I recently was in a bookstore, and I was just walking around and I picked up a book by Penn from Penn and Teller, if you know who that is.
He's a comedy guy, a magician, I think in some ways, but I haven't really seen his act before.
He's a very, very outspoken atheist as well.
So I knew that, and I picked it up, and I just kind of started reading some stuff.
And I do not at all suggest you reading the book. It is very, very vulgar and very profane.
But through that, it's just like in reading it, in a couple of chapters of it, it was just kind of a good reminder, I guess,
of how much some people in this world really do hate Christ and hate the gospel and hate us that promote it.
That's the world that we live in.
It's a world that hates Jesus. It's a world that despises the Word of God.
It's a world that flees from obedience to it, that suppresses all the truth that's contained within it,
in their unrighteousness and in their sin.
And in light of that, I just wanted to kind of make the point by saying that it is our responsibility, I think,
in light of what was just said, to love Christ all the more, to make up for their loss,
and also to show them the joy and the blessing, just the benefit of being a child of God
and being a son of Jesus Christ, a brother of Christ.
So, tonight, we're going to be discussing the doctrine of conversion.
And to put it simply, if you haven't experienced the converting work of the Holy Spirit,
then you are not a Christian.
That is very important, I think, to understand from the outset of things,
is that conversion is how someone is transformed from dead in their sin,
from unregenerate, from a hater of God, to saved and a lover of Christ,
and obedient to God's Word.
The road of salvation is very narrow.
The gate of entry to that road is very small,
and few there be, says Matthew 7, that find it.
Salvation is a very specific thing,
and the world would have you think otherwise.
The world would have you think that salvation can be achieved or attained
through various ways and mediums,
and that Christ is not the only way to heaven,
but He says very specifically of Himself that He is.
There is only one way to get to God, and that is through Christ.
He is the door of our salvation.
And faith is the opening of that door,
and repentance, you can think of it as the key that unlocks it.
Okay?
The doctrine of conversion, in fact, is composed of those two things.
It's composed of faith, it's composed of repentance.
And so, when we're dealing with conversion,
again, the idea of Jesus being the door,
faith is the thing that opens up the door,
and the key to unlock the door is repentance.
They work hand in hand.
They all have a function.
They are two different things, faith and repentance are,
but they are always together.
Like best friends, they can't be separated.
To lessen or to diminish one is to dishonor the other,
because they are married to each other.
If you were to dishonor your spouse,
or you were to do something dishonoring,
just in general,
then your spouse would also receive that dishonor,
as being unified with you.
These are two doctrines that are meant to be unified as one,
that are meant to be seen,
and spoken of,
and pictured as one.
They are the gatekeeper that stands before the city of heaven,
and if you wish to enter,
you must enter by them.
Christ is their Father,
and they carry His traits.
Jesus Himself came preaching the Gospel of,
repent and believe in Me.
John the Baptist said the same thing,
repent and believe,
for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Peter said the same thing.
Paul said the same thing.
Repent and believe,
repent and believe,
repent and believe.
They always came together.
Believe, obviously, being referred to as faith.
So we need to listen carefully to the words of repent and believe.
We need to study them.
We need to obey them,
because apart from them,
you cannot be saved.
Apart from a right understanding of what it means to repent from your sins,
and to put your faith in God,
you cannot be saved.
For many of us in here,
we're already Christians.
So to make it practical for you,
understanding this message is how we take the Gospel to the lost world.
If you're a missionary in India,
if you're a missionary in Donovan,
if you're a missionary in wherever,
if you do what I do on a Thursday night,
or what Clay does on a Thursday night,
or what Chris does on a Sunday morning,
no matter what your capacity is for teaching and preaching the Gospel,
this is the Gospel.
Repentance and faith is the Gospel.
And being able to communicate that is very important.
How frightening would it be if you were to die one day,
and you find out at the judgment that you never truly repented of your sins,
and you never truly trusted in Christ as your Savior.
Matthew 7 says,
Many will say to me on that day,
Lord, Lord,
did I not fill in the blank?
Did I not perform miracles in your name?
Did I not cast out demons in your name?
Did I not do all these mighty works in your name?
And he will say to them,
I never knew you.
Depart from me,
you workers of lawlessness.
There's a lot of people on the last day that are going to be confused.
They're going to be really confused,
confounded,
afraid,
terrified,
of the fact that they didn't know Christ,
genuinely,
and with a heart that was sincere.
They think they did.
They were deceived people.
Even what's said there in Matthew 7
could be likened to pastoral work.
So there's pastors that don't even know Christ.
That don't even love Christ genuinely.
It's a frightening thought.
And I don't want that to be true for you.
So this topic can't be overestimated,
but often it is underestimated.
It's cheapened by phony altar calls
with dim lighting and lit candles
and an extra stanza or two from the choir.
How quick we are to apply
to ourselves
a false forgiveness
and a fake peace
by responding to a moment
and not a message,
by responding to a method
and not a man.
A lot of your friends,
a lot of the people that you know,
maybe even you yourself,
have been duped into believing
that you know Christ
because you had some experience
in the past.
Because you prayed a prayer
when you were seven years old
and walked down an aisle
and signed a card
and got baptized.
That doesn't save you.
True repentance is a different thing.
And it's my hope
to explain to you what that is.
So don't apply that false forgiveness.
Do not apply that fake peace.
Let God apply it to your heart
in His own timing.
