The Fruit of True Repentance [6]

 
 
This is the last in the series on a look at the fruit of true repentance.  We discussed the steps the Israelites took in Nehemiah chapters 8-10 as they repented for their wrong doing.  We covered the first 3 in the previous post and now, we’ll cover the last step.  We can use their account of how they repented; the action that they took as evidence of their repentance. 

One of the things they did was hear the word of God, as should we, and commit it to our hearts and then apply it to our lives. 
 
v    a Commitment to God’s Word [knowing & submitting]
And the rest of the people, separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;  Nehemiah 10:28
 
v    a commitment to Fearing God [Reverence/respect] and
They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;  Nehemiah 10:29

Not only did they know and undersand God’s word, they committed following God’s Word and to demonstrate how serious they were, they also put themselves under a curse if they failed to follow it.

v    a Commitment to Holiness:  Another focus of the believers’ life and evidence of true repentance is the practice of holiness. Discipline is a major aspect of our sanctification, as we confront temptation and opportunities to sin.  Where do we see this commitment in Israel? Look at what they committed to:  The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand… We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.   Nehemiah 10:30-31
 
We’re going to continue adding to those fruits today.  Still looking at the children of Israel in the account found in Nehemiah; chapters 8-10, the last one is:

        √         A Commitment to the House of God
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; Nehemiah 10:32   

As fruit [evidence] of their repentance, the people of God committed to support the ministry of the temple in four different ways.
            ·     The temple tax:  (Nehemiah 10:32–33). The annual census of the people twenty years of age and older was accompanied by the collecting of a half-shekel tax to be used to support the ministry of the house of God (Ex. 30:11–16).

Israel’s commitment to the house of God reminds us of our need to support the work of the Lord with our finances.  Just as Israel committed to support the work of God, we must consistently strive to make this commitment as well.
            ·     The first fruits:  (Neh. 10:35–37a). The Israelites were taught to give God the first and the best.
Israel’s commitment to the house of God reminds us of our need to give our best to God. Israel committed to give God their first fruits. The first fruits were considered the best and a picture of the future harvest. In what ways can we give God our best?  “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”  Proverbs 3:9

            ·       The tithes:   (Nehemiah 10:37b-39). The word tithe means “a tenth.” The Jews were to bring a tenth of their produce to the Lord each year for the support of the Levites (Lev. 27:30–34). The Levites then gave a “tithe of the tithe” to the priests (Num. 18:25–32).

            ·       The wood offering:  (Nehemiah 10:34). Since the fire on the brazen altar was to be kept burning constantly (Lev. 6:12–13), it required a steady supply of wood; which was considered a precious commodity.
Israel’s commitment to the house of God reminds us that we should labor to build up God’s church; the physical building dedicated for our worship to Him.  But, there’s another application we can take from this God doesn’t live in temples built with hands, but He indwells the people of God—the living temple.  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Similarly, Apostle Paul teaches that we’re the temple of God both corporately Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  1 Corinthians 3:16

and individually What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Cor.  6:19

Therefore, one of the ways we build God’s house is by being committed to the church and being unspotted by the world and serving His people there.
God uniquely gives each believer a spiritual gift for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  1 Cor. 12:7

Just as each person brought wood, first fruits, etc., to build up the house of God, we must use our gifts and our time to build up God’s church & his people as well. This is a true fruit of repentance: serving the house of God.  John said this: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who doesn’t love remains in death”  1 John 3:14

Love always results in service. If anybody doesn’t serve the church—Christ’s body—he has not passed from life to death. They lac.k the evidence of true repentance. As we look at the covenant Israel renewed with God in the book of Nehemiah, we can learn a lot about our spiritual commitments and how we should continually practice them.

©        We should not hesitate to make or renew biblical commitments to God. It doesn’t matter if we failed in the past; with the grace and mercy of God, we can start over at any time through our repentance.  Personal Reflection:  What commitments is God calling you to make or renew with him today? 

©        We should practice sharing our commitments with others in order to have accountability.

Eighty-four leaders signed the covenant; the leaders were not only committing themselves but committing to help Israel keep their commitments. They were the nation’s representatives, and the contract was an accountability system for Israel. We need accountability, just as they did; to help us remain steadfast in our commitment to God and His word. 

©        We should practice writing down our commitments.The Israelites wrote down their commitments to God and had the leaders signed and sealed it (Nehemiah 9:38-10:1). There is something powerful about both verbalizing our commitments and writing them down.  Writing them down helps us clarify them and make sure they are attainable. This is another form of accountability for us. This helps increase our faith as we watch God’s faithfulness in helping us fulfill these commitments.  

