January 27 2010 Mid Week Bible Study

by Pastor Norman S. Lao

(The following material corresponds to the Bible Study Notes of the Same Title.)

The Living Rock Church of Iloilo City
MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY
January 27, 2010

Text: Matthew 4:17

Title: THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST: COMMANDMENT #1 - REPENTANCE

Introduction
We learned last Wednesday that the BASIS of our NEW SERIES (The Commands of Christ) is the Great Commission which is to MAKE DISCIPLES: It has TWO PARTS:

1. Baptize them and
2. Teach them to OBEY EVERYTHING that Jesus (Himself) COMMANDED

We usually do the FIRST PART, that is, we BAPTIZE them, BUT we DO NOT (usually) Teach them (to obey) EVERYTHING that Jesus COMMANDED.

So, in our Bible Study SERIES we are going to give attention not only to LEARNING Christ’s Commands, but MOST IMPORTANTLY to OBEYING THEM.

All the COMMANDS of Christ are found in the GOSPELS. So we are going through the GOSPEL MATERIALS for the Commands of Christ.

Initially, we find 49 specific commands of Christ addressed to ALL CHRISTIANS.

1. We are going to EXCLUDE Commands given to specific individuals.

2. Commands that include a positive and a negative parts will be considered as ONE COMMAND.

3. This leaves us with 49 COMMANDS (this is not a dogmatic number though).

It is our firm understanding that as we LEARN and OBEY the COMMANDS OF CHRIST we become MORE LIKE HIM and we end up as TRUE DISCIPLES!

This material will deal with FIRST COMMAND of CHRIST: REPENT (Matthew 4:17). After Jesus was tempted in the wilderness he started his ministry with these words, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

The command to REPENT is very important not because
1. It is the FIRST command, but
2. Because this command is REQUIRED for obeying the REST of the commands.

In other words, REPENTANCE is the command that starts the “engine” or opens the door. Unless we repent, we cannot obey the rest of Jesus’ commands.

REPENTANCE brings SALVATION (change of nature). As one receives a NEW NATURE, one can then obey the other 48 commands.

It is, therefore, of utmost importance that we know WHAT REPENTANCE MEANS.

Repentance comes from three GREEK words:

1. Metamelomai – change of mind without necessarily change of heart. Judas changed his mind about Jesus but he did not experience a change of heart.

2. Metanoeo – change of mind and purpose, as the result of after
knowledge.

3. Metanoia – change of mind, purpose and life. This is what is considered as TRUE REPENTANCE.

True repentance LEADS to a HOLY LIFE. It brings about TRANSFORMATION.

There are three areas that TRUE REPENTANCE touches:
1. MIND
2. HEART
3. WILL

MIND (Thinking) - The MIND must be INFORMED. The preaching of the GOSPEL is required to accomplish this. There will be no repentance apart from the Gospel.

HEART (Emotion) - As the MIND is informed, the HEART will feel BAD. The “feeling of badness” depends on the GRAVITY of SIN and/or one’s UNDERSTANDING of one’s SINFULNESS.

WILL (Decision-Making) - As the MIND is informed, the HEART will feel BAD and the WILL decides to DO WHAT IS RIGHT. This third area, when reached, produces True Repentance AND a TRANSFORMED LIFE.

Acts 26:20-21 “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”

Two Kinds of Repentance with regards to SALVATION:
1. General Repentance – the repentance upon hearing the Gospel. ONCE.
2. Specific Repentance – Repentance for specific sins AFTER salvation. CONTINUAL.

Two Kinds of Repentance with regards to the OBJECT:
1. Toward God – all sin is sin against God. (Ps. 51:4)
2. Toward Others – some sins are against specific persons.

Two Kinds of Repentance with regards to RESULTS:
1. True Repentance – knowledge + feelings + decision that is carried out. TRANSFORMATION.
2. False Repentance – knowledge only. Knowledge and feelings only. Knowlege, feelings and decision but not carried out.

Two DIRECTIONS of Repentance:
1. Turn AWAY from SIN – hating sin, stop sinning.
2. Turn TOWARD God – turning your back on sin IS NOT ENOUGH – you have to fill the void (emptiness) that sin has left. God is the only One that can fill that.

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

Repentance IS NOT Regret. Some people mistake repentance with regret. A man FEELS BAD because he was caught stealing. This man is NOT REPENTANT. Repentance is to feel bad because your sin has hurt God’s heart.

Stopping VICES is not always a result of repentance. Some people stop smoking or drinking (alcoholic bevs) because of DOCTOR’S ADVICE. Some quit gambling because there’s no more money.

A CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE APART FROM GOD IS NOT REPENTANCE.

To understand REPENTANCE better, let’s examine some Biblical examples.

1. David’s Adultery and Murder (2 Samuel 11 and 12)

Mind – he was informed by Nathan.
Heart – he became sorrowful.
Will – he never did it ever again.

2. Peter denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26)

Mind – he remembered Jesus’ words.
Heart – he wept bitterly.
Will – he never did it ever again.

3. Judas betrayed the Lord (Matthew 27)

Mind – he made a realization.
Heart – he regretted what he did.
Will – he hanged himself.

4. The man who was sleeping with his step-mother (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:5)

Mind – the church confronted him.
Heart – he grieved.
Will – he separated from his step-mother.

5. Eli (1 Samuel 3) – failing to discipline his children (who were priests).

Mind – the Lord spoke to Him about his sons through Samuel.
Heart – he did not grieve.
Will – he did nothing about it.

6. Zacchaeus (Luke 19)

Mind – the Lord taught at his house.
Heart – he was convicted (i.e. he felt guilty).
Will – he decided to give to the poor and return what he stole
with interest.

7. Helen Vela & Connie Reyes

Mind – received the Gospel.
Heart – grieved for their sins.
Will – left their live-in partners and served the Lord.

8. YOU

Mind – YOU heard and received the Gospel.
Heart – grieved for YOUR sins.
Will – left YOUR life of sin and lived with God.

Repentance is IMPORTANT because it is what stands between you and God’s Forgiveness.

Repentance is IMPORTANT because it is what stands between you and Salvation.

Acts 2:37-38 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do ?" 38 Peter replied, "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.

Conclusion
The first command of Christ that must be obeyed is REPENTANCE. All else rests upon this command.

HAVE YOU ALREADY REPENTED?
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You can email us at jlrcm@yahoo.com for your questions. God bless you.