We must learn to wait upon God
to give us peace.
Because His peace is a peace
that surpasses all comprehension.
It is a supernatural thing
that you can't apply to yourself.
You can't manufacture it.
You can't contrive it.
You can't create it.
It's a spiritual work
done by Christ in the heart.
Turn to Zechariah 12.10.
I know we're in the Old Testament
a lot tonight.
But it's a good thing
to do a little Bible drill
right now, no?
Zechariah 12.10.
It's really towards the very end
of the Old Testament.
One book away, in fact.
Just to prove my point
that this is a spiritual work
done by the Holy Spirit
that you can't make yourself repent.
That a lot of times
what you see as repentance
is not repentance.
It is false.
It is fake.
It is manipulation.
Zechariah 12.10 says this,
And I will pour out
on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
the Spirit of grace
and of supplication.
So He's going to pour out
the Holy Spirit on these people
so that they will look on Me
whom they have pierced
and they will mourn for Him
as one mourns
as for an only son
and they will weep bitterly over Him
like the bitter weeping
over the first one.
So you see in that passage
what?
That the Spirit of grace
is going to be poured out
on a body of believers.
They're going to receive that Spirit.
They're going to,
through that Spirit,
then see Him
whom they have pierced.
You see in Acts
different places
where it says
where Paul or Peter
preaches the Gospel
and then the people
are cut to the quick.
It says.
Or they're pierced to the heart.
Or they're convicted
of their sin, basically.
And they cry out
in anguish,
you know,
what can I do?
What should I say?
And he says,
repent and believe in Christ.
So this is the work
of the Spirit.
Repentance is not reciting
a systematized prayer
that we learned
in vacation Bible school.
It is wrestling with God.
It is a very violent thing.
It's not for the faint of heart.
The Scriptures are so adamant
about waiting on the Lord,
tarrying along with Him
in prayer,
being patient
in your repenting,
and then He will be patient
and plentiful
in His forgiving.
If you're patient with God
in your repenting,
He'll be patient,
I keep saying patient,
I mean plentiful
in His forgiving.
Those who truly seek God
will never be neglected,
but you must learn
what it means
to truly seek Him.
So tonight,
we're going to be discussing
repentance exclusively, okay?
And then next week,
we're going to discuss faith.
Because I don't want to
leave each other out,
but I don't also,
at the same time,
have enough time tonight
to teach on both of them fully.
So,
one at a time.
Tonight is repentance.
So first,
let me explain to you
what repentance is not.
Okay,
I have three little points here.
What repentance isn't.
What false repentance looks like.
Think about this, okay?
The Scripture says
in 2 Corinthians 13
that we should test ourselves
continually to the Scriptures
to make sure that we're in Christ,
to make sure that we know Christ,
that we love Christ.
And actually,
the Greek phrasing there
is like,
be continually testing yourself.
It's not a one-time thing.
It's an all-the-time kind of thing.
And let your heart just,
you know,
be sensitive to this moment
and test yourself genuinely
to know whether or not
you are truly a believer
in Jesus.
So number one reason,
or number one,
what repentance isn't.
Repentance is not a fear
of punishment.
Repentance is not a fear
of punishment.
A lot of people,
having continued in their sins
for a while,
have at some point
felt strong conviction
of sin.
This may be you.
Maybe you sinned
for a long time
in a certain way,
then all of a sudden
you felt a strong conviction
of sin.
Finally,
at last,
you were found out.
And like a thief
or an adulterer
who's caught in the very act,
you are filled
with anguish
and fright
because of your shameless deeds.
You're filled with fright
and anguish
and you shy away,
you bow your head
and you shy away
from any kind of sin,
from whatever sin
that might be
that you were caught in.
And it seems like
you've repented from it.
You cry out
in shame.
You feel exposed.
But then,
eventually,
that terror
that you once felt
subsides.
and you're not
the guy
in the spotlight anymore.
And since they have now,
and since you have now,
in a sense,
tasted of the bitterness
of sin,
you've tasted of its anguish,
you've been upset
with it for a time,
you think
that as a result of that
or you conclude
that you have now repented
because of your shame,
because you drew away
from it
for a time.
Even though deep down
you still loved your sin.
And you will return to it
as soon as you possibly can,
as soon as it's safe.
So is that you?
Have you turned
away from sin?
Have you repented
at one point in time
in your life?
Have you fallen away
from that pattern of sin
that you once lived in
and then all of a sudden,
when the time comes,
when the terror subsides,
when the conviction
is cooled off,
gone back to it again?
In a habitual way.
In a loving way.
In a joyful way.
In a thankful way.
Don't be deceived.
That's not repentance.
A thief feels remorse
when he's caught.
Not because he stole,
but because he was caught.
A sinner who feels remorse
because he is caught
is not regenerate.
When Judas betrayed Jesus,
he felt troubled,
the Bible says.
He felt guilty.
He felt remorse.
So much so that he
went and hung himself.
He didn't repent though.
Because you see,
he didn't have a love
for Christ.
He had a love for himself.
Judas didn't have a love
for Christ.
He had a love for himself.
He knew that he was damned
and because of this
damnation that he felt,
he was incited towards sorrow
and towards remorse.
So have you repented
only because you wish
to escape punishment
or shame
or because it's embarrassing?
That's not repentance.
That's not godly repentance.
Secondly,
repentance is not merely
resolution against sin.
