Acts 3:19   Depart from the Life without God

Kowloon International Baptist Church Kowloon Tong

Harry Lucenay, Pastor

12 November 2006

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

1. What is repentance?

Repentance requires us to turn away from the things that displease God and live in ways that please God.

C. S. Lewis: Repentance is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit & self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means working with God in killing a part of yourself, undergoing a kind of death.

2. Why do I need to repent?

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.

Isaiah 53:6

They shall eat the fruit of their own way… Proverbs 1:31 NASV

Jesus says we need to repent.

“The time has come,” he said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15

We will all stand before God’s judgment seat. Romans 14:10

How big does a sin have to be to be serious?

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) : As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so great that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent (ch. 15:4).

Jesus addresses our sinful thoughts and actions.

Anyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Matthew 5:21 TNLV

If anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman. Matthew 5:28 NCV

What about the things we should have done but failed to do?

If you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.

James 4:17 MSG

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Psalm 66:18

3. How do I repent?

We all stumble in many ways. James 3:2

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3:23

He himself [Jesus] bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24

The proper response begins with repentance.

Blessed is he whose transgressions [rebellion] are forgiven, whose sins [missing the mark] are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Psalm 32:1-5

A) Conviction – sin is admitted.

According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Psalm 51:1-4

If you don’t confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up. Proverbs 28:13 CEV

B) Contrition – sin is abhorred.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18

The sorrow that God uses makes people sorry for their sin and leads them to turn from sin so they can be saved from the punishment of sin.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLV

C) Conversion – sin is abandoned.

Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:7 NLT

The New International Version is used unless otherwise noted. NASV-New American Standard Version; TNIV-Today’s New International Version; NCV-New Century Version; MSG-The Message; CEV-Contemporary English Version; NLV-New Life Version; NLT-New Living Translation