Israel followed up their repentance in chapter 9 with a renewal of the Mosaic covenant. They made many commitments to God, and, in many ways, these should be our commitments today in that:

ü    We must be committed and submitted to the Word of God.
ü    We must be committed to the fear of the Lord.

Israel put themselves under the curse of the Mosaic law it they broke the covenant. They essentially committed to recognizing and allowing it to motivate them to faithfulness.

ü    We must be committed to holiness. Israel separated from the neighboring nations and their ways of life.

ü    People of God must be committed to building the house of God.

The house of God is not exclusive of the building but it’s also our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the people of God (1 Peter 2:5). We should be committed to serving and seeing God’s kingdom come in our own lives and the lives of others as well as the maintenance and upkeep of the building.

 Sermonette

Steps To True Repentance [5]

 

Godly sorrow [for sin] worketh repentance to salvation.  

2 Corinthians 7:10

Hebrews 6:1-3 lists principles of the doctrine of Christ on which a believer is to build his spiritual life. These principles are called the "foundations" of the Christian faith. They’re the basic doctrines on which the Christian faith rests. The first of these principles is "repentance from dead works.”  Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.  Hebrews 6:1-3

It’s a foundational principle that we must know and live.  Just a little recap – we’ve covered the basic meaning of the word "repentance" as a change in mind which results in a change in outward actions.  Examples given were the account of King David and the parable of the prodigal son.  There’s 2 traps we don’t want to get caught in:

First, we covered how some people associate repentance with emotions, like shedding tears and feeling sorry for wrong actions and thoughts. But repentance is not an emotion. It’s a decision.   Emotion sometimes accompanies true repentance. But it’s possible for a person to feel great emotion and to shed many tears and yet never truly repent. 

Secondly, other people associate repentance with meeting special religious requirements. For instance, in some denominations, this is sometimes called "doing penance.” There again, it’s possible to fulfill many such religious requirements and yet never repent in the true Biblical sense.  True repentance is a change of mind that results in a change in outward actions. Outward change is the act of turning away from sin towards God and righteousness. This "turning away" shows the inward change of mind which has occurred.

To summarize: Biblical repentance is an inner change of heart and mind resulting in an outward turning away from sin to move towards God and righteousness.

There are some passages in the Bible where the word "repent" is used in a way to demonstrate Ineffective Repentance.  For example:

JUDAS:  Judas Iscariot realized Jesus had been condemned to death. He repented of his part in betraying Christ:  Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood...  Matthew 27:3-4

Judas experienced sorrow over what he had done but he did not experience true biblical repentance. He did not make a decision which resulted in change in his actions.  He confessed before man but never confessed before God; never asked God’s forgiveness and in the end, hung himself.

ESAU:  Esau was another man who made this tragic error. Esau sinned by selling his God-given birthright for a bowl of soup. The Bible records:

. . .ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:17

Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup. In doing so, he rejected all the blessings and promises of God associated with the birthright.  Later, Esau regretted what he had done. He cried aloud and shed bitter tears. But strong emotion is not proof of repentance. Esau did not truly repent. He was just regretted he had lost the birthright and wished he could have it back. His "repentance" was not acceptable because there’s a difference between regret and true repentance.

If we’re to fully understand the meaning of repentance, we must understand what it is from which we are to repent. We have to understand "dead works.” "Dead works" are the actions of a life lived apart from God. These works may be wrong deeds or acts of self-righteousness.  They’re called "sin" in the Bible. The basic thing that causes sin is selfishness. It’s the love of self as opposed to the love of God. This love of self results in man going "his own way":

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way. . . Isaiah 53:6

But all is not lost.  Jesus died for the sins of men in order that...

. . .they should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15

When we repent from these dead works of selfishness it means we acknowledge the existence of the one true God, realize we are a sinner, we ask forgiveness of our sin, and accept God's plan of salvation through Jesus.

We have to understand that Satan is responsible for all evil in the world. His rebellion towards God still continues as he tempts man to sin. There is a constant battle in the spirit world for the hearts, minds, and souls of men.  Each person has inherited the basic sin nature. Each person sins individually when he is drawn by this sinful nature to rebel against God:

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it’s finished, bringeth forth death.  James 1:14-15

The bible says . . . all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Romans 3:23] but God has provided a way to escape the penalties of sin. Through repentance from dead works and accepting Jesus as our personal Savior we can be "saved" from the penalties of sin.

Beloved, we must know and believe that willful sin is NEVER, under any circumstance, acceptable to God.  Apostle Paul wanted his audience in Roman to understand this.  He starts by asking the question:

"Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"  He answered his own question with "God forbid! "  Romans 6:1-2

So, what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep extending grace? I should hope not! We don’t know when grace will be cut off!  If we’ve left the kingdom where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there?  