Repentance is not merely
a resolution against sin.
Fear is a powerful thing.
And many men
have made empty resolutions
as a result of being afraid.
Suppose a banker
was taken hostage
and put to gunpoint.
And then he was asked
this question,
will you tell us the code
to get into the vault?
And sure enough,
the banker responds
by saying,
I'd be happy to.
You know,
it's da-da-da-da-da,
you know,
it's 5, 7, 6, 5, 4, 5.
Although this banker
had previously,
okay,
promised,
when he first took the job,
to never divulge
that information.
He had promised
his boss,
I will never tell the code,
it will be between
myself and the vault,
and that's it.
But with a gun to his head,
he's changing his resolution.
He's saying,
oh yeah,
of course,
I'll do that.
Or maybe you can put it
another way and say,
I'll never do that again,
you know,
because of whatever
the situation requires.
A man will say
and will do anything
to escape the judgment
of God.
Revelation 6, 8 says,
I looked,
and there before me
was a pale horse.
Its rider was named
Death,
and hell was following
close behind him.
What will the sinner
not do?
What vows will he not make
when he knows
that he must die
and stand before the God
in judgment?
Self-love
raises a sickbed
repentance.
There's a lot of people
that have tried to get
repentance
on their last days
and they feel sick
when death is staring
them right in the face
and they don't want to be
judged for what they've done.
But it's not a love
of Christ.
It's a love of
self-preservation.
But when this sick person
supposedly recovers,
the love of sin
will prevail against it.
Do not trust
in a passionate resolution.
It is raised in a storm,
said this one author,
and will die in a calm.
So maybe you get aggravated
because you're confronted
by your sin.
Somebody says something
that accuses your conscience
and yet
you make some silly resolution
but you don't ever
come through it
because you don't have
any love for Christ.
Thirdly,
repentance is not
leaving
of some sins
for others.
Repentance is not
the leaving
of some sins
for others.
Repentance is not
the leaving
of some sins
for others.
A slave can be traded
from one master
to another
and yet he's still
a slave.
So a sinner can trade
one kind of sin
for another
but he is still
a slave of sin.
John Owen said this,
He that changes
pride for worldliness,
sensuality for Phariseeism,
vanity in himself
or thinking highly
of himself
to the contempt
of others,
let him not think
that he has killed
the sin
that he seems
to have left.
He has changed
his master
but is a servant
still.
A lot of people
do this.
A lot of people
think
that they are
maturing
in their Christianity
because they have
left one certain sin
and yet they have
taken on a brand new one.
One certain sin
has maybe diminished
a little bit
in their life.
There's a lot of reasons
for that.
Maybe shame
because of the sin.
Maybe that sin
is not as profitable
to them as it once was.
Maybe it's not as beneficial
as it once was.
Maybe it brings a lot
of dishonor or shame
or whatever to the families
it once did.
But that sinner
is going to find
a new way
to express himself.
So look for that.
Just because somebody
doesn't do one thing
doesn't mean
they're not a slave
of sin
in some other way.
Don't think
that you've repented
when all that has
really happened
in your life
is a trade
and not a transformation.
Now I'm not saying
that we're ever going
to be perfect
or sinless.
That's why we need Christ
because we're not
going to be.
But if you have never
seen in your life
and in your heart
any growth
in your love
for Jesus Christ
and if you have never
seen any kind
of diminishing
of sin
if your affections
have not been
turned towards God
and away from Satan
and the devil
and his ways
and sin
if you don't despise it
but you love it
but you enjoy it
this isn't repentance
this is
empty resolution
this is
leaving some sins
for other sins
okay
in light of that
we need to examine
ourselves
we need to pray
to God
like David did
in Psalm 139
turn there real quick
I want to show you
this
Psalm 139
this is the prayer
this is the
the request
to God
from a truly
penitent man
a truly
broken man
Psalm 139
David wanted
every kind of sin
that he had
in himself
to die
he didn't want
to keep any of them
verse 23
he says
search me
oh God
and know my heart
try me
and know
my anxious thoughts
and see if there
be any hurtful
way in me
and lead me
in the everlasting way
search me
he begged God
expose me
show me
where I'm falling
short
let me see
where the sin
is in my heart
let me see
where I'm defaming you
let me see
where I'm dishonoring you
let me see
where my love
is inferior
for you
try me
know my anxious heart
the ways in which
I'm not trusting you
see if there be
any evil
or wicked
or harmful
way in me
and lead me
in the path
everlasting
lead me in the way
everlasting
he wanted to walk
in righteousness
this is the true heart
of any true believer
they want to walk
in obedience to Christ
they love Jesus
okay
so those are the three things
that I'm going to
try to point out there
for what repentance
isn't
but next we're going to
move on to four things
that repentance is
