Repentance and

ConfessionGod’s Plan for

Us, Gospel Advocate

Repentance and Confession

a) Repentance, Baptism, and Conversionb) Godly Sorrow and Repentancec) Confessing Jesusd) The Good Confession

Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Through God’s grace, salvation is available to ______.

Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Through God’s grace, salvation is available to ______.

Are there conditions to receiving this salvation offered by God?

Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Through God’s grace, salvation is available to ______.

Are there conditions to receiving this salvation offered by God?

Does that still mean it’s available to everybody?

Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

What is God‘s motive for offering salvation to everyone through the redemption of His Son’s sacrifice?

Matt 7:21 (ESV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Can we become God’s people without obeying Him?

Micah 6:8 (ESV) He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

What kind of life does God desire His people to live?

Micah 6:8 (ESV) He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

What kind of life does God desire His people to live?

What must we do to walk humbly with God?

Micah 6:8 (ESV) He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

What kind of life does God desire His people to live?

What must we do to walk humbly with God?

Luke 9:23 (ESV) And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Job 11:13-15 (ESV) “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.

Zophar, Job’s friend makes this statement about repentance, even though he incorrectly believes Job’s suffering is a result of his own disobedience.

What is repentance? Is it just being sorry? Is it just a statement of regret? Or is there more to it?

Job 11:13-15 (ESV) “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.

Zophar’s statement breaks repentance down into steps.

1) Preparation with acknowledgement of wrongdoing and determination to do better.2) An appeal to God for forgiveness.3) Refusal to continue to practice the error.4) Removal of the sin from our life.

Job 11:13-15 (ESV) “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.

1) Preparation with acknowledgement of wrongdoing and determination to do better.2) An appeal to God for forgiveness.3) Refusal to continue to practice the error.4) Removal of the sin from our life.

Far from being just a statement of regret, repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of life.

Heb 4:11-13 (ESV) Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Repentance requires us to recognize the superior position of both God and Jesus. Why?

Repentance, Baptism, and Conversion

Acts 2:14 (ESV) But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

Peter preached by inspiration of God to faithful Jews from all over, assembled for the Pentecost.

Acts 2:22 (ESV) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know

Peter tells the crowd that they should have known Jesus was the Son of God because _____________.

Acts 2:23-24, 29 (ESV) this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Peter tells the crowd that they should have known Jesus was the Son of God because his tomb is _____________.

Acts 2:30-31 (ESV) Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Peter tells the crowd that they should have known Jesus was the Son of God because of ___________.

Acts 2:32 (ESV) This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

Peter tells the crowd that they should have known Jesus was the Son of God because of ___________.

Acts 2:36 (ESV) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter tells the crowd that they should have known Jesus was the Son of God because of

- His miraculous works (v.22)- His empty tomb (v.29)- the prophecy of David (v.30-31)- the testimony of witnesses who saw Him resurrected.

After showing the faithful crowd that Jesus was the Messiah they were looking for, He convicted them of _________.

Acts 2:36 (ESV) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Put yourself in their sandals.

You’re a faithful Jew.You’ve come from Farfarawayistan,

and speak Farfarawayistani.You’ve stuck around Jerusalem at the Motel VI for 50 day after Passover to celebrate Pentecost.You faithfully believe God will send the Messiah.You know the prophecies of the Messiah.You believe Peter correctly named Jesus as Messiah.And you just heard that you had a hand in his death.

How do you feel?

Acts 2:37 (ESV) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Does this sound like an appropriate response?

Acts 2:37 (ESV) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Does this sound like an appropriate response?

“If Jesus of Nazareth was indeed their appointed Messiah, then no guilt could be greater than the guilt of treating him as he had been treated. If they refused him in whom all hope of salvation rested, what hope of salvation was left to them now?”- FF Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised

Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Thankfully, Peter informed the crowd they did have hope.

What shall we do?

Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Thankfully, Peter informed the crowd they did have hope.

What shall we do?

Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Would this repentance be more than just a statement of regret?

“I’m sorry that I didn’t realize Jesus was Your Son. I should have treated Him better.”

2 Cor 7:10-11 (ESV) For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Genuine repentance requires sorrow for wrongdoing that leads to change.

2 Cor 7:10-11 (ESV) For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

“Their repentance was a change of will produced by sorrow for sin which led to a reformation. A chance of will produced by other considerations that sorrow for sin, or which fails to produce a change of conduct, is certainly not the repentance of which the apostle spoke.”-David Lipscomb & JW Shepherd, A Commentary on the New Testament

Matt 10:32-33 (ESV) So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Closely associate with repentance is the act of confessing Jesus.

What do we risk if we are unwilling to confess our belief in Jesus to others?

Matt 10:32-33 (ESV) So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Closely associate with repentance is the act of confessing Jesus.

What do we risk if we are unwilling to confess our belief in Jesus to others?

Rom 10:8-10 (ESV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Why is the confession important? What does it declare about Jesus?What else does it declare about us?

Matt 26:63-66 (ESV) But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.”

What confession led the Jews to deliver Jesus to the Romans for His crucifixion?

When we confess Jesus, do we make this same confession?

John 18:37 (ESV) Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

What confession did Jesus make to Pilate during His trial?

When we confess Jesus, do we make this same confession?

1 Tim 6:11-14 (ESV) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

How does Paul describe Timothy’s confession of Jesus?

Why do you think he describes is that way?

1 Tim 6:11-14 (ESV) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

It was good because “(a) God requires it; (b) it represents the fundamental truth of the gospel; (c) it blesses the one voicing the sentiments; (d) it involves the recognition that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He was raised from the dead.” – Wayne Jackson, Before I Die

It is not possible to read Scripture and honestly conclude repentance and confession are unnecessary components of gospel obedience. If we wish to be saved, we must turn from wickedness and follow the plan of God. This involves confessing before others that we believe in Jesus, the risen Savior. The examples found throughout Scripture help us to understand the nature of repentance. It is more than sorrow alone. Too, we find individuals were required to make the “good confession” and acknowledge Jesus before men. This is not all one must do to be saved – one must also be baptized to wash away sin (Acts 2:38). Nevertheless, one cannot be saved without repentance and confession.

Next Week:Immersion in Precept

The Command (Matt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16)

New Birth and New Creation (John 3:3-7, Rom 6:3-6)