath, I am sure, I'm hopeful, I'm looking at the elders out there, that we will hear more messages about repentance, about the process of conversion, about the significance of this very special and precious calling we've been given from our loving God and Father Christ.

Today, we're going to consider two foundational questions about repentance, and I'll be citing these questions several times, but the two questions are these very basic, very foundational about repentance. Number one, number one, what is God's meaning of repentance? Sometimes the world has its ideas, but no, we want to know, should want to know, what is God's meaning of repentance? And the second question we'll consider today, why must we live a life of repentance? Why must we live a life of repentance? And so, my hope today is that our considerations of these questions will encourage us, but not only encourage us, but motivate us to greater efforts in practicing repentance in our lives. And so the title of today's sermon is, the title is, Why Do You? Why do you practice repentance? Why do you practice repentance? Well, the first question, let's dive in. The first question again is, what is God's meaning of repentance?

God's holy scripture must be the capital T-H-E, uppercase, underline it, circle it, the source we go to for matters of the Spirit, for matters of salvation, and certainly for instruction in repentance, and that includes understanding what God means by repentance.

In the Old Testament, there are, scholars tell us there's three Hebrew verbs that are used to convey the meaning of repent, to repent. Now together, these words can denote a meaning of repent, that's the verb in repentance, that state. And repent, repentance, essentially means to turn, or to return, or to go back, and of course, to repent. And all of this is done in a humble state of contrition. Now what are those three words? And scripture has to be our source. We have to pay attention to the words. The first of these three Hebrew verbs is nakam, n-a-c-h-a-m, n-a-c-h-a-m. It can mean comfort. It can also mean to change one's mind. And you might wonder, well, can it be a comfort to change one's mind? Absolutely. If you're changing your mind, to follow God, to submit to God. The second Hebrew verb is anah. It is spelled a-n-a-h-a-nah. It means this humbling in a positive sense. It can be this state of repentance, this contrition, this idea, this sense of being brokenhearted in the right way.

The third Hebrew verb is shub. S-u-b. Shub. S-u-b. That verb in particular is used almost 1100 times in the Old Testament. And it bears the meanings we most often associate with repentance. Turn, return, repent. In Mount's Expository Dictionary, they make the special note that shub is especially used to denote a turning away from sin and turning to God. So it's this process, turning away from sin and turning to God. Repentance. And so these three Hebrew words reveal, when you stop and think about it, we have the definitions, but if you could just step back with me and think about it, these Hebrew words from the Old Testament reveal that God our Creator has given everyone, He has given to every human being, the ability to change his or her mind. Now we may not always think about that, but that is part of what distinctly makes us different from the animals. We don't do things by instinct. We can make choices. We can change our minds. And aren't we glad for that? Because that gives us the ability to repent. You see, repentance is a choice.

And these three Hebrew verbs remind us that every human being has that ability to choose.

Well, the potential to choose. Now in the New Testament, the Greek verb for repent is metanoeo. And I know it sounds strange. Let me spell it for you. I know I'm going to do a spelling test on this. Never. But it's spelled M-E-T-A, meta, meta, M-E-T-A-N-O-E-O, metanoeo. It means, yes, to change one's mind. That's from Thayer's Greek lexicon. In a similar word, its noun derivation is metanoeo. Again, meta, M-E-T-A-N-O-I-A. That's the noun. Metanoeo means a change of mind, but then Thayer tells us there's more to it than just that. And this is going to be important, as I'm going to explain here just a bit. Metanoeo is used for the change of mind, as it appears, in one who repents of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done.

Okay, let me explain. Well, first of all, let me just admit something to you. I understand that learning, hearing about these definitions of words and how to spell them may not be the most exciting thing you have ever done. I get that. I'm an English teacher. I get it. But please understand the meaning is in the words. The words are God's inspired instruction to us. The meanings are important because if we do not pay attention to the meanings and compare them here a little, there a little, other places in Scripture, we're going to fail to get a more full and more complete understanding of what God is talking to us. And so with this idea of repentance, these definitions are critical because they do tell us what repent and repentance mean. We need to know these things. Can we appreciate that? I think we do. We need to know these meanings so that we can be doing what God expects us to do and what indeed he holds us accountable for doing. My point is we need to get it right. We need to get it right. Now back to these two Greek words for repentance. The two words, metanalo and metanoia, they're especially important to understand because many who profess to be Christians, many who profess to be Christians, sadly and often unknowingly, are not living up to the meaning of these two words. These words tell us that repentance is not just a change of mind, but it's a change of behavior. Not just a change of mind, but a change of behavior.