number one
repentance is
seeing one's sin
repentance is
seeing one's sin
getting excited
Paul's commission
by Christ
was to
open their eyes
it says this in
Acts 26
God said
Jesus said to them
open their eyes
so that they may
turn from darkness
to light
and from the
dominion of Satan
to God
that was Paul's
commission
that was his
responsibility
in the Lord
was to turn
help them to see
their sin
help them to turn
away from it
from those
ways of darkness
and to light
to Christ
this is our salvation
and this is our mission
that's the heart of it
we saw our sin
for what it really was
and we hated ourselves
for it
if you're a Christian
in here
you saw your sin
one day
and you hated it
you despised
the thought of it
that you would do
something so heinous
to somebody you love
so much
and then you saw
Jesus
and your heart
burst with love
for him
because you saw
him on his cross
you saw him
bloodied and battered
and beaten down
and killed
and destroyed
and the wrath of God
poured out upon him
for your sake
and he became your savior
and you became his slave
and his son
repentance begins
with the recognition
of sin
this is where it starts
there's a lot of
different levels
to repentance
I simply thought of
repentance before
I was doing all this
study as just
turning away from sin
that is
one of many
aspects of it
okay
the first part
of it
is recognizing
one's sin
seeing it
for what it really is
the prodigal son
some of you guys
know this story
some of you may not
I'll tell you
to you briefly
there was a son
a younger son
and an older son
the younger son
was known as
the prodigal son
which means
kind of like
wayward
basically
he was
really
probably know
what a prodigal
is
it's kind of
a common term
so
anyway
he was
he was a prodigal
and he
asked for his father's
inheritance
before his father
had died
so basically
that was like
saying
dad you're dead
to me
give me my money
I'm taking off
so he gets the
inheritance
the father
gives it to him
freely
he runs off
and does what's
in the bible
is called
loose living
that's a very
2000 year ago
kind of term
for that
loose living
and then
sure enough
finds himself
poor
and impoverished
and in a
puddle of mud
with some pigs
and he's like
I gotta get back
to my father's house
not as a son
but maybe just as a servant
I can get some food
that way
I'm starving to death
so he goes back
to his father
and he says to him
father please
forgive me
for what I've done
to you
in a sense
he says
I'm not worthy
to be called
your son
please hire me
as a servant
so we see
actually in Luke
15 17
this whole thing
is accounted
that the penitent
this prodigal
came to his senses
in the scriptures
came to his senses
or came to himself
so he recognized
or he saw himself
in that moment
as a sinner
and nothing but a sinner
ok
that was the turning point
for this man
that's what made him
that's what gave him
the humility
to go back to his father
and to ask
to become his servant
he came to himself
he saw himself
rightly
we must know
we must learn
and know
from this passage
that we are
reprobates
that we are
wicked
that we are
cast away
that we are
not of God
apart from Christ
that's what I want you
to learn from that
we must see ourselves
as God sees us
Thomas Watson
said this
the eye is made
both for seeing
and for weeping
sin must be first
seen
before it can be
wept for
so the prodigal
having come to his senses
says what
this is in Luke 15
21
father I have sinned
against heaven
and in your sight
I am no longer
worthy to be called
your son
he saw his sin
as an offense
against God
first
he says
I have sinned
against heaven
but then he also
saw it as a sin
against his dad
on earth
his sin was bitter
because he
in that moment
realized
or he saw
how unworthy
he was
of his father's
compassion
it was bitter
because of that
reality
he didn't deserve it
it was humbling
for him to even
ask that question
he had done
so much wrong
to his father
so much evil
so much harm
dishonored him
so in the same way
we must be
deeply humbled
and I would even
question whether or
not you have
truly repented
if you've never
been deeply humbled
like this man
once was
understanding that
you're the prodigal
in this scenario
understanding that
you did not love
Christ in this
scenario
so be deeply
humbled by your
sin against God
and you can say
that you have
repented
Romans 2
4 says
do you think
lightly of the
riches
of God's
kindness
and his
forbearance
and his
patience
not knowing
that the
kindness of
God leads
you to
repentance
okay
so it's the
kindness of
God
it's the
patience of
God
it's not the
wrath of
God
it's not the
fear of
God
it's the
kindness
and the
patience
and the
love
of God
that's going
to lead
you to
repentance
so hopefully
you don't
think you're
worthy of the
fattened calf
like the
elder brother
did
of God's
love and
forgiveness
and if you
do you're
still blind
in your
sin
you haven't
seen it
rightly
you don't
understand your
offense against
your father
one author said
the sinner knows
not his own
heart
nor what a
hell he carries
about him
under a veil
a deformed face
is hidden
people are veiled
over with
ignorance and
self-love
