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Repentance: a change of mind – about God and sin. (Matthew 3:2)

The Psalmist said, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I MIGHT not sin against Thee.”  You see, he (Ezra in this case) was a Godly realist, not some self-righteous, self-deceived, hypocrite.  He knew he would sin, but desired deeply that he might fight against sinning by the help of God the Spirit and the Word of God.  Praise the Lord!  (Psalm 119:11)
(1 John 1:8) (Jeremiah 17:9) (Psalm 130:3-8)

Yet, repentance from our sin is continually required on a daily basis – even AFTER our original Repentance unto Salvation in Christ Jesus and in Him Alone.  (1 John 1:8-9)

Definition of the term:  To repent means to completely change one’s mind concerning our attitude to God and sin; to make an about-turn from sin to follow God; to cease from following hard after selfish sin; and to turn to follow hard after true Godliness; to cease from being a WILLING slave to sin, and begin to try to be a WILLING servant of Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 12:14) (Psalm 51:1-13)

As the Scriptures teach: “Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the Lord my God…”. (Jeremiah 31:18)  We are ‘turned’ thus, and then, once turned, we continue to turn to God daily, and away from the world, the flesh, and the Devil.  (Romans 8:1-14)

Repentance:  Repentance unto life Eternal is a saving grace wrought in the sinner’s heart by God the Holy Spirit – through the means of God’s Word (i.e. the Gospel of Christ’s Cross). (John 16:8) (Romans 10:17)

It is an awakening of the DEAD sinner to a sense of peril to his/her soul of the Eternal Torment of Hell, and to his/her guilt before God’s Holy eyes.  (Psalm 9:17) (Habakkuk 1:13)

Repentance awakens the sinner to a deep concern towards his/her sins, and the odiousness of such sins when compared to the absolute sinlessness of God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ. (Job 42:4-6) (Hebrews 4:15) (1 John 1:5)

Repentance: Repentance is not mere remorse (self-pity!), but a clear realization of God’s wrath against sin, and of God’s grace and mercy towards sinners who are called of God to repentance and receiving of Christ Jesus as both Saviour and Lord. (Luke 1:46-50) (Isaiah 6:1-7)
Consequently, the repentant sinner so grieves for, and hates, his/her sins, that he/she turns away from them, and turns instead in obedience to God – proposing and endeavouring, to the very best of his/her ability, to walk in fellowship with God; in the way of God; as manifested in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Zechariah 4:6b) (1 John 1:1-7)

This is to ‘…walk not after the flesh…’ in daily practice, ‘…but after the Spirit…’. (Galatians 5:16-26) (Romans 8:1-10)

Repentance:  Repentance is absolutely necessary for the sinner to be saved!  It does not MERIT pardon; but, pardon is not be had without it! (Luke 13:3) (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Repentance is therefore, clearly proven to be of God’s free grace – it is freely given as an unmerited gift to whomsoever God, in His Sovereignty, elects to grant it.  (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

Repentance:  Repentance involves seeing and feeling sin to be not only deadly to the soul, but a filthy and hateful thing in God’s pure sight! (Ezekiel 18:27-32)

All who seek to serve God, must therefore, seek to put away sin DAILY – by humble confession to Him Alone; and by being continually washed from daily sins by a daily, ‘…washing of the water of the Word…’.       (i.e. daily Bible readings and confession of sin to God)  It is what the old Puritan believers called, ‘Keeping short accounts of sin with God.’.    (John 15:3) (Philippians 3:12-14) (1 John 1:8-10) (Ephesians 5:26)

Progressive Sanctification:  In the above manner we are progressively sanctified from daily sin in our lives as Christian believers – in relation to our actual naturally sinful STATE.  Just as we have been Absolutely sanctified in our, ‘…once for all time…’ STANDING, in Christ Jesus, by the precious Blood of His Cross.   (Hebrews 10:10) (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Obedience is the direct result of true repentance.  (James 1:22)

Repentance:  Repentance then, leads progressively to the great Scriptural doctrine of Conversion (i.e. ‘…old things passing away, all things becoming new, in Christ Jesus)  (2 Corinthians 5:17) (Revelation 21:4-5)

The Holy Bible becomes our daily looking glass, our personal mirror.  We read the Word, and the Word shows us where we go wrong, and how to keep ourselves clean for the Lord’s use. (Hebrews 12:14) (Psalm 119:105) (John 17:17)

A Practical Point of Repentance:  Repentance does not make a sinner incapable of committing sin!

