Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Harvest Church of the Nazarene

The Importance of Repentance

(Adapted from Brother Rash's Sermon on March 18, 2007)


"From that time on Jesus began to preach Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17, NIV)

The message of the Bible is a message of repentance.

  1. To repent means to change one's mind concerning sin.
    a) To be born again is to repent and have a change of heart and a change of one's relationship to God.
    b) That's we have an altar in the Church of the Nazarene, the old fashioned mourner's bench.
    c) Repentance is sorrow for one's sin.
    d) Repentance in changing your mind concerning sin. Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, "Go and sin no more."
    e) Repentance means quitting the sin business. Confession not enough.
  2. Repentance is necessary for salvation.
    a) Without repentance one will continue in sin.
    b) Without repentance there is no new birth.
    c) Without repentance one is merely giving mental acceptance to a system of beliefs and that alone is not enough for salvation.
    d) A catechism class followed by baptism is not enough to save a person without true confession and repentance of the heart.
  3. Repentance is for believers too.
    a) The nation of Israel was called to repentance by the prophets.
    b) John the Baptist called his generation to repentance before Christ appeared.
    c) Five of the seven churches of Asia Minor were called to repent as recorded in the book of Revelation.
    d) If you don't repent, there are serious consequences. God will send suffering.
    e) "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." (Rev. 3:19 NIV)

No Sin 

© 2007 Thomas E. Rash.  All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce may be given upon contacting Pastor Rash.