Repentance

REPENTANCE

7 WAYS WE DEAL WITH SIN

INTRODUCTION

-Foundational work is so important to any building project
-Christian life is compared to many things, one of which is building
1 Cor 3:9 You are God’s building
1 Cor 6:19 Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
-So what are the foundational elements of the Christian life?
Hebrews 6:1-3  Galatians 5:19-21
-Many Christians don’t build on the foundation of repentance
-When we sin, we often attempt to utilize non-repentant ways to deal with it
-1 Samuel 15

Bad Foundation #1
Cover it up (15:13)
How stupid was Saul?
How stupid are we to think we can hide sins from God?
Be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23)
Are there sins you are trying to keep secret?
Good news: It means you still recognize it as sin
Bad news: It doesn’t work

Bad Foundation #2
Cast blame (15:15, 21)
Saul blamed the soldiers and the people
We blame genetics, parents, peer pressure, God, etc
Even non-Christians know & respect when someone has truly owned up
David, once confronted, repented right away (2 Samuel 12:1-13)
Good news: It still shows that you know blame needs to go somewhere
Bad news: It doesn’t work

The remaining methods are more sophisticated, showing a harder heart

Bad Foundation #3
Claim pure motives
Saul said they were going to sacrifice the animals to God for worship
Paul dealt with people sinning so that grace would abound
We download music, but it’s ‘Christian’ music so it’s ok
We cheat on taxes, but it’s to teach the government a lesson
We gossip, but we disguise it as a prayer request
I know of an evangelist who divorced his wife to marry a female evangelist
We’ve heard of people blowing up abortion clinics
For Christians, the ends DO NOT justify the means

Bad Foundation #4
Compare it
Saul argued that they had ‘totally destroyed the rest’
We often argue that our good outweighs our bad, but it’s irrelevant
“It’s not like I’m a murdered”… “Nobody’s Perfect”
As if some sin was tolerable
Would you buy a pizza with a little cow dung in it?

Bad Foundation #5
Convince yourself it’s OK
Saul said “I did obey”
This is evidence of a very hard/cold heart
I’ve seen the Bible used to defend everything under the sun

Bad Foundation #6
Change the terms (Luke 10:25-29)
We stop using the words: sin, wrong, rebellion
We start using the words: mistake, accident, regret
Or we make sin out to be ONLY doing bad stuff…not neglecting good

STOP (v. 16)

We must be radically different people
The difference b/w Christian & Non-Christian is not sinful vs. sinless
The difference b/w Christian & Non-Christian is repentant vs. non-repentant
Sin separates us from God (15:21)

Foundation #7

What is genuine repentance?
1. Nacham- Sigh, sorry
2. Shoob- change direction
3. Metanoia- change mind

Characteristics of Genuine Repentance
1. Detailed admission
2. Acknowledgement of damage
3. Take Responsibility
4. Statement of repentance
5. Ask for forgiveness
6. Commitment to change
7. Restitution if possible

1 John 1:8-9
1. We have sin
2. We confess our sin
3. We are cleansed

It’s no coincidence that some of the most meaningful times of repentance take place very low to the ground. Repentance is foundational to Christianity

Homework assignment
1. List 5 sins in your past
2. Analyze whether or not you used any of the 6 bad foundations
3. Commit to be a person of repentance

Now, not later (Saul vs. David)

It’s easier to eat crow while it’s still warm