And here's what Mounts' Expositor's Dictionary says. It says, both noun and verb, these two Greek words, they denote a radical moral turn. Now radical has a bad meaning today sometimes. In this sense, radical means essential, vital, important. That's what it means, radical. It's something not normally done, but important. Both noun and verb denote a radical moral turn of the whole person, the entire person, from sin to God. And then the dictionary adds this powerful statement, powerful statement. An accurate understanding of the use of these two words in the New Testament is essential to grasp the gospel message because, the use of these words, because it does not allow for someone to obtain salvation simply by intellectually believing that Jesus is the Son of God without repenting of sins and turning to live for him.

And so these statements are correct. These statements are correct, according to what we see in Scripture. You see, repentance requires a change of one's mind. That's where repentance begins, and of one's behavior. It's the entire change, a whole life change. It's a turning from living for oneself to living for God. So repentance is much more than just a feeling of profound sorrow and regret. True repentance will move us to reject our ways and submit ourselves totally to God. But as I said, sadly, and often without understanding it, people do what they're taught. Too many times people do not search the Scriptures as we were rightly reminded in the sermonette today. You see, many professing Christians are told that to be saved, one only needs to believe and say that Jesus is Lord. That's all they need to do. Just believe it and say it. But that's not what the two words tell us. Together, the Old Testament and New Testament tells us that those who would turn to God in repentance must have a change of mind and a change of behavior. And over and over again, and we're going to look at here just a second, we see repentance has to do with thought, word, and action behavior. It's a whole life change.

We see that evidence of that repentance in evidence in, um, I get my words right, we see that type of repentance evident on Isaiah 55. And let's, if you turn there with me, I'd like to read it with you and go through it with you. Isaiah 55 verse 1 through 9. Isaiah 55 verse 1 through 9.

And we'll also be turning to Isaiah 59. I think I said Isaiah 55, and then we'll turn to Isaiah 59. And so it's through Isaiah in this chapter 55 that God speaks. God speaks, and what we see is that God invites Israel, he invites Israel, as it were, he calls upon Israel to turn from its wicked ways, to repent and return to him, and so receive the true and abundant blessings that only he, God, can provide. And so let's read this. Verse 1, we'll start with verse 1 through 4.

It reads, Ho, or take note, pay attention. Everyone, everyone who's thirst, come to the waters, and you have no money. Come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy?

God says, listen carefully to me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Incline your ear and come to me, here and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. Indeed, I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people. And that ends verse 4. This is a calling. This is God's calling. This is a calling to repentance. This is a calling to repentance.

We too have received a calling to repentance, haven't we?

God's invitation in the setting, this historic place in time, God's invitation, we understand, was for Israel in the context. But if you notice the very first line of verse 1, it's also for a broader audience, isn't it? It's for everyone who thirsts. Everyone. What does everyone mean? Everyone. Every person. God's calling to repentance is for all humanity. He invites everyone, as it were, to invest, to invest their lives in him, to commit themselves to him and his way, which brings true abundance, true life. His way is true food. His way is true riches. Sounds like a lot of the things we read in the Old Testament and also in the New. It's written, it's the same God. It's the same author. In verse 4, the sure mercies of David, of course, this has prophetic significance, doesn't it? It alludes to the promise of the son of David, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Again, this is God's invitation, God's calling to repentance. And if we continue on, we read verse 6. It reads, Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. And of course, we also know when can God most readily be found? When is God near? Scripture tells us many places it's when we are contrite, when we are humbled, when we are brokenhearted, when we are repentant.

In verse 7, continuing, it reads, Let the wicked forsake his way.