they see not
what
they see not
what deformed
souls they have
the devil
the devil does
with them
as the
trainer
with the
hawk
he covers
their eyes
and carries
them put
into hell
okay in
second
corinthians
four paul
talks about
how satan
is the
one that
blinds
people to
the light
of the
knowledge
of the
glory of
christ
that's his
function
that's what
he does
that's what
he's good
at
as he
blinds
you to
the reality
of the
glory of
christ
okay if
you're a
sinner
or if
you're a
saint
if you've
been saved
by god
satan is
still doing
this
by leading
you into
sin
sure enough
you are
blinded
again
not blinded
completely
but you're
it's like
you're contracting
cataracts
or something
i mean you
are really
literally
like your
vision is
getting worse
for christ
because you're
allowing all
this slime
of sin
to cover
you
that's what
sin does
to you
it keeps
you from
seeing christ
in a pure
way
blessed are
the pure
in heart
for they
shall see
god
that's my
favorite beatitude
blessed are
the pure
in heart
for they
shall see
god
number two
repentance
is sorrow
over one's
sin
repentance
is sorrow
over one's
sin
turn to
james 4
real quick
james 4
verse 9
and 10
it says
this
be miserable
and mourn
and weep
let your
laughter be
turned into
mourning
and your
joy
to gloom
humble
yourselves
in the
presence
of the
lord
and he
will
exalt
you
be
miserable
be
mourning
be
weeping
that's not
what i would
normally
characterize
the spiritual
life of a
christian
has
but we
probably
should
more than
we do
and let
me just
take this
opportunity
i should
have said
this
earlier
i really
feel like
i shouldn't
be up here
talking about
this
because i
in a lot
of ways
fall short
in this
area
of my
life
i said
it last
i said
it two
weeks ago
when i
spoke
that the
fact that
i don't cry
over the
sin that
i commit
as often
as i
should
the fact
that i
rarely have
fears in
my eyes
and i
rarely have
a spirit
that could
be defined
as mourning
is a
testimony to
the fact
that i'm
i'm seared
in my
conscience
in many
ways
and though
there are
times when
of course
i'm more
sensitive
than others
i'm certainly
not perfect
and i
certainly
don't
understand
how good
my god
is and how
gracious
he's been
and i
don't wake
up with
the gospel
just piercing
my mind
every morning
it's got
to be
something i
need a lot
of prayer
for
i understand
a lot
i understand
very little
of this godly
sorrow
and so i
think that we
should pray
for one another
in this way
we should
ask god to
just give us
a better
appretention
of the
sorrow that
we should
have as
christians
christ was a
man of many
sorrows
and well
acquainted with
grief
it says that
in isaiah i
believe
so we should
be like him
in that way
so you see
there's a
certain sorrow
in scripture
that is so
pure that is
so god
centered that
is so christ
exalting that
is so self
crucifying that
the world can't
emulate this
okay the
world can't
emulate what
this godly
sorrow actually
is what it
does to the
person it
isn't child's
play either
it's not a
simple little
work it's
it's it's
warrior work
um it's
deep contrition
of your
heart and
of your
mind
desires so
badly for
christ to be
honored that
anything contrary
or anything
defaming to
jesus is
despised it's
like if you
have spiders
on your
back and
somebody tells
you you're
not aware
of it and
then they
then you
see them
you shoo
them off
you're freaked
out by it
right that's
what sin
should be like
to us
i hate
spiders
that's why
i like
saying i
mean that's
that's a
good illustration
for me
because i
hate
spiders
so sin
should be
like spiders
i guess
in a sense
sorry if you
like spiders
um what
frogs yeah
same yeah
same thing i
hate any kind
of insect or
small thing
like that
uh
but sorrow
is also unique
in other ways
sorrow is also
unique in that
it brings
comfort
it brings
comfort
godly
comfort
psalm 126
says this
in verse 5
those who
sow in tears
shall reap
in joy
those who
sow in tears
shall reap
in joy
thomas
watson
said the
penitent
sinner
has a
wet
sowing
time
but a
delicious
harvest
he has a
wet
sowing time
but a
delicious
harvest
he sows
and it's
rainy and
it's wet
and it's
miserable
but then he
reaps and the
harvest is
plentiful and
bountiful and
that's exactly
what christ
and the fruits
of the spirit
should be like
to us
sow in tears
reap in joy
some of you may
say why should i
be sorrowful
though
you may ask
that why should
i be sorrowful
like what's
to be sorrowful
about we have
christ right we
have the holy
spirit right we
have you know
forgiveness right
like you know
i know i sin
every now and
again but i
mean what should
i be truly
sorrowful about
why should i
cry anymore
in light of all
the things that
god's done for
me
isn't the gospel
supposed to
liberate me from
all this sadness
let me give you
an illustration
suppose this is a
weird illustration
i thought of this
today and this is
strange but
suppose there
was a woman
who fervently
and passionately
loved her
husband
okay
and this
woman's husband
was crucified
till death
in front of
her
she saw the
whole thing
the whole
bloody thing
it was
gut-wrenching
this woman
loved to read
the newspaper
okay she
was then told
that if she
