The Foundation of Repentance
The first of six “Elementary Teachings about Christ” from Hebrews 6:1,2
- Introduction to Repentance
- Definition of Repentance
- Fruit of Repentance
- An Example of the Fruit of Repentance
- More Examples of the Fruit of Repentance
- Why Should We Repent?
- Repentance is God’s Gift to You!
- A Prayer of Repentance
- Turn the Hearts (a song)
- The Ten Commands and Martin Luther’s Explanations
Introduction to Repentance
God
The complete title that the writer of Hebrews 6:1,2 gives this teaching is: “repentance from acts that lead to death.”
We need to understand that many of our acts “lead to death.” That is to say, many of the things that we do, think and say are killing us. Such things separate us from God, the Source of life.
Listen to what God told the first man, Adam: “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
Disobeying God leads to death!
What should we do? We should first stop doing the things that are killing us: we should REPENT!
The word ‘repent’ is a translation of the Greek word μετανοεω. This Greek word literally means ‘to change the way you think.’ So, the first thing that we should do is to change the way we think.
Often we think that something is right, but God thinks that it is wrong. Often we think that something is wrong, but God thinks that it is right. God’s thinking is always correct. The first thing that we should do is to change our thinking so that it agrees with God’s thinking.
A change in thinking always results in a change of behavior. That change of behavior is also part of repentance.
The Bible often uses the picture of TURNING AROUND to describe repentance. Look at the diagram below:
God
The blue arrow above represents the direction that most people are going with their lives; they are going AWAY FROM God!
Now look at this diagram:
God
This is a picture of repentance. The person who was going away from God has TURNED AROUND and is now headed in God’s direction.
Definition of Repentance
I think we’re ready for a definition of REPENTANCE:
REPENTANCE is
turning from evil beliefs and behavior and
turning to godly beliefs and behavior.
Repentance is one of the three basic imperatives of the Christian faith. John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the apostles all told the people, “REPENT!” (I.e. Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:15, Acts 17:30)
How can we know
from what to turn and
to what to turn?
Answer: God tells us! God tells us in the Bible.
For example, God gave us the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17).
The first commandment is: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Essentially, this commandment tell us to turn from other gods and turn to the only true God.
Or, to put it another way, do not follow false gods, but follow the true God.
from . . . to – turn from this false belief or bad behavior to this true belief or good
behavior
not . . . but – not this false belief or bad behavior but this true belief or good behavior
[At the end of this page you will find the rest of the Ten Commandments with Dr. Martin Luther’s explanations. In most of the explanations you will clearly see the “not . . . but’s” of repentance.]
Fruit of Repentance
Just as an orchard grower expects that his fruit trees will produce good fruit, God our Creator expects us to produce good fruit! Those who repent should bear good fruit.
John the Baptist said, “Produce fruit in keeping with
repentance,” and he warned, “Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:8,10)
An Example of the Fruit of Repentance
John the Baptist urged people to repent, and the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:10,11
One of the most hideous sins from which we should turn is our greed. Greed keeps us from sharing what we have with those in need. A fruit of repentance is turning from greed to sharing with others.
More Examples of the Fruit of Repentance
12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”
14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:12-14)
Why Should We Repent?
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands that all men everywhere should repent, BECAUSE He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man Whom He has ordained (that is, Jesus Christ).” (Acts 17:30, 31)
Repentance is God’s Gift to You!
When a person repents, he does something. It appears that, perhaps, he has something about which to be proud. He does not. Because of our sinful nature, we do not have the ability in ourselves to repent. The turning itself is God’s gift to a person; God grants repentance to people!
Consider the way the Bible talks about repentance: “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:18)
What Should You Do?
- Examine your beliefs and life in view of what God tells you in the Bible.
- Ask God to forgive you for all misbelief and misbehavior.
- Joyfully and confidently believe that Jesus died in your place for these offences.
- Ask God to help you to change these things.
- Turn away from all wicked thoughts and behavior
- Turn to godly thoughts and behavior.
A Prayer of Repentance
Dear Father in heaven, I have been going the wrong way! I have been going away from You and Your ways. I want to turn around. I want to move toward You and Your ways. I see now that Jesus died in my place to save me from all of my misbelief and misbehavior. For His sake forgive me for these things. And help me to turn my beliefs and behavior around so that these things agree with Your words in the Bible. Help me to do what is right toward those whom I have wronged. I thank You for letting me see these things now before the great Judgment! I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
NOW is a good time also to tell God or another Christian about some specific beliefs and behaviors that you want to change.
NOW is a good time to ask God to forgive you for these wrong beliefs and behavior, and to hear from another Christian that you are forgiven because Jesus died on the cross for these things, too!
Turn the Hearts
A hymn by the author
1. Turn the hearts of the children to their parents.
Turn the hearts of the parents to their young.
Turn the hearts of us all to one another.
Turn the hearts of the people to the Lord.
2. All around face the world and go the world’s way;
And we find that we live too much as they;
So, because we are helpless, we, O Lord, pray
That You’ll turn us completely back today.
3. With hard hearts we have asked, “Lord, who’s my neighbor?”
All the while hearing not his anguished cry!
Turn our hearts to his pain, turn us to labor
For his good, as for our good we would try.
4. Lord, we fathers, too busy after money,
While our children grow wild without our love,
See the land groan and lose its milk and honey
From the curse that You bring from up above.
5. So please send us great prophets like Elijah;
Send us men who are like the Baptist John,
Who will bring dads and kids together by the
Mighty work that prepares for Christ, Your Son!
6. Sun of Righteousness, rise with healing to men;
Do this, Lord of angelic myriads –
Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children;
Turn the hearts of the children to their dads.
The Ten Commandments and Martin Luther’s Explanations
All of the commandments teach us how to repent. Look at them from this perspective. Dr. Martin Luther has written a little explanation for each of the Commandments. Look for the “NOT . . . BUT” in most of his explanations.
The First Commandment
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)
What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
The Second Commandment
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, BUT call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
The Third Commandment
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT despise preaching and His Word, BUT hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
The Fourth Commandment
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT despise our parents and masters, nor provoke them to anger, BUT give them honor, serve and obey them, and hold them in love and esteem.
The Fifth Commandment
“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, BUT help and befriend him in every bodily need.
The Sixth Commandment
“You shall NOT commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may lead and chaste and decent life in word and deed, and each love and honor his spouse.
The Seventh Commandment
“You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT take our neighbor’s money or goods, nor get them by false ware or dealing, BUT help him to improve and protect his property and business.
The Eighth Commandment
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT deceitfully belie, betray, slander, nor defame our neighbor, BUT defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
The Ninth Commandment
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.” (Exodus 20:17a)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we my NOT craftily seek to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show of right, BUT help and be of service to him in keeping it.
The Tenth Commandment
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17b)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may NOT estrange, force or entice away from our neighbor his wife, servants, or cattle, BUT urge them to stay and do their duty.
© copyright 2011
Lyra Publications
Preston, Minnesota