Don't go your own way. Give that up. And the unrighteous man his thoughts, there's the action and the thoughts, let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him. And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. And then God states his points, he makes his point again, he says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. So he's inviting us, God's inviting everyone, to a better way. Not the way you're on, not the way that goes nowhere, but the way that leads to God and that salvation, that eternal life. God's pleading, he's inviting. And when people do accept God's invitation, he says he shall be merciful, he'll forgive them. Of course, this is a message Jesus taught, isn't it? Forsaking our thoughts and our ways, submitting our will to God's will, making God's will our will, that's the only way that brings true and abundant joy, true happiness, and true peace.

And then if we turn to Isaiah chapter 59, we see more pleading from God, more of this exhortation of God with Israel and also with humanity, again, to repent. It's a call of repentance.

Isaiah 59 verse 1, Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, nor is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities, your sins have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. And so, very quickly, God is presenting us with an understanding, instruction about there's a barrier that can occur between us and God, and that barrier between humanity and God is sin. It's sin. God can perfectly see and hear. He knows all that humanity does, but he refuses to intervene because of their unrepentant sins. And God emphasizes here how they have given Israel in particular, and of course we could say all humanity has given themselves entirely over to sin, again, in thoughts, words, and actions. And look at that. Let's read here verse 3 through 8, and we see more of this emphasis on thoughts, words, and actions. How humanity's whole life is contrary to God's way. It's a way of sin.

Verse 3, for your hands, God says, are defiled with blood, in your fingers with iniquity. Sin, your lips, there's a speaking part, have spoken lies. Your tongue is muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies.

I like the empty words that you only need to believe in God and say, Jesus is Lord, to be saved. That's not right. That's not what Scripture says.

They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. Verse 7, their feet run to evil. They're in a hurry. They make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made themselves crooked paths. Crooked paths, they're perverse. They're not. They're totally twisted. And whoever takes that way, God says, shall not know peace.

And we understand this today. We see it today. We see it all around us. Humanity rejects God, and God is allowing terrible suffering because of their sins. It's the way humanity wants to follow their living life their own way. And yet, it's interesting, ever since Adam and Eve, humanity, humankind, has always sought for what? They've always sought happiness. They've always tried to have peace. I think they've had to change the definition to be able to say they can have peace, not God's peace. They seek contentment. They seek life's purpose. They seek perfection, or whatever wonderful, wonderful thing humanity searches for.

But the problem is, all those good things are of God. All those good things are of God and his way of life. They're not going to find it going contrary to God. We're not going to find it going contrary to the way of God. There's some wonderful words. They state, God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself because it is not there. There's no such thing. I'll read that to you again. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself because it is not there. There is no such thing. Meaning, if you're looking for happiness and peace anywhere else besides God, you're never going to find it. Now, those fine words are not mine. Those are the words of C.S. Lewis. And he's right. He's right. These words are right. It's not possible to be truly happy and to have true peace apart from the author and source of those very things apart from living life his way, apart from having God in our lives and our hearts.

But repentance makes it all possible. Repentance, turning to God, makes it possible.

Repentance requires our constant effort, and it's always challenging. It's always challenging as long as we're in the flesh. But repentance is also a precious gift from God. It's a precious gift from God that leads to forgiveness, and ultimately it leads to salvation. That's what Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7 verse 10. Let's turn there and read that, please. 2 Corinthians 7 verse 10.

2 Corinthians 7 verse 10. Here Paul tells us, 2 Corinthians 7 verse 10, he says, For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted.

So godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, everlasting life. And that's not to be regretted, that godly sorrow. But, he adds, the sorrow of the world produces death.

The sorrow of the world is feeling sorry for getting caught, feeling sorry that you did something stupid and now you're paying for it. Whereas godly sorrow is profound and deep, and it leads to us making a change, making us turn from our ways into finding God, to doing a better job of obeying God. But think of it, repentance, then, is what God allows us to do. And he wants us to do, why? So that we can receive salvation. It is a gift. It's a very beautiful thing he has allowed us to do, allowing us to change our minds and to turn to him.