ever again read
the newspaper
that she would
be forced to
relive that
moment second
for second
if she ever
didn't read the
newspaper again
she would in a
sense crucify
her husband
afresh
okay
what kind of a
sadistic
fool
would she have
to be
to pick up a
newspaper
and read it
what if i told
you
that sin
is the
newspaper
and christ
is the
husband
seems ridiculous
in that
analogy
so would
those of you
who love
christ
still persist
in sin
how could
us
how could
we
right
persist in
sin
read a
newspaper
and relive
that
no
it's a
sorrowful
thing
how can we
trade such
a lesser
pleasure
like reading
a newspaper
for such a
greater torment
well we do
all the time
and it's a
sorrowful
thing
it is
only when the
woman realizes
that the
reliving of
that moment
is a
nightmare
it's a
dream
it's a
nightmare
it's not
reality
and that the
actual event
of her
beloved
husband's
death
is many
years in
the past
that she
finds any
comfort
but not only
comfort
she finds
joy
because then
she realizes
that her
husband's
death
while very
tragic
was sacrificial
and it
secured their
union in the
next life
for all
eternity
never to be
separated again
so Christ
likewise
purchased us
with his own
blood so that we
might forever
enjoy him
and his love
so why go back
to the
newspaper
Peter says
why go back
to the
vomit
it's so
stupid
it's not
worth it
but when we
do sin
and this is
the reason
why it's
worthy of
sorrow
is because
we are in
a sense
saying
God you
are not
satisfying
God I
care more
for my
selfish
sin
in this
moment
than I
do for
your
glory
and I
do for
your
cross
which you
bore on
my behalf
I prefer
that
over you
and it's
shameful
to him
and it
should be
shameful
to us
and it's
in a sense
like we're
crucifying
Christ
afresh
with that
kind of
a life
I mean
the Hebrews
writer says
it himself
it's like
if you can
do this
willingly
there's no
repentance
for you
you can't
be saved
it's impossible
to renew
this person
to repentance
if they can
willingly
mindfully
crucify
Christ
afresh
and so
of course
we can't
keep doing
this
true repentance
is sorrow
over one
sin
because sin
is the
nails
that hung
Christ
the cross
that's
why it's
sorrowful
we should
hate it
more than
we do
I should
hate it
more than
I do
I should
be crying
right now
you should
be crying
right now
we should
be praying
to God
right now
we should
be praising
him
we should
be
begging
him
for more
mercy
don't
but
I
bet
you
that
if
you
got
closer
to
Christ
by
his
word
by
prayer
that
you'd
find
it
harder
to
sin
that
you'd
find
it
easier
to
love
him
to
think
of
him
to
appreciate
him
to
enjoy
him
to
tell
others
about
him
so
we need
him
thirdly
repentance
is
confessing
one's
sin
repentance
is
confessing
one's
sin
one
author
said
this
sorrow
vents
itself
or expresses
itself
at the
eyes
by weeping
and at
the tongue
by confession
when
godly
sorrow
desires
to express
itself
it
sounds
something
like
the
tax
collector
from
luke
18
he
bowed
his
head
he
wouldn't
even
look
up
to
heaven
he's
beating
his
breast
repetitively
he's
mourning
over what
he had
done
and he
yells
out
and he
says
god
be
merciful
to
me
a
sinner
the
sinner
the
tax
collector
jesus
spoke
of
wasn't
willing
to
look
up
to
heaven
because
he
was
so
ashamed
of
!
he
had
done
he
was
beating
his
breast
in
anguish
he
was
ashamed
he
was
broken
he
was
humbled
and god
did not
despise him
did he
jesus
said this
i tell
you
this man
this
tax
collector
went down
to his
house
justified
rather than
the other
for
everyone
who
exalts
himself
shall
be
humbled
but
he
who
humbles
himself
shall
be
exhausted
confessions
is
expression
of
the
heart
true
confession
is
true
expression
of
the
heart
you
are
not
saved
because
you
said
something
out
loud
maybe
some
of
you
in
here
have
trusted
in
that
you
have
spoken
a
prayer
out
loud
you
have
recited
something
after
somebody
else
has
said
hey
say
this
prayer
all
the
time
on
television
say
this
prayer
with
me
if
you
pray
this
prayer
with
a
genuine
heart
then
you
will
be
saved
I'm
really
weary
of
things
like
that
you're
not
going
to be
saved
because
you said
something
out
loud
angels
don't
rejoice
in
heaven
because
you
use
the
proper
salvation
wording
and vernacular
angels
rejoice
in Christ
Jesus
smiles
because
accused
sinners
see
Jesus
cross
and
they
cling
to
it
they
cry
out
to
God
save
me
from
my
sin
in the
son
they
beg
God
for
repentance
as if
he's
the only
thing
that they
could
ever
have
this
brings
God
glory
the
confession
which
points
the
finger
to
Christ
and
it
says
not
me
not
me
don't
look
at
me
in
my
sin
look
at
him
look
at
Christ
accept
his
work
on
my
behalf
have
mercy
on
me
because
you
didn't
on
him
that
kind
of a
!
confession
!
is
pleasing
to
God
a
deep
trust
in
Christ
on
the
other
hand
the
confession
which
says
something
like
God
I
hear
that
your
son
Jesus
Christ
died
for
me
and
that
if
I
pray
this
prayer
genuinely
then
and if
I
stop
drinking
and if
I
stop
smoking
then
I
can
have
peace
with
you
and
I
can
be
forgiven
of
my
sin
and
so
please
forgive
me
and I
trust
in
you
amen
that's
light
hearted
it's
silly
it's
not
real
that's
hell
bound
impersonation
that
is
a
what
I
like
to
call
a
non
pardoned
parrot
!
