How better to begin but with our initial doctrinal statement on repentance:
“Repentance is the act of acknowledging one's sins and resolving to fully
obey God. To repent means to change one's overall attitude from wanting to go
his own way to wanting to go God's way. It begins when God opens one's mind to
see himself in comparison with God and His law. True repentance is the first
step toward reconciliation with God, and thereby toward ultimate salvation.”
Repentance is covered in the previous study of Ezek 18:31. However, there
is something being said in Luke 3:8 and Matthew 3:8 I wish to point out.
In these chapters of Matthew and Luke, we read of John the Baptist going about
calling individuals to initial repentance but there is something in the wording
that speaks to our continuing repentance throughout our lifetime in the
Salvation Process. Notice this commentary:
[Bring forth therefore fruits ...] That is,
the proper evidence that you are sincere. Do not bring your cunning and
dissimulation to this work; do not carry your hypocrisy into your professed
repentance, but evince your sincerity by forsaking sin, and thus give evidence
that this coming to Jordan to be baptized is not an act of dissimulation [to
disguise one’s intensions or true feelings] . No discourse could have
been more appropriate or more cutting.
[Fruits] Conduct.
[Meet for repentance] Fit for repentance; appropriate to it the proper expression of repentance.
(from Barnes' Notes)
The key word in this verse is “fruits” or conduct, meaning true action.
Repentance is not to be motivated by guilt or fear. Repentance is not about
proclaiming before God good intensions or a promise of better behavior. It is
about taking definite action to overcome sin. Overcoming sin is a process of
action steps and God wants us to be working that process continually. With each
action step in the process, we take a step away from sin and get one step closer
to God and His righteousness.
Lesson 8:
Instructions –
Bring forth fruits fit for repentance
1) Frequently refer to our doctrine on
Repentance.
2) Produce a plan [a process] of action steps to overcome sin.
3)
Review the Bible Study, "Stopping
Sin Using the Wisdom of Solomon."
4) Examine yourself frequently to insure your repentance is real.
5) Each time you sin, invoke the action steps of your overcoming sin
process.
6) Pray continually for the strength of God to overcome sin in your life.
7) Endure to the end as a repentant person.
See the sermon, "Claiming
Victory"
See booklet, "The
Pain and Joy of Repentance"
See booklet, "Why
Should You Repent?"
See booklet, "The
Three-Part Formula for Salvation"
See booklet, "SAVED BY
GRACE?" (Or is there something we must DO to enter the Kingdom of God?)