So ultimately, repentance requires that we stop resisting God. We must humble ourselves before God, believe God. We must willingly submit to him, do what he says, even, and I would say especially, when we don't fully understand why. That's that moment where you need to take that leap of faith and do the best you can what God instructs, what he tells us. And in time, I think as all of us have learned, we come to understand why. But repentance, ultimately, is vital to that connection we have with God and all eternity to becoming also like Jesus Christ.

So again, what does God mean by repentance? We're addressing that first two questions.

And so, as we've learned so far, that repentance requires a change of one's mind and of one's behavior. It's a whole life turning, a turning from living for oneself to living for God and according to his law and way of life. So now, let's address that second and perhaps more, well, I'm going to make it a little more personal, more direct. The second question is, why must we live a life of repentance? Why must we, you and I and all of us, why must we live a life of repentance? Now, of course, there are many possible answers out there, but we'll emphasize, I'm going to emphasize just three reasons today, just three reasons. Why must we live a life of repentance? Number one, why must we live a life of repentance? Number one, because it's because we need to have a right relationship with God. We need to have a right relationship with God. You see, our great God, our loving Father, he's called us now. He's called us now, in this age and at this time, to have a right relationship with him and his son. In due time, we understand he's going to call all people eventually and give everybody that opportunity to know him and have that right relationship. But our time is now. God knows what's best, though we shouldn't fight him on it. We should accept it and step up to what we need to be doing. And as we read in Isaiah, Israel did not have a right relationship with God. They were trying to do things their own way. And because they're willfully disobedient to God's law and way, he allowed them to suffer terribly. They are going the wrong way, contrary to God. The prophet Amos asked the question in Amos 3 verse 3. I'll read it to you in Amos 3 verse 3.

He asked, Can two walk together unless they are agreed? We're pretty smart, and the answer is what?

No, you cannot walk together. How can you walk with God if you don't agree with God, if you don't agree with God, if you don't do what God says?

The apostle James—let's look at James 4-4. The apostle James makes a similar point.

James 4-4, he's talking of a friendship which requires a walking together in that sense. He makes a similar point. In James 4-4, he asked a question as well. He asked, Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

I hope we know the answer to that. Do we know that? Yes. We cannot be friends with the world in its ways. It's ways that are lawless, contrary to God. We cannot be friends with the world. I know that's a challenge. That's a challenge for us.

And James adds, whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

If we're going to be friends with the world, we try to walk on the fence, and you can't. There are only two ways of life. God's way and not God's way. That's pretty much it. The world's way certainly is not God's way. We can't play the game. We can't play the game.

We cannot claim to be walking with God when actually going in the opposite direction. That's not how you build a relationship. You can't build a relationship when you're walking in an opposite direction. It's not the right relationship God wants to have with us. We cannot be a friend of the world in wickedness and also be a friend of God and Christ.

If you want to try, ask anybody. They'll tell you what the result will be. It just does not work.

Scripture tells us that, and life experience tells us that.

And so we, not God, must change. We're on the wrong step if we expect God to do what we want him to do. That we expect God to do our will. It's the opposite. We're not in charge. We are not God. Although there are many, it's possible to think we're little gods sometimes.

We, not God, must change. We must practice lives of repentance to God.

We saw in Isaiah how God was inviting everyone and talking to Israel as well, those who invited them to repentance. And we do understand from John 6, 44, that the Father begins the process of repentance. He calls us to repentance. It's the beginning of the process we call conversion.

He calls us to repentance and he points us to our shepherd. He points us to our teacher. He points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. However, we must choose to believe and obey him.

We must make the choice. He points the way. And so it is, repentance is vital to having an everlasting relationship to God. God wants us, he wants to have that for every one of us.

And that relationship is vital to our salvation. Let's look at Luke 13 verse 3. Luke 13 verse 3.

In Luke 13 verse 3, Jesus couldn't be—these are the words of Christ—Jesus's words couldn't be clear in stating our absolute need to repent, to change directions, to walk with God. Luke 13 verse 3. Jesus declared, I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Unless you repent, change direction, turn to God, you will all perish.

Perish means to be lost. In a sense, lost and you're never going to be found, sort of, perish, sort of, lost. You'll be ruined, you'll be destroyed. And without repentance, we're unable to commit ourselves in total submission to God. We'll be unable to receive the gift of salvation.

