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Sermon Repentance as a way of life. Introduction. “Why should men love the church?” asks T. S. Eliot. “Because she tells them of sin and death and other unpleasant facts of life they would as soon forget.”. Schaeffer:
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SermonRepentance as a way of life • Introduction
“Why should men love the church?” asks T. S. Eliot. “Because she tells them of sin and death and other unpleasant facts of life they would as soon forget.”
Schaeffer: • “When the Christian does learn the meaning of the work of Christ in the present life a new door is open to him. Once he begins to act on the reality of faith, he may have the sense of something that is as new as was his conversion.
We need the knowledge of the meaning of the work of Christ for our present life, and then for us to act on it in faith. It is doctrine appropriated that counts.”
Jesus calls us to a life of faith, not just an act of faith • Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)
REPENTANCE AS A WAY OF LIFE MEANS THAT IT BECOMES A PRAYERFUL POSTURE OF THE HEART
REPENTANCE IS NOT AN OPTIONAL FEATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE • The LIE: “I have no sin!” • The TRUTH: We are big sinners who have a big Savior!
Dr. Richard Lovelace's definition of sin: • “In its biblical definition, sin cannot be limited to isolated incidents or patterns of wrong-doing; it is something much more akin to the psychological term ‘complex:’ ‘an organic network of compulsive attitudes, beliefs and behavior deeply rooted in our alienation from God.’
THINGS REPENTANCE IS NOT: • Repentance is NOT simply a change in BEHAVIOR • It’s not simply a punctual thing that is rarely needed • Repentance is NOT being sorry for GETTING CAUGHT or embarrassment about how we looked
Repentance as a lifestyle is NOT a life of constant MISERY or GROVELING • WHAT IS TRUE REPENTANCE?
A Spirit led ‘Search and Destroy’ Mission – Ps 139:23-24 • DON’T TRY REPENTACE AT HOME APART FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. • True Repentance has 3 components: • Intellectual • Emotional • Volitional
Real repentance knows that it’s more than just listing how I broke the rules. It understands that it is all about a relationship with God • “It is a heart that is broken over having broken the heart of God” • – Dr. Paul Kooistra MTW
It is Believing The Promise Of The Gospel • It is a Lifestyle • Repentance must be a way of life because sinning is a way of life! Johnny Long – PCA Pastor with World Harvest Mission
REPENTANCE MAKES US GROW • Not WWJD, • But DWJND • REPENTANCE IS THE DOOR TO CHANGE
There is a problem; • I am the problem; • I need God’s help