INGREDIENTS OF REPENTANCE

 INGREDIENTS OF REPENTANCE

Scripture: James 2:17-24 

Topic: Ingredients of repentance

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

                                                                                                                                                 James 2:17-24

1. A TRULY REPENTANT BELIEVER MUST REMEMBER

 

“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.”

                                                                                                          Revelation 3:3

To remember means to keep remembering. Therefore the call is to be mindful of, to fix one’s thoughts upon and to make mention of. There is an evil designed for us to shy away from where the Lord has brought us. To testify always is to remember. It is to be mindful of where you have been delivered from. Watch out for those who shy away from testifying of their deliverance. They have a weakened testimony of repentance. They are likely to go back to their old ways.

 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

                                                                                                                                             Revelation 12:11

 

2. A TRULY REPENTANT PERSON MUST REPENT

 

To repent means an immediate change in one’s purpose of life which results in a change of life itself. The reason many have come into the church and claimed to have repented yet few weeks down the line they are already back into the world; is because when they said they had repented there was no immediate change in their lives’ purpose. If there is no change in their lives’ purpose, there will be absolutely no change in their lives. All twelve disciples of Jesus had an immediate change in their lives’ purpose, they brought forth fruits meet for repentance. Jesus changed their lives’ purpose.

 

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

                                                                                                                                           Matthew 4:17-20

 

“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”

                                                                                                                                                   Matthew 9:9

 

3. A TRULY REPENTANT BELIEVER WILL DO

 

To do means to produce the first works quickly. The essence of producing first works quickly is to ground one in the love of Christ. When one is truly saved, the evidence is their works. They will naturally, without exertion or coercion, desire to please their new Savior. There is love brewing in their hearts which propels them to first works immediately. Quality love produces quality works.

 

“And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

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.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                       Acts 9:4-9

 

To be truly saved and repentant is to do. Where are your acts? The reason you will backslide is because you have refused to do.

 

In the early 90’s when I got saved, I only wanted to do something for God. I must say it was the era one could see real zeal for the Lord. Today, when people get saved it is business as usual. No change, no zeal. Pastors have forgotten what it takes for one to thrive in the faith. Without proper zeal for the Lord nobody will be able to withstand the allure of this world. The absence of real and unfeigned zeal in new converts is the sole reason many have labored in vain. We have lost many to the devil.

 

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                      Luke 8:5-15

Do you remember? Are you truly repentant? Do you have works?