Repentance, we also understand. Let's turn to Acts 2 verse 36. Acts 2. Repentance, we also understand, is important to that relationship, that eternal relationship. Repentance must precede baptism. Repentance must precede baptism. Peter in Acts 2 verse 36-38, he made that clear, the importance of repentance in the process of conversion. It says he was ending his first sermon on that Pentecost, and God poured out his Holy Spirit in such a powerful and amazing way.

It says he's ending that sermon on that Pentecost. Peter convicted his listeners of their sins. He convicted them of their sins and helped them to see their need to repent. And he told them, verse 36, therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. It's a pretty powerful word. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. There's that godly sorrow. True repentance. They were cut to the heart and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?

They did not want to perish. And then Peter said to them, repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And so repentance that leads to baptism, I'm going to read this from our fundamental beliefs booklet, page 22, repentance that leads to baptism is quote, is characterized by a change of heart and action. There you go. That mind, heart and action. And is based on a on personal faith in in total, in a total commitment to Jesus Christ and God the Father. And through baptism, we outwardly show our faith that the shed blood of Jesus Christ removes from us sins penalty of death.

Without that, we're just dead man walking.

Our rising up in the watery grave of baptism, as we've often have said, represents our resurrection, our beginning to a new spirit-led life. A life free from sin's penalty of death and our eternal commitment to God. And yes, it means we are committed to living a life of repentance, continuing repenting of sin, never quitting, never stopping, never walking away from God, but walking to God and with God and God in us, Christ in us. And yes, after repentance of baptism, we then receive God's Holy Spirit through laying off hands. And the spirit, God's spirit then is in us and leads us to live God's way, motivating us to keep his law and the full intent, the full way he always intended, and to keep practicing repentance. He helps us to live according to example Jesus established.

And even as John wrote in 1 John 2 6, to follow the example in the words that even as John the Apostle wrote 1 John 2 6, and I'll read them to you, 1 John 2 6 says, 1 He who says he abides in him also to walk just as he walked.

We walk as Christ walked. We follow his example. Christ walked with his Father. We walk with the Father and Jesus Christ our Savior. We're going in the same direction. We are in agreement.

It's because of repentance, and it's because of God's law for us, his repentance and Christ's sacrifice. And so God invites us to have this right and everlasting relationship. It's ours to have now and forever if we want it and if we work hard to keep it, because it takes effort, not our effort alone by no means, but God in us, God's effort in us and with us.

And so the point to have and keep a right relationship with God, we must be continually rejecting temptations. We must be practicing repentance so that God and Christ will reign in our hearts. That's why we need to repent, to live a life of repentance. Number two.

Why live a life of repentance? Number two. Number two, because repentance is a condition for receiving God's gift of salvation. It's a condition, it's necessary, we would say, for receiving God's gift of salvation. Now, not one of us, no one, can earn salvation, because salvation, eternal life, is by God's grace the gift of God made possible by Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

Ephesians 2, verse 4 through 5. Let's remind ourselves here.

Ephesians 2, verse 4 through 5.

Ephesians 2, verse 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, Paul writes, because of his great love, which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, dead on our sins, he made us alive together with Christ. And here Paul says, by grace you have been saved.

And then also, verse 8, down a few lines, verse 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. And so we cannot earn salvation. I'm sure we know that, but we must be careful that we don't inadvertently begin to slip and think that somehow, the more we repent, the more we earn salvation.

That's the wrong equation. It doesn't work that way. The only thing we have earned and deserve is death because of our sins. And I think we know Romans 6.23. Romans 6.23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but don't forget the other half of that verse. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus's Lord. Now, when I say repentance is a condition for receiving God's gift of salvation, sometimes the word condition can mean different things to different people.

Somebody says, well, it's condition for receiving salvation. That sounds like, yeah, we do have to earn it. No, that's not what it means. So I've tried to think what's a better example. And this is probably not a perfect example, and some of you may have better ones. It may be like, let's say to our young people to help them understand, I'm going to give you a Cadillac. Would you like to receive a Cadillac, young people? You can look up at me. Yes, you would! Old people, would you like to have a Cadillac, too? No, I don't either.