reciting
something
after
somebody
else
doesn't
have
the
forgiveness
of
Christ
let
me
give
you
a few
characteristics
of
genuine
confession
number
one
genuine
confession
is
voluntary
it's
voluntary
true
confession
is not
forced
out
of
you
like
a
POW
being
tortured
for
information
okay
it's
offered
up
freely
like
the
prodigal
the
prodigal
wasn't
near
his
father
wasn't
even
close
he
was
in
a
pigsty
with
mud
and
stuff
and
he
comes
to
his
senses
he
realizes
his
offense
he's
broken
by
it
and
he
comes
back
humbly
and
he
says
even
in
the
moment
in
the
pigsty
he's
like
I
just
want
to
go back
and
become
a
servant
it's
humility
it's
voluntary
he
comes
of
his
own
accord
he
wasn't
forced
to
do
that
I
was
a
very
shameful
thing
to
do
even
to
show
his
face
back
in
the
same
town
was
not
kosher
not
cool
at
all
so
confession
is
voluntary
secondly
confession
is
sincere
it's
sincere
hypocrites
confess sin
all the
time
but
they
still
love
their
sin
like
a
drunk
driver
who
commits
vehicular
homicide
then
confesses
to the
crime
and
then
after
he
gets
out
of
prison
drinks
and
drives
again
people
do
this
all
the
time
they're
caught
in
the
acrobes
like
we
said
earlier
they
make
some
profession
they
confess
it
but
it's
not
genuine
you
find
them
the
next
week
doing
the
very
same
thing
no
change
is
taking
place
and
salvation
isn't
you
becoming
a
better
person
you
going
from
bad
to
good
salvation
is
you
becoming
alive
from
a
dead
state
salvation
is
you
becoming
transformed
from
a
totally
from
one
creation
to
another
salvation
I'd like
to tell
this
story
my dad
is here
he likes
to hear
this
story
so
before
your salvation
think of
yourself
as a
fish
okay
you're
a fish
you swim
in the
water
your natural
habitat
is the
water
you
breathe
in
through
water
you have
gills
and all
that
stuff
okay
that's
where
you
exist
that's
your
habitat
then
miraculously
you are
saved
and god
creates
you
anew
into
a
human
being
no
longer
any
gills
now
I live
in the
land
I breathe
in air
I eat
of the
fruit
of the
land
that's
where
I live
that's
where
I
exist
that's
where
I
have
my
habitat
that's
the
new
creation
in
Christ
is
this
human
being
okay
now
you can
choose
for a
time
to go
back
into
the
water
I
can
go
swimming
I
can
go
into
water
hold
my
breath
like
a
minute
but
I
gotta
come
back
out
I
don't
have
the
ability
to
live
in
the
water
anymore
okay
likewise
a
Christian
true
Christians
can
sin
they
can
go
back
into
the
water
and
swim
around
for
a
time
and
even
dunk
their
heads
for
a
while
but
you
can't
live
there
you
can't
exist
there
you've
gotta
get
out
and
breathe
and
eat
okay
so
it's
sincere
the
truer
Christian
confesses
his
sin
and
abhors
it
the
reason
why
Christian
can't
go
back
in
the
water
is
because
he
hates
the
water
and
he
loves
Jesus
number
three
it's
specific
or
particular
you
can
say
the
one
true
confession
is
specific
confessing
you
were
a
sinner
in
a
general
!
way
is
!
there's
no
weight
to
it
it's
like
saying
yeah
I've
done
bad
things
when
really
you're
a
psychopathic
serial
murderer
I've
done
bad
things
though
yeah
you've
done
bad
things
but
I
could
say
I've
done
bad
things
but
I'm
not
a
psychopathic
serial
murderer
when
you
get
specific
about
it
kind
of
puts
some
weight
to
it
okay
a
genuine
Christian
confesses
his
sin
specifically
he
wants
to be
143
whatever
right
you
confess
your
sins
specifically
so
that
God
can
get
more
glory
Christ
can
be
exalted
in
your
life
you
can
feel
the
gospel
bearing
down
upon
you
the
blessings
of God
overflowing
on your
life
I mean
the more
I understand
my sin
the more
I
appreciate
my
savior
right
it's
the same
thing
one
author
said
this
as
it
is
with
the
wounded
man
who
comes
to
the
surgeon
and
he
shows
him
all
of
his
wounds
here
I
was
cut
in
the
head
there
I
was
shot
in
the
arm
so
a
mournful
sinner
confesses
the
various
sins
of
his
soul
God
heals
!
in
specific
ways
God
heals
in
specific
ways
He
says
repetitively
in
scripture
that
when
you
confess
your
sin
to
one
another
when
you
pray
with
one
another
that
there's
healing
in
that
that's
implying
you
confess
specific
sins
not
hey
man
I'm
in
sin
today
okay
let's
pray
about
that
God
forgive
him
for
his
sin
alright
we're
good
to
go
no
it's
a
confession
and
in
that
confession
there's
found
freedom
because
in
that
freedom
or
in
that
confession
you
find
that
Christ
has
indeed
freed
!