Note King David’s experience.  (2 Samuel 11:1-17)  He committed the sins of adultery and murder AFTER he was appointed King; AFTER he was anointed of, and chosen by, God! (John 15:16)

Read the apostle Paul’s own words of detestation of the sin yet within his OLD NATURE after he was gloriously saved; AFTER he was chosen to be a minister for God!  (Romans 7:14-25) (Acts 9:1-20)

Yet, both REPENTED from their sins; and repented CONTINUALLY for their sins, no doubt, ever after until the day they died.  (Psalm 51:1-13)

Conclusion:  We who are born again of the Spirit of God, and redeemed by the precious Blood of Christ Jesus, first repent from sin and are saved; then we make repentance a daily practice in our lives for Christ.

We must keep ‘short accounts…’ with God concerning daily sins, and enjoy close fellowship with a thrice Holy Lord God; and with all believers of ‘…like precious faith…’.  (Psalm 16:11)

Sin separates us from close fellowship with God – repentance leads us nigh to Him and to other sincere believers.  (Isaiah 59:1-2) (James 4:6-10)

God blesses the repentant sinner’s soul.  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!  What a Sovereign!  What a Lord God!  Amen. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

This therefore, is the Scripturally sound Reformation doctrine of true Repentance.  Believe it.  Rejoice in its truth.  Teach it to others – and the Lord God shall bless you Eternally in His truth.  Amen.

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Regeneration:  a change of nature – from God (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Definition of the term: To regenerate is to bring NEW LIFE to; to cause to be Spiritually reborn; to quicken (or give life to) that which is DEAD; to impart a new nature from God (i.e. which means believers have two natures when born again, the old nature and the new!). (Ephesians 2:1)

Regeneration:  This is a work of creation, performed by God alone in the breasts of His elected people.  (Ephesians 1:3-6)

We are passive in this act of God’s grace.  As fallen creatures, we have no power to originate this miracle of new life – “…Salvation is of the Lord!”   Praise God for His grace!  (Genesis 5:3) (Jonah 2:9) (John 6:37;44)   (John 15:16)

Mankind was CREATED in the image of God – a tripartite being i.e. three parts. We were created body-soul-spirit, just as God is Father-Son-Spirit.  (1 Thessalonians 5:23) (Genesis 1:26-28)

The body relates to the dust from whence it came.
(Genesis 2:7) (Genesis 3:19)

The soul relates to, or communicates with, other like human souls i.e. each other.

Created mankind’s spirit was the unique part of Adam/Eve which enabled them to communicate with God the Creator – BEFORE sin separated them from our Holy God.  (Genesis 3:1-24) (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Born Vs Created:   Every person born of woman (as opposed to being originally created by God), therefore, since that time in Eden’s Garden are born sinners; we fall short of God’s perfect standard of righteousness.  (Romans 3:10; 22-23)  (Psalm 51:5)

Why is this so?  Because God told our forefather, Adam, that if he ate of the forbidden tree (nothing to do with sexual relations!) on that very day, he/she would ‘…surely die…’. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Now, we know that it was not physical death God spoke of here! How do we know? Because Adam lived after the Fall until he was 930 years old!  (Genesis 5:5) Therefore, we realize that the Lord God spoke of SPIRITUAL DEATH.  Adam/Eve were smitten by spiritual death the moment they sinned in disobedience to God.(Ezekiel 18:4) (Romans 6:23)
Sin made them hide from God’s Holy Presence (Genesis 3:9-10)  The DEAD human spirit desires no fellowship with the Lord God.        
(1 Corinthians 2:11-16) (Isaiah 53:2)

He that was created SUPERNATURALLY became merely NATURAL due to committing sin against his Creator God. (Romans 7:14-24)

Thus it follows that, all BORN of Adam/Eve since then are begotten in Adam’s sinful image. (Genesis 5:3) (Job 14:4)  We are born spiritually dead – a body; a soul; and a dead spirit!  (Ephesians 2:1)

That is why Christ taught us, “Ye must be born again!”  We must be Spiritually regenerated!  (Titus 3:5)

This can only be done by God the Holy Spirit Himself. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) We are thus regenerated into Christ’s Body – the true Spirit-born Church. (John 3:3-8) (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Regeneration is therefore seen plainly to be the free gift of God to Hell-deserving sinners. We cannot WORK our way to Heaven!  (Ephesians 2:8-10) (John 3:16)

God’s Means of Showing Grace:  (Acts 4:12) (John 14:6)

The means God has provided for us to be Regenerated (or saved) are two-fold – prayer and the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:1-5) (Jeremiah 33:3)