It doesn't have good gas mileage. But I'm going to give you a Cadillac, and it's yours. You have it. No tax title and licensing. I'll even throw in the insurance. Wouldn't that be great? But you have to wait. You have to wait until you're old enough to receive it, right? If you're only seven years old, you're not ready for it.

You're not able to drive it. You haven't learned the rules of the road. You haven't learned everything you need to know in order to use it. And so when we say that repentance is a condition for receiving God's gift of salvation, we don't earn it. But God wants, we just need to be sure that we are doing what God wants us to be doing. We've repented. We're living and learning his way of life. That's part of what that means. But God is not going to give a Cadillac. I'm not going to, let me talk about me. I'm not going to give a Cadillac to someone that can't drive and wouldn't know how to drive and to be a danger and destructive force to other people.

I think we get the idea about why we do not earn salvation, but we have to be ready for salvation, don't we? And so we do have to repent of our sins. We have to live a life of repentance, or we shall not receive God's most precious gift. And again, that's what Scripture says. We're still here in the book of Ephesians. Let's look at Ephesians 5 verse 5. And again, what does Scripture tell us? You're going to listen to me or Scripture?

Listen to Scripture. Ephesians 5 verse 5. Yeah, let me get there, too. Ephesians 5 verse 5. Paul writes, For this you know, this is godly wisdom, this is a fact, for this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words. You know, sinners aren't going to be in the kingdom. People that refuse to repent, they're belligerent, they're not going to be in the kingdom. They won't be there. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Can't be friends with the world. Can't live their way of life. Let's also read 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 9. Again, Paul's words here, it's making very clear, God is not going to give his gift of eternal life to people who absolutely refuse to repent, to conform to his way of life, to be transformed to his way of being.

1 Corinthians 6 verse 9 through 10.

Paul says, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived, neither fornicators or idolaters or adulterers nor homosexuals nor sodomites nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. It's not because they do these sins, it's because these are people that do these sins and they refuse to repent. Sinners refuse to repent. These are people who may have done these things but they've repented. God calls sinners. And so the point receiving God's gift of salvation is conditional. God will not give his gift to anyone of salvation, anyone who willfully persists in sin as a way of life. He will not give his gift to any person who willfully persists in sin as a way of life. We're to be repenting of sin. Third, last reason why live a life of repentance?

Because in God's kingdom, it's because in God's kingdom we'll receive a reward according to our works. We're to receive a reward according to our works. That's why we need to live a life of repentance.

That's God's expectations. God's expectations that his faithful ones will be doing good works of repentance. You see, our works demonstrate our commitment to revere and love God and to keep his commandments. And our good works demonstrate God in us, demonstrates God's faith in love at work within us. We can't do it by ourselves. You can't. And our good works are not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify God the Father. Jesus made that point early in his ministry, Matthew 5 verse 14. Matthew 5, 14, these are among some of those images, those wonderful images that help and guide us and should motivate us, young and old, to do the best we can, to follow the example of Christ, to be a light. And so he instructs us to let God's way, his light, live in us and shine through us in all that we do. Matthew 5, 14. Jesus said, you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Have you ever flown over Los Angeles at night? You can see the city.

You can't hide it. There's light everywhere. We're to be a light in a dark world. I could light in a city. It's going to be seen from afar. You are the light of the world. A city that's set on a hill cannot be hidden. In order, they light a lamp and put it under a basket. That'd be silly. That lamp would do no good. But they put it on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. And so let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. They might not say, oh you did a great job today. Well, I wouldn't have known to do that if God hadn't taught me how. If I hadn't been trying to do with the right thing, I'm just doing what God says to do. Give God the glory. These good works, surely, of course, talking about here, surely pertain to works of repentance. In Acts 26, 20, we see in Acts 26, 20 that from the beginning of his ministry, the Apostle Paul taught a very similar message about repentance and its works. Acts 26, 20. Acts 26, 20. Paul relates. He's talking to King Agrippa, and he talks about his obedience to God and what God had taught him, the vision. Verse 20, he said, but I declared first to those, I declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Do works befitting repentance. And again, repentance involves a radical moral turn of the whole person from sin to God, a change of one's heart and mind demonstrated by the change of one's behavior.

