Salvation The Acknowledgement-Repentance

SALVATION

HEBREWS 2:3

TEXT VERSE:

Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

The purpose of this series is to help the new Christian as well as the older Christian Bible student to rejoice in "so great a salvation"

1. THE AWAKENING                     "REGENERATION"

2. THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT     "REPENTANCE"

3. THE APPROPRIATION              "FAITH"

4. THE APPLICATION                    "JUSTIFICATION"

5. THE ACTIVATION                      "SANCTIFICATION"

"Repent" was the first word from John the Baptist Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The initial message of our Lord Jesus' preaching ministry here on earth Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Then at the day of Pentecost we have Peter's proclamation Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. As well through out Paul's journeys it was the very essence of his ministry and testimony. Then finally John the Revelator while in exile on the Isle of Patmos wrote this warning and we need to heed as a summons to "Such A Great Salvation"

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. The Church at Thyatira

Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Repentence is God's ultimate calling or summons to us as mankind to turn to Him from our neglect of and rebellion toward God. Again it is a summoning to salvation from man's separation from God because of our sin.

1. REPENTANCE AND IT'S COUNTERFEITS

Act 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

Act 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

Act 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Act 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Simon the converted sorcerer was baptized and continued with Phillip is a great example of "false repentance" because we see at the end of our scripture how Peter rebuked him because he wanted to buy the power and the gift of God.

REGRET: 2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2. TRUE REPENTANCE AND IT'S CHARACTERISTICS

A- CONVICTION: Teh awareness of guild before God. The recognition of responsibility for sin and a desire to turn from it to God are aspects of repentance. Before his repentance Paul said Act 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. then later on after his conversion he wrote this in his letter to the Philipians Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

B- CHANGE:Transformation is the second aspect of repentance. People think, feel and do and repentace affects all three parts of our personalities.

1-Repentance changes the mind. Zaccheus recognized he had stolen from others and repaid four times the original amount. Luk 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. The "Prodigal" son came to himself and realizing he had sinned against heaven and his father came back home. Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  

2. Repentance changes the heart as we see with David as he wrote. Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. The sorrw and pain for sin replaces the "pleasure" in evil. Holy shame that leasds to contrition and confession is the evidence of real repentance. 2Co 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.  

3- Repentance changes the will. Actions speak louder than words. At his conversion Paul asked. Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Then most importantly, repentance leads to service "The Great Commission"

1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  

Turning to God is the consequences of thankfulness and brings joy in heaven on earth.

Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luk 15:9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.