Let’s look at it this way, this is what happens in baptism. When we’re submerged in the water, we leave the old kingdom of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new kingdom of righteousness — a new life in a new land!

That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we’re lowered into the water, it’s like the burial of Jesus; when we’re raised up out of the water, it’s like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our heavenly Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.  The deed to our old habitat should have been released as we were submerged and then re-emerged as a new creature.  Unfortunately, some hang onto the deed and go back to visit the old place.  

I’m reminded of Lot’s wife who had to have one last look and that last look cost her her life; just couldn’t resist one last look at her old life – the one that God had saved her from.  [Genesis 19]

As believers in God who have accepted Jesus into our life, when we sin, we must repent. There are many examples in the bible of this.  The believers in Corinth had to repent:  

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.  2 Corinthians 7:9

What was it that the Corinthian Christians had to repent of? Take your pick! It could have been any number of things, but no doubt it also included this:   There were probably some “anti-Paul” people who criticized the absent apostle severely and unfairly, and the Corinthians did not defend their godly spiritual father before these detractors.  

For I am afraid that when I come, I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

ü   The believers at Ephesus were told to repent:

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works. Revelation 2:5

ü Christians in Pergamos were told to repent:

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

ü The Christians in Sardis were told: 

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Revelation 3:3

ü This is what the Christians in Laodicea were told: 

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; Be zealous therefore, and repent.  Revelation 3:19

God had something with all of these churches and this despite any good they were doing.  Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Just know that wherever there is sin, there must be repentance:  

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Because repentance is necessary for salvation, God made a special plan to enable the message of repentance to reach everyone. The call to repentance in the New Testament began with the ministry of John the Baptist:  

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way the Lord, make His path straight.  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  Mark 1:3-4

Repentance was the first message Jesus preached:  

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.  Mark 1:14-15

Repentance was preached by believers in the early Church:

And they went out and preached that men should repent.   Mark 6:12

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 20:21

Today, believers still have the responsibility to spread the message of repentance throughout the world. Jesus gave final instructions to His followers that...

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47

When we preach the message of repentance, we’re actually calling others to enlist in God's army.  Are you willing to make a commitment to start drafting others into this great spiritual army?

If we have accepted and are committed to the harvest, then we must know how men are persuaded to repent. Men repent because of:

v   The goodness of God:  

The blessings of God in the life of an ungodly person are not to be mistaken as God's approval of their life style. The goodness of God is one way the Lord appeals to men to turn to Him.  We can’t get this thing twisted; His kindness is intended to turn us from our sin?

Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?   Romans 2:4

v   Men repent because of:  Preaching/Teaching:  

The preaching of the Word of God causes men to repent. The preaching of Jonah resulted in the whole city of Nineveh repenting:

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas.    Matthew 12:41

v   Men repent because of:  God the son; Jesus:   

As the Word of God is preached/taught, people hear and respond to the call of Jesus which leads to repentance:

I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.   Matthew 9:13

v   Men repent because of:  God, the father:  

Jesus said no one could come to Him except the Father draw him. God draws men to repentance:

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  John 6:44

v   Men repent because of:  Rebuke:  

Rebuke causes men to repent. Rebuke is correction given from the Word of God:

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. Luke 17:3

v   Men repent because of:  Godly sorrow:  

Repentance may be accompanied by emotion. Natural emotion alone is not true repentance, but Godly sorrow leads to true repentance.  Repentance is not just something we do for the sake of doing it.  In the first act of repentance, sinful men turn from wrong to right, accept the Gospel message, and become true believers in Jesus Christ. In the process of going on to perfection, a believer sometimes falls back into the old patterns of sinful behavior. According to the Biblical record, whenever believers sin, they must also repent.  The Bible identifies several things associated with repentance:

Faith towards God is associated with repentance. It’s listed in Hebrews 6 as the second foundational principle of the Christian faith. Repentance from dead works must be combined with faith towards God which is the 2nd foundational principle found in Hebrews 6:1-3.

. . .Repent ye, and believe the Gospel. Mark 1:15
. . .Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 20:21

Secondly, The works of man, which the Bible also calls fruit, testify as to whether or 

not there has been true repentance:

The Gentiles should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:20

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.  Matthew 3:8

"Works" and "fruits" both refer to outward behavior which should change after true repentance.

So, I ask you today at the close of this lesson, what type of fruit are you exhibiting that demonstrates true repentance?  I pray this word helped someone today . . .

Sermonette