Repentance is proven by how we live, not by what we know. Repentance is proven by how we live, not by what we know. James 1, 22. James 1, 22 reminds us, the book of James, it's full of prods and goads. The words of wisdom of the wise are like goads upon us, and he's goading us. James 1, 22 reminds us, he goeses, he says, James 1, 22, be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. That's what repentance is about. Also, James 2, verse 20. Here we're told that faith without works is dead. Faith without works is dead. And he adds in verse 26, a few lines down, he says, for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

And so God expects good works in our lives to demonstrate repentance in His love and faith active within us. Even as we read earlier in Ephesians 2, 10, Paul says we are God's workmanship. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. And while our works cannot earn His salvation, it should excite us and motivate us to know that our works will determine our reward in the kingdom. And that's a lesson of one of our favorite parables, isn't it? One of our favorite parables, Matthew 25, 20 through 29. We're not going to turn there today, but I'd encourage you to read it. It's a parable of the talents. A parable of the talents. You remember what happens to the good and faithful servants in that parable? They are rewarded with rulership. They're rewarded with rulership, each one according to His ability. And the promise of a reward is also not just in that parable, but it's also made very clear in Revelation 22 verse 12. Revelation 22 verse 12. And here, Christ speaking, Revelation 22 verse 12, it says, and behold, Jesus says, behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give to everyone according to His knowledge. What does it say? According to His work. According to His work. We have to be doers. Verse 14 declares even more clearly the solid footing on which our good works must stand, keeping God's law. Verse 14 says, blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, another way of saying eternal life, salvation, and that they may enter through the gates into the city. That city is the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem. So are we mindful of the good works we need to be doing?

Here, I'm going to make it a little more, I promise you, I'd make it a little more personal, so I'm going to be kind. I'm talking to me. Are we getting out of our old man comfort zones? Now, before anyone starts sneering, I'm not talking about your old man, you know, I'm not talking about that. I'm saying that old man, whether male or female, that old man Paul talks about, that old carnal nature. Are we getting out of our old man comfort zones? Are we serving however we are able to serve? I've heard a number of times, I guess the only thing I'm able to do is pray. And usually after I pick my jaw back up and I look at them, I said, that's probably the most important thing you can do. If that's what God has left to you, if that's what you are able to do, then focus on that and pray. We've heard about those warriors of prayers, right? Prayer warriors. We need them desperately. We all do. So are we serving however we're able? Are we are we following Christ's example? Are we laying down our lives for others? That's what Jesus did. We finding a way to do that for others. Are we learning to say yes to opportunities to serve instead of no? You can ask me about that someday. I'll tell you my life story about that.

Your life will change around with God, I found, when you start seeing yes to opportunities to serve instead of no. It's amazing what might happen. Are we letting our lights shine?

Are we letting our lights shine? Are we hiding ourselves away under our baskets? You have to get a big basket for some of us. Do you know what I mean? Are we doing more of what God gives us to be able to do? Are we hiding ourselves away? Are we reticent about doing what God would have us do in helping and sharing and serving? Are we glorifying God our Father in all that we do? That's very important, isn't it? Are we glorifying God our Father in all that we do? That gives us very much to keep working on, keep repenting of it, because we can never do enough to glorify God our Father. It's important then that we not be confused that repentance does not earn us salvation, but our fruitful good works of repentance, our good works, will be rewarded in God's kingdom. And as we read in Isaiah 55, God promises to be very just and most generous, and we can look forward to that. And so today we have addressed then these two important questions about repentance. Fundamental, but I hope I've been able to give us food for thought. What does God mean by repentance? Repentance requires that change of one's mind and one's behavior, returning from living for oneself to learning for God and according to his law and way of life. And why must we live a life of repentance? It's because we need to have a right relationship with God. It's because repentance is a condition for receiving God's gift of salvation and because we'll receive a reward in God's kingdom according to our works.

Now, now that with all that we've considered today, I want to conclude with a question that only we as individuals can answer. I can't answer this question. You have to answer this question. The question is back to our title today. Why do you practice repentance? Why do you practice repentance?