It is now time to look at the first of the Elementary Principles mentioned in Hebrews 6:1-3, “Repentance from Dead Works”.
There are three ideas that we will look at:
1. Repentance (salvation, unrighteousness)
2. Dead Works
3. Repentance from Dead Works
What does the word repent mean, is it just being sorry or is there more to it? Biblical repentance means the following, “regret or guilt that results in a reversal of one’s decision, a change of mind of a purpose one has formed or of something one has done”. Repentance is a change of direction! Show More
Repentance is not simply feeling sorry! It is more than that. It is coming to the realization you were wrong, and that you want to change as a result of that awareness. There is a major difference between worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow is when you regret eating the entire half-gallon of ice cream… yes, you’re sorry but you know that if given the opportunity you’d probably do it again! Godly sorrow or repentance is when you realize God is right and decide to change your ways with the help of the Holy Spirit. True repentance must involve the Holy Spirit because only as you cooperate with Him can you change.
So, there are two kinds of repentance:
1. Repentance unto salvation. A non-Christian cannot be forgiven of his sins until he repents of the sin that leads to condemnation… not putting his trust and faith in Jesus Christ. That is repentance unto salvation.
2. Repentance of the believer for sins of action or inaction (unrighteous behavior). Spiritual change is instantaneous, but soul change takes time. As Believers, we are not perfect, and we will make mistakes, when we do we can repent and be assured of forgiveness. If you are a Christian you have this promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Until I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior I was an Atheist. I was raised in a very moral environment and by and large, was a “good person”. Although I had my share of guilt and regrets about decisions I made in life. I was sorry for the things I had done, but I could find no relief from the feelings of shame and regret. It was not until I asked Jesus into my life that true forgiveness was mine. I had to repent of denying that Jesus was God and that He died for my sins first, It was then and only then I could be forgiven of my actions and have the guilt lifted. Hallelujah!
When the Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians it was to a church that was doing things that were very un-Christian. It was a sharply written letter or epistle designed to lay out the truth. That letter must have caused a lot of pain and soul searching for the Corinthian Church.
In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul rejoices in the fact that they have repented and turned around in their thinking and actions. 2Cor 7:9 says, “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death”. You see, sometimes sorrow and regret can lead to the most profound changes in the direction of your life.
Christians have an expression of bringing your sins to the “foot of the Cross” and then leaving it there. This means that you have repented, acknowledging your sin, accepted Jesus’ forgiveness, and now let it go. However, Satan will try to make you think and feel that you are not forgiven and try to make you pick up again what you left at the Cross. Satan is a liar and a thief! (John 10:10) Now, it is true that you may still feel sorrow after true repentance, but that is just a feeling. If you have truly “turned around” that feeling will pass as you grow in the Lord. What is important is to believe, by faith, that you have been forgiven- regardless of your emotions or what others might say.
As a Believer, now this may be hard to believe, sin has been dealt with and you will not suffer the consequence of Hell. However, when you do stumble and sin, breaking the Ten Commandments for instance, then you have the assurance that when you bring it to the Cross- you will be forgiven! Now, how cool is that!
Next time we will look at dead works.”
