John 17 17 Sanctify them through thy truth

John 17: 17 • “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” 1

Purpose Define Instruct Encourage 2

“Attitude” Defined Attitude: 1. Manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc. , with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes. 2. Position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc. : a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude. Source: Dictionary. com 3

What should our attitude be toward REPENTANCE? 4

Introduction • The word “repent” often mentioned in the scriptures. • The word with its different forms is mentioned at least 104 times in the Bible. • Repentance has been required by God in every age in order to be accepted of Him. – The world before the flood refused to repent and destroyed - Gen. 7: 23 – Prophets taught it - Isa. 1: 16; Jonah 3: 8 -10 – John the Baptist taught it to Israel - Matt. 3: 1 -2 – Jesus taught it - Matt. 4: 17, Lk. 13: 3, 5 • Required it as a condition of salvation - Lk. 24: 46 -47 • No hope for eternal salvation without it - Acts 17: 30 • God desires all repent - 2 Pet. 3: 9 5

Introduction • Repentance is the HARDEST of all God’s commands: – Involves man’s will! – Man’s will has always been the greatest hindrance to salvation! – Will of man is generally stubborn - repentance affects this! • The Child of God Sins: – Must repent - 1 Jn. 1: 8 -10 – A child of God must develop and maintain the proper attitude toward repentance! • The child of God must correctly understand the meaning of repentance! 6

What We Will Discuss! • The Meaning of Repentance • What Motivates One to Repent • The Fruits of Repentance 7

Understanding the Meaning 8

Understanding The Meaning • What Repentance is NOT… – Sorrow: • It is not shedding tears on the front pew! – Regret: It. What Is It All Isof. Itof These! Then? These! • Many regret they were caught in sin-but do not repent! – Reformation: • Godly sorrow produces repentance-repentance produces the change or reform of life! - Acts 26: 20 – Fear: • Fear does not keep the commandments! - Eccl. 12: 13 – Praying: • Prayer is of no avail if one is not penitent! - Acts 8: 22 • Psa. 66: 18; Prov. 28: 9 – Conviction: • Individuals who had conviction were commanded to repent! - Acts 2: 38 9

Understanding The Meaning • A mental act of the mind - to determine to stop sinning! – Matt. 21: 28 -29 • It is a resolution or a determination to leave sinful living! – Lk. 15: 11 -19 • One repents when they cease sinning! • The decision to “quit your sinfulness!” 10

“Repentance” Defined Repentance: Two Greek Words are translated “Repent”: • Metaneo - “to have another mind” - Acts 2: 38, 17: 30 • A change of mind followed by a change of conduct • Metamelomai - “to be careful or concerned with” - Matt. 27: 3; 2 Cor. 7: 8 • Suggests regret Source - Young’s Analytical Concordance 11

“Repentance” Defined Repentance: • “The change of the mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good deeds. . . ” (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon, pg. 406) 12

What Leads to Repentance 13

What Motivates One to Repent? • Fear of Death and the Judgment: – Heb. 9: 27; 12: 28 -29; Matt. 11: 20 -24; Acts 17: 3031; 2 Cor. 5: 10 -11; ; 2 Thess. 1: 7 -9; Prov. 1: 2429 • The Goodness of God: – Rom. 2: 4 -6 – God Is both GOOD and SEVERE! • Rom. 11: 21 -22 • Intelligent individuals will not remain in impenitence! • They will cease their stubbornness and repent! 14

The Fruits of Repentance 15

The Fruits of Repentance! • Restitution: – If possible! • Murder - cannot restore a life - murderer must re-pay with his own blood. – Gen. 9: 5 -6 – Restitution was demanded under the Law of Moses: • Lev. 6: 1 -6; Num. 5: 5 -10 • Separation: – From all things associated with ones sin! • 2 Cor. 6: 17 -18; 1 Pet. 4: 1 -4; Gal. 5: 19 -21; Acts 19: 18 -20 • Ezra 10: 1 -12 • Confession: – Sin must be admitted! – 1 Jn. 1: 7 -10; Lk. 18: 13 -14; Rom. 3: 3 • Resolution: – The change or resolve of will to cease sin! – The decision to turn away from sin—a change of conduct or course! • Acts 14: 15; 26: 18; 2 Pet. 2: 21 -22; Eph. 4: 21 -32 • Contrition: – Expression of sorrow for sinning against God! - Ps. 51: 17 – All sin is against God! • 1 Jn. 3: 4; Gen 39: 9; Acts 5: 1 -4 16

