The New Testament Church
Discipline #6 - "The Discipline of Repentance”
February 5, 2012 - Dr. Paul Jehle
I Introduction - what does it mean to be disciplined?
A. Discipline is self-control (fruit of the Spirit) – discernment – a mark of maturity
B. Discipline is when self-control has become a habit – of rejecting thoughts (war on the mind),
embracing priorities (first things first), time management, and financial stewardship (tithing)…
II The Discipline of Repentance – building a habit of agreeing with God’s view of sin and holiness
A. The need to Repent – Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; 6:12
1. John the Baptist began his ministry by saying – “…repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
2. Jesus began his ministry in the same way – “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
3. In the gospel of Mark, it is stated this way – “repent… and believe the gospel”
4. When Jesus sent out the twelve - “…they went out, and preached that men should repent”
B. Repentance precedes revival – this is true personally and nationally…
1. Revelation 2:5 states “Remember, therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent…”
a. We must first remember where we once were with God… - we have lost our conscience,
sense of right and wrong, our shame, exchanging it for evil, lust and amusement
b. Then we can repent – and repentance must begin at the house of God (1st Peter 4:17)
2. There is no substitute for repentance – no moral recovery, prosperity or national restoration…
C. Repentance is the key – yet it is impossible to do with your own effort – must be in the heart…
1. We are commanded to repent – Acts 17:30 – “commands all men everywhere to repent”
2. It is key to salvation – Acts 2:38; 3:19 – first two sermons by Peter (receive and give)
a. Conviction vs. condemnation – pricked in their hearts – voluntary, from within
b. Condemnation – attempt reforms from the outside to please someone else
3. It is the key to forgiveness and holiness – 1st John 1:9
a. You rely on the merits of true repentance to live clean before the throne
b. You are also commanded to forgive when others repent – Luke 17:3-4
D. Repentance is a miracle of grace – yet a discipline, a habit when God convicts…
1. The word means – metanoeo – “after changing perception of the mind” – not pronoeo (before)
a. We can’t turn unless we first believe God – faith – see differently – then we change our mind
b. We usually attempt other things – reform, adjustment, reduction, mixture, but not repentance
c. We don’t need to see a miracle to repent, repentance is the miracle (Luke 16:30)
2. Only the law exposes how bad sin is – for sin becomes demonically charged (1st John 3:4-8)
a. You shall have no other gods before me… - is God number one – or simply part of your life?
b. You shall make no graven image… - graven images - addictions passed generationally…
c. You shall not take the name of God in vain… - swearing, not living in His name…
d. Keep the Sabbath day holy… (church) – do you treat Sunday the same as every other day?
e. Honor your father and mother… (home) – do you respect your parents, whatever your past?
f. Don’t murder – externally yes, but what about anger and hatred, unforgiven bitterness?
g. Don’t commit adultery – the look, the thought – living together before marriage is a sin
h. Don’t steal – there are many types of theft, what about stealing time from your boss?
i. Don’t bear false witness – do you neglect the opportunities to witness?
j. Don’t covet – do you think that only if I had this thing, gift or job, I’d be happy?
3. Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds… - Romans 5:20-21
a. No excuses, we reap what we sow… - repent, God has given you the grace to do it…
b. The law deliberately makes sin abound, in order for you to receive much more grace…
c. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, who are called by name – that is where it begins…