therefore
true
confession
is an
expression
of the
heart
work
that is
done
by the
spirit
it
happens
first
in our
conversion
and then
for the
rest
of our
lives
in our
sanctification
the
Christian
life
is a
life
of
repentance
it's
a
life
of
repentance
you
begin
in
repentance
and
you
end
in
repentance
and
you
repent
all
in
between
Colossians
I
think
2
6
says
that
just
in
the
same
ways
you
receive
Christ
Jesus
the
Lord
so
walk
in
him
how
did
you
receive
Christ
well
you
repented
of
your
sins
and
you
had
faith
in
Christ
that's
how
you
live
the
rest
of
your
Christian
life
it's
very
simple
number
four
lastly
almost
done
repentance
is
turning
from
one
sin
repentance
is
turning
from
one
sin
apple
trees
bear
apples
so
godly
repentance
bears
godliness
this
is
the
aspect
of
repentance
that
we
can
see
all
the
other
qualities
of
repentance
take
place
in
the
heart
and
this
one
takes
place
in
the
life
John
the
Baptist
came
preaching
this
kind
of
repentance
he
said
this
therefore
bring
forth
fruits
in
keeping
with
repentance
bring
forth
fruits
in
keeping
with
repentance
he
is
not
saying
that
repentance
is
a
work
repentance
is
not
a
work
in
and
of
itself
repentance
is
about
as
much
of
a
work
as
faith
is
you
don't
work
faith
is
given
to
you
and
that
bears
fruits
through
that
so
repentance
is
a
work
of
Christ
the
work
of
the
spirit
in
your
heart
that
when
you
respond
to
produces
fruits
produces
a
change
in
your
life
literally
repentance
is a
turning
around
it's like
an
about
face
for those
of you
in the
military
it's a
turning
around
180
degrees
and going
a
different
direction
so in
fact
repentance
when
John
says
this
he
is
saying
that
you
are
truly
repenting
from
your
sin
and
you
are
clinging
to
the
love
and
the
appreciation
of
Christ
in
faith
and
you
will
exercise
this
new
faith
in
the
death
of
your
sin
or
in
a
turning
away
from
your
sin
and
in
the
beginning
of
obedience
to
Christ
repentance
and
faith
work
hand
in
hand
one
turns
you
away
one
propels
you
way
aspect
of
it
right
the
key
aspect
of
it
and
next
week
we'll
discuss
the
propelling
forward
how we
walk
in
faith
how we
look
to
Christ
in
faith
Thomas
Watson
again
wrote
this
there
is a
change
wrought
in
the
life
turning
from
sin
is
so
visible
that
others
may
discern
it
therefore
it
is
called
a
change
from
darkness
into
light
Paul
after
he
had
seen
the
heavenly
vision
was
so
different
that
all
men
wondered
at
the
change
they
were
confused
in
Acts
9
21
repentance
changed
the
jailer
into
a
nurse
and
a
servant
Acts
16
33
he
took
the
apostles
and
he
washed
their
wounds
and
he
set
food
before
them
a
ship
is
going
eastward
there
comes
a
wind
which
turns
it
westward
likewise
a
man
was
turning
hellward
before
the
contrary
wind
of
the
spirit
blew
turned
his
course
and
caused
him
to
sail
heavenward
end
quote
okay so
once we
were on
this path
towards
unrighteousness
towards
hell
and when
Christ
saved
you
he says
this in
Colossians
1
13
he
took
you out
of the
domain
of
darkness
and he
freed
you to
the
kingdom
of his
beloved
son
he
took
you
out
of
the
way
in
which
you
were
going
and he
put
you
in
this
new
way
in
which
we
now
walk
turning
away
from
sin
is
dying
to
sin
it's
living
in
repentance
we
are
Christ
and he
is
our
God
and we
need to be
preparing
ourselves
for him
I have
a good
friend
of mine
that always
says
that
we need
to be
preparing
ourselves
for Christ
when he
comes
she's a
girl
so
it's
more
like a
husband
wife
thing
for her
she
wants
to be
ready
when
Jesus
comes
back
likewise
we need
to be
ready
when he
comes
back
and this
is the
way
that we
do
that
this
is
from
Romans
13
I'm
going to
kind of
elaborate
it a little
bit
Paul
says
this
the day
of our
salvation
is
near
today
than it
ever
has
been
before
you
realize
that
the
day
of our
salvation
the day
of our
glorification
the day
of our
union
with
Christ
is
closer
today
than
ever
it
has
been
before
closer
right
now
in
this
moment
than
it
ever
will
be
in
the
past
the
night
is
almost
gone
the
day
is
at
hand
let
us
therefore
lay
aside
the
deeds
of
darkness
and
put
on
the
armor
of
light
let
us
behave
properly
as
Christ
deserves
as
in
the
day
not
in
carousing
not
in
drunkenness
not
in
sexual
promiscuity
!
not
in
sensuality
not
in
strife
not
in
jealousy
but
put
on
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
aka
be
filled
with
his
joy
be
showered
with
his
blessings
be
consumed
with
his
glory
be
convinced
of
his
truth
be
fearless
for
him
and
pray
always
to
him
and
make
no
provision
for
the
flesh
in
regard
to
its
lust
let's
pray
God
I
know
that
I
barely
grace
the
surface
of
this
doctrine
and
that
there's
so
much
more
for
us
to
learn
and
know
God
I
confess
that
I
do
a
really
poor
job
of
repenting
of
my
sin
and
I
confess
that
often
times
in
the
midst
of
my
sin
I
kind
of
just
yawned
away
or
I
say
a
couple
of
words
that
I've
learned
from
other
people
and
I
don't
genuinely
get
on my
knees
and
get
on my
face
and
wrestle
with
you
in
repentance
and
I
don't
genuinely
believe
that
God
I
have
sinned
against
the
holy
God
I
don't
really
comprehend
that
in
the
moment
like
I
should
so
God
I
pray
that
you
please
bestow
upon
these
people
and
bestow
upon
me
just
an
understanding
a deeper
understanding
of what
it means
to truly
repent
what it
means
to truly
turn to
Christ
and to
turn away
from our
sins
and to
just
love on
the Lord
in a way
that is
really
pleasing
to Him
God
you've
purchased
us
you've
bought
us
with
your
own
blood
and
you've
set
us
free
that
we
could
love
you
that
we
could
live
for
you
that
we
could
worship
you
and
we
as we
should
so
God
thank you
Father
for just
the mercy
that you
show us
and the
compassion
and the
patience
it's
so much
and I'm
just so
thankful
God
please
just give
yourself
glory
through the
rest of
the things
we do
tonight
through our
hearts
and our
minds
as we
leave
and just
through the
rest of
our
activities
the rest
of this
week
Lord
be with
us
as we
go
we
love
you
we
trust
you
for
all
these
things
in Christ
name
!