Week 5: The Big Rocks - Repentance

In Romans 7:19 the apostle Paul himself wrote, " For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

Ezekiel 18:30 is a good summary of the Old Testament prophetic message. Ezekiel, speaking for God, said, "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”

Mark 6:12: “They went out and preached that people should repent.”

Luke 15:7 tells us “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Acts 2, “Repent and be baptized…” Then in Acts 3, 'Repent and return so that your sins may be wiped away and the times of refreshing may come."

Acts 17: "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent."

2 Timothy 2:25 “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to acknowledge of the truth.”

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

“Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelation 2:5).

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19).

1. Repentance Requires Change

The great preacher A. W. Tozer said: "Beware of vain and over-hasty repentance. And particularly let us beware of no repentance at all.'

He said in his church, "We are a sinful race, ladies and gentlemen, a sinful people. And until the knowledge has hit us hard, until it has wounded us, until it has gotten through and past our little theology department, it has done us no good. Lots of us believe in the total sinfulness of man who have never been wounded with the knowledge that we have sinned. Repentance is a wound I pray we all will feel."


Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

When I have repented, there are two things that immediately happen. Number one, following repentance is confession.

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

The second thing that happens when I genuinely repent is, not only will I confess my sin, I'll make restitution.

2. Repentance is not easy!

2 Corinthians 7:9 says: “yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.”

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Genuine conversion includes godly sorrow, repentance, and until that takes place there is no conversion. The person who is broken and undone in their sinfulness before God is ready to be converted. If repentance was easy, everyone would be doing it. It's not easy, because repentance requires changing your mind—really changing it, coming to the place where you can say, "If I could go back, I would do it differently." That's repentance. There is no pretending. There's no saying the phrase because it's the right one. The words have to reflect your heart.

3. How do I repent?

Luke 15:17-19:
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

Repentance involves my mind. Repentance involves my emotions. Notice also, though, that it involves the will.

Luke 3:8 says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” You'll know you've got it done when you have this going on in your life:

• The absence of rationalization.

• Genuine sorrow.

• Open confession of sin.

James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

• Restitution.