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

Bible Text –

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 3:7-10

INTRODUCTION

Everything false is possible because there is something called original. There would never have been a false if there hadn’t been a true. So also there is false repentance because of true repentance. So Jude cry out and warn us to contend for the faith which was once (not twice) delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3. Fake items may be cheaper and easy to find but it cannot last. So, if anyone want to last till eternity, his repentance must be genuine and total according to the word of God. True repentance is important because it is what can deliver men from the wrath of God.

FALSE REPENTANCE

Charles Finney said “ False or spurious repentance is said to be worldly, the sorrow of the world, that is, it is sorrow for sin, arising from worldly considerations and motives connected with the present life, or at most, has respect to his own happiness in a future world, and has no regard to the true nature of sin”.

WHAT MAKES REPENTANCE FALSE
False repentance is only outward – He feels danger only outwardly and once the physical danger has been taken care of, he resumes his sinful lifestyle. Gen 6:5; 8:21; Jer 17:9
False repentance depends on self righteousness. False repentance only hang on fulfilling the law and spiritual services. Ephesians 2:8-10; Psalm 14:2-3; Isaiah 64:6; Isaiah 51:5
False Repentance Seek for Miracles – John 6:2; 24-27; 60;66
False repentance depends on his spiritual heritage – He claims his birth into religion or his parent spiritual wealth as his new birth experience. Matthew 3:9
TRUE REPENTANCE :

1 Tess 1:9-10; Acts 26:20; Mat. 3:2,6; Mk. 1:15 AMP; Jer.25:5; Prov. 28:13; Acts 2:38;  Acts 3:19

Repentance is to have a change of mind or attitude, as a result of being convicted by the Word of God of one’s sins. It is change of attitude toward sin. When a small child touches electric wire, he quickly withdraws his hand, that does not mean he will not touch same another time while still a child. He continues that not because it does not hurt but because he did not know that it can leads to his death. So, when he grows up, he moves far away and it becomes forbidden to him because now he has the knowledge of the end of being electrocuted. When that becomes  our opinion about sin, we can then truly repent from it. 1 Tess 1:9-10; 1 Cor 7:10-11

INGREDIENTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE :

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 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. 2 Cor 7:10-11

Conviction for Sin – This is to be sorrowful for your sins. Repentance cannot occur in a heart without regret for past sins. Without conviction, repentance has no foundation and so it will be faulty. If your heart does not dislike or hate those wrong things you used to do, it means that you were never convicted of those sins in the first place. Ephesians 5:12
Confession of Sin – Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 3:6 Many people in the Church today, never truly repented of their sins because they refused to confess it. Conviction of sin brings confession of sin and these two make the sinner to ask for mercy and forgiveness. Repentance involves confession of past (and present) sins to God, and sometimes, to man; though every sin is primarily committed against God.
Conversion From Sin – Repentance is true and genuine when it ends in conversion of sinner form his or her sinful life. It is not a conversion from one religion to another or from inactive member to an active member. Sin is what causes enemity between God and men and unless men are converted from it, they cannot meet God in peace. Psalm 7:11; Roman 3:23; Acts 3:19.

 

PROOF OF TRUE REPENTANCE: Matthew 3:10

When a man claimed that he has repented from his or her sins, there are expected behavior stands as the proof that something has happened to your life. This is what men will see. Without you tasting a soup, you cannot know its taste. While ingredients are internal, the proofs are external.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.   For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.   And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:6-11

No More Partakers with Darkness : Eph 5:7; 11a
Change of Life – 2 Cor 5:17: Ephesians 5:8-9 – Correct repentance leads to a change of mind or attitude. Repentance replaces the old lifestyle with the new one. It is questionable therefore, when a man repents of his sin without reflecting a corresponding change in his attitude.
Pleasing God – Eph 5:10
Exposing Darkness – Ephesians 5:11; Luke 19: 1-10 – This is otherwise called restitution because you cannot hide the works or gains of darkness again

CONCLUSION

Please note that, true repentance is not what you can achieve by your own power, the best your ability can do is to act them and that will turn you to an actor. It is the power of Christ within that accomplishes this change in everyone who truly repents from his or her sins. Ephesians 2:1-9; Roman 10:10.

There are three possible responses to message of repentance: Some will be offended and walk away without any repentance. They will face God’s coming wrath. Others will be superficially repentant. They will put on the cosmetics of outward change, but they won’t honestly face the corruption of their hearts. They, too, will face God’s coming wrath, probably with great surprise. The third response is to be truly repentant, to realize the sinfulness of your heart, to turn to God and appeal to Him for a new heart and a clean conscience through the blood of Christ. They will receive God’s mercy and will go on to grow the fruits of repentance

What about you? Do you have true repentance? Or, are you depending upon your works, membership in the church, or some other things? You can have the assurance you desire today with true repentance.