Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
REPENTANCE – me-taNOIa, nous*, 24x (167), Strong’s # 3341
One. Acts 2:38 (37-42). REPENTANCE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. “And Peter saidunto them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your :sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Its basis is the Atonement; its symbol: baptism. Repentance is the negative principle, but Faith is the positive principle. Salvation through conversion is constituted by Repentance and Faith. The Holy Spirit is the vital aspect of this, the “Peter Package.”
Two. Acts 3:19 (11-26). REPENTANCE AND EVANGELISM. “Repenttherefore, and turn again, unto the blotting out of your :sins.” Repentance is a once for all change of mind (aorist tense). It is a command, and not to be re-laid (Heb. 6:1-2).
Three. Acts 8:22 (14-24). REPENTANCE FROM LOW CONCEPTS. “Repenttherefore of this your :wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of your :heart shall be forgiven you.” See what constitutes wickedness of heart, requiring repentance: A low concept of the Holy Spirit (can be blasphemed); A low concept of Jesus; A low concept of Jesus’ atonement (1 Corinthians 11)..
Four. Acts 17:30 (16-34). REPENTANCE AND ITS URGENCY. “The times of :ignorance therefore :God overlooked; but now he declares to :men that they should all everywhere repent.” God has appointed Christ as Judge. His resurrection confirms this appointment. God has set the time for the Day of Judgment, at which time all men shall appear before Christ.
Five. Acts 19:4 (1-7). REPENTANCE: NOT THE BAPTIST’S FOUNDATION. “And Paul said, John baptized a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe unto him that should come after him, that is, unto :Jesus.” Like these 12 men from Ephesus, we could have the wrong repentance: John’s instead of Christ’s. We can also have the wrong foundation: sand or earth instead of rock (Mat. 7:24-27). It’s not what we know (doctrine), but Who we know (a Person).
Six. Acts 20:21 (17-38). REPENTANCE: A BASIS FOR PAUL’S MESSAGE. “Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks the repentance toward God, and faith toward our :Lord Jesus.” See the example of Paul’s life: his compassion and tears; his sacrificial ministry; his simple message – repentance and faith, the foundation for salvation.
Seven. Acts 26:20 (25:23-26:23). REPENTANCE: KEY TO GOD’S BLESSING. “But declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of :Judaea, and also to the nations, that they should repent and turn to :God, doing works worthy of :repentance.” First, empty out dirty water before receiving clear; remove debris before you rebuild (Nehemiah); remove false ideas before rebuilding true (Jer.1:10). Second: open eyes to turn from darkness to light; to turn from power of Satan to God (Eph. 2:1-3); to receive an inheritance through sanctification.