Sin Is Sin Before & After Baptism? r o t n e p e R “ Can You Keep It After? ” h is If You Gamble & Drink Alcohol Before, If You Steal A Man's Car Before, r e P ) 5 , 3 : 3 1 e k u L ( If You Are Living In Adultery Before, Can You Gamble & Drink After? Relationship Is Adulterous After! MUST CEASE THE SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6: 1 -23 17

How Do You Show Repentance? r o t n e p e R “ You Give It Back! ” h is If You Steal A Man's Camcorder If You Steal A Man's Radio r e P If You Steal A Man's Wife ) 5 , 3 : 3 1 e k u L ( You Give It Back! Do You Keep Her? Note: The offended party may concede a radio or camcorder but can’t give his wife the right to marry another (Acts 5: 4; Matt. 5: 32; 19: 9) 18

Some Say “No Adultery After Baptism” If In an Unscriptural Marriage Before, If You Gamble & Drink Alcohol Before, nt P r o ” h s i r e e 3 : p 3 e 1 e “R k Lu The Marriage Is Scriptural After Baptism! If Homosexuals Before, ) 5 , ( Can You Gamble & Drink Alcohol After? What About After Baptism? MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6: 1 -23 19

Some Say “No Adultery After Baptism” If In an Unscriptural Marriage Before, ”If a Polygamist h s Before, i r e If You Are A Thief Before, nt P r o e 3 : p 3 e 1 e “R k Lu The Marriage Is Scriptural After Baptism! ) 5 , ( Can You Be A Thief After? What About After Baptism? MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6: 1 -23 20

Some Say “No Adultery After Baptism” because If In an Unscriptural Marriage Before, r o t n e ” p e sh R “ eri ) 5 , P 3 : 3 1 e k. Marriage The u (LIs Scriptural After Baptism! “raised to walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6: 4) “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5: 17) “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. ” (1 Cor. 7: 20) If A Man is Married to a Goat Before, r o t n e p “ e R ” h ris Pe ) 5 , 3 : 3 1 e k. About What u (LAfter Baptism? MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6: 1 -23 21

“Sudan man forced to ‘marry’ goat” A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his “wife”, after he was caught having sex with the animal. The goat’s owner, Mr. Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders. They ordered the man, Mr. Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15, 000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr. Alifi. “We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together, ” Mr. Alifi said. Mr. Alifi, of Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr. Tombe with his goat. “When I asked him: ‘What are you doing there? ’, he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up. ” Mr. Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case. “They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife, ” Mr. Alifi told the newspaper. Story from BBC NEWS: http: //news. bbc. co. uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/4748292. stm Published: 2006/02/24 17: 37: 52 GMT, © BBC MMIX 22

Fornication Defined Adultery Rom. 7: 2, 3 Bestiality Incest Lesbianism Prostitution Pedophilia Homosexuality Polygamy Concubinage Fornication - “Prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful intercourse. ” (Walter Bauer, A Greek - English Lexicon Of The New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 693) Thayer says, “prop. of illicit sexual intercourse in general. ” (P. 532). Generally, the word “fornication” refers to unlawful sexual intercourse of the unmarried (in order to avoid fornication, one is to marry 1 Cor. 7: 2 -5). However, the term is applied also to illicit sexual conduct of married people (1 Cor. 5: 1; Rev. 2: 20). 23

Conclusion! • Must Understand the Meaning of Repentance • Must Be Lead by God to Repentance! • Must Bring Forth Fruits Worthy of Repentance! 24

Acts 17: 30, 31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 25