Prayer:  No one can really PRAY unless the Holy Spirit enables (or inspires) us to pray. (Romans 8:26)  We can recite useless, ‘…vain repetitions…’, but we cannot actually pray by God the Holy Spirit and according to His will. (James 4:3)  God, therefore, makes His people’s prayers to be both inspired and to be heard.  (Psalm 19:14)

God, the Holy Spirit’s first ministry to us is to convince (or convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of Judgment to come.  (John 16:8) Prayer is thus our true means of fellowship with God – we speak to God in prayer. (Psalm 91:15)  (Revelation 20:11-15)

The Word:  No one can be Regenerated, ‘born again’, without first reading, or hearing, God’s own inspired Word – the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (2 Peter 1:20-21)

This doctrine can be more clearly evidenced in the Old Testament illustration of Ezekiel’s valley of dried bones.  (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
The dry bones represent all who are DEAD in sin and trespasses; all who are unregenerate; all who are not ‘born again’ of the Spirit of God! (Ephesians 2:1)  Read how the Lord told Ezekiel to “…prophesy upon these bones…”. (Ezekiel 37:4)  Paul reveals unto us the fact that, “…faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) (Hebrews 6:1;6)  Then, after the preaching of God’s Word, the dry bones are breathed into and come alive!  Hallelujah! (John 3:8)  This the miracle of Spiritual Regeneration.

We ‘hear’ God’s call due to God-given faith, and receive Eternal Life as the gift of God’s grace.  Conviction of sin, and our desperate need to be saved, are revealed only through the Word of God contained in our Bibles. God speaks to us by His Word.  (James 5:16) (Colossians 4:2)

We are encouraged to preach the Gospel also! (2 Timothy 4:1-5) (Matthew 28:19-20) (Mark 16:15-16)

Why are we inspired to preach the Gospel?  So that the Lord can use His means of Regeneration grace to the full; and reward our labours for Him in the Salvation of precious and immortal souls. (Daniel 12:3)
(Proverbs 11:30)

What a great and gracious Saviour!  Amen!  (Hebrews 7:25)  Hallelujah!  These Bible truths surely make us free!

Conclusion:  This, therefore, is the great Scriptural doctrine of Spiritual Regeneration.  We receive a new nature from God which remains obedient to His Commandments, and helps us daily to battle against the desires of our own carnal natures; fallen natures which shall always be at enmity against God. (John 14:15) (Romans 8:7)

The Spiritual battle is continuous! (Exodus 17:8-16)  But, the Victory has already been won for us at a place called Calvary; won by the all righteous Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living Lord God.  Amen.  And praise be always to His Almighty Name!  Glory to God in Christ Jesus!  In the risen Jesus we have Regeneration Life Eternal.  (Romans 7:14-25)

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Justification by Faith: a change of standing – before God.

Definition of the term:  To justify means to legally acquit, to declare righteous; it is the opposite to condemn.  (Deuteronomy 25:1)
(Proverbs 17:15)

Our God Almighty is a Holy and Righteous God. (Habukkuk 1:13)
(1 John 1:5b)

As born sinners (Psalm 51:5), mankind is therefore born guilty of sin in God’s Holy eyes, and to remain a Holy God, the Lord God Jehovah is duty bound, by His own pure Holiness, to punish sin and to condemn all sinners to an Eternal Hell! (Psalm 9:17)  No sin can enter Heaven!
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Justifying is the Judge’s Act:  To receive Justification therefore, if one is being tried in the dock of a court, means that the accused (you and I!) receives the verdict of ‘not guilty’ from the judge. (Isaiah 43:9;25-26)

In Scripture, God is the Righteous “…Judge of the whole earth…” (Genesis 18:25), and His dealings with the sons of men are constantly described in forensic (legal) terms.  (Psalm 119:71-72)

Righteousness:  True righteousness (full conformity to God’s Laws) is what God requires of men and women, and He shows His own Righteousness as Judge in taking vengeance on those who ‘sin’, or ‘fall short’ of His perfect standard.  (Psalm 7:11) (Isaiah 5:16) (Acts 17:30-31) (1 Peter 4:1-5) (Romans 14:11-12) (Exodus 20:3-17)

Therefore, since we know from Scriptures that there is ‘…none righteous…’ (Romans 3:10), since ‘…all have fallen short…’ of the Righteousness of God (Romans 3:22b-23), it follows that al born of woman since Adam are born under God’s Holy condemnation of sin!  All, of course, but the altogether Righteous Son of God – the Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise His Name!  (Hebrews