Whatever Happened to Repentance?

The body of singer Whitney Houston has been taken home to her native New Jersey.

The 48-year-old pop star was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday. Prescription drugs were found in her room. Houston battled drug and alcohol addiction during her career.

CBN News spoke with Houston's godmother, Gospel singer Shirley Caesar. Caesar said regardless of how Houston died, she was seeking to overcome her troubles through her faith.

"I know she had been in Houston, Texas, and I don't know where else. She had met up with Kim Burrell, but they were together praising God, speaking in tongues, and giving God the glory," Caesar told CBN News.

"She wasn't there to try and put on heirs, to make somebody believe something. This girl was prostrate on the floor, on the floor crying out to God. Why? Because she wanted total deliverance and it's only the Lord who will judge her to say as to whether or not she makes it in," Ceasar said. -CBN News, February 14, 2012

Whatever happened to repentance? You rarely hear the word mentioned in most churches today — even in Baptist, Pentecostal or evangelical circles. Pastors nowadays seldom call for their congregations to sorrow over sin — to mourn and grieve over wounding Christ by their wickedness.

Instead, the message we hear from many pulpits today is, "Just believe. Accept Christ, and you'll be saved." The text used to justify this message is Acts 16:30-3.

In today's message, we will look at the Biblical doctrine of repentance: 1) Repentance is based on faith; 2) Repentance requires a change in mind and attitude; 3) Repentance requires a change in lifestyle; 4) Repentance results in forgiveness.

The main idea is to help everyone understand the truth regarding what repentance really is.

Let's open our Bibles and take a look at Luke 24:46, 47. We read in these verses some of the words that Jesus gives to his disciples after His resurrection. He says to them that His death and resurrection were all part of God’s plan. It is also part of God’s plan that these men now go and preach the gospel.

The message of this gospel includes the doctrine of repentance. The apostles were to preach to a lost and dying world that they were to repent. There are many people today who fail to see the need to repent of their sins. Many want Jesus to save them with no change required in their life.

Is this what the gospel teaches regarding repentance? There is a lot of confusion today as to what repentance is. Some just think that saying, “I’m sorry” means I have repented. Is this what the gospel teaches regarding repentance?

First of all, repentance is based on faith. One must know what sin is before one can repent. Look at it this way, one cannot repent of something of which he is ignorant. Fortunately for us, God’s word educates us as to sin (Romans 3:20).

One cannot repent of sin until he hears the word of God and believes it. If he hears, but does not believe, then he will not repent (Matthew 7:24-27 ). But, he cannot believe without hearing the word (Romans 10:17). This is the problem that the Israelites had in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:16-19; Psalm 106:24-26).

Next, repentance requires a change of mind and attitude. "Repentance" comes from the Greek word METANOIA which literally means to change the mind. However, in order to change the mind we have to change our thoughts. We have to change our thoughts: out of lawlessness and into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)); out of negativism and into positivism (Philippians 4:8); and out of fleshly thinking and into spiritual thinking (Galatians 5:24, 25).

To change our minds we also have to change our attitudes. We must be willing to fully give ourselves to God. This means we must love God with everything we have (Matthew 23:37). It means if we draw back and hold something back from God we will be lost (Hebrews 10:38, 39). It means we must be willing to go the extra mile. The attitude of doing just enough to get by will not save you (Matthew 5:41). We must ABOUND in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

To change the mind we have to change our heart. We must have a contrite heart instead of a proud one (Psalm 51:57; Psalm 24:18; Proverbs 16:18, 19). Added to this, we must have a circumcised heart instead of a corrupt one (Colossians 2:11; Romans 2:29).

A third requirement of repentance is that it requires a change in lifestyle. Repentance is not merely being sorry and just simply saying, “I am sorry.” (2 Corinthians 7:9, 10; Matthew 21:28-32) It requires stopping the sin that is in one’s life (Romans 6:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). And choosing to do what is right instead of what is wrong in the future Romans (6:17-22; Colossians 3:5-17).

It also requires restitution where possible. (Luke 3:7-14) John the baptizer taught this. Jesus taught this (Luke 19:8). Even Paul taught this (Acts 20:26). Lastly, repentance results in forgiveness (Acts 2:38; Luke 17:4) and rejoicing in heaven (Luke 15:10).

To summarize, repentance is important and we must understand what it is. God commands it! (Acts 17:30)

1) It is based upon faith.
2) It requires a change in mind and attitude.
3) It requires a change in lifestyle.
4) It results in forgiveness.

Here's an invitation, if you are a Christian but have fallen away. Have you forgotten that you repented of sin before you became a Christian? You cannot live within it any longer. Repent today!

If you are not a Christian...repentance is part of God’s plan for your salvation. Follow the plan that it has for man’s salvation today! Hear the word (Romans 10:17). Believe with all your heart (Hebrews 11:6). Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30). Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). And, be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).

Prayer: God, my good and loving Lord, I acknowledge all the sins which I have committed every day in my life, whether in thought, word or deed. I ask for forgiveness from the depths of my heart for offending You and others and repent of my old ways. Help me by Your grace to change, to sin no more and to walk in the way of righteousness and to praise and glorify Your Name. Amen.

May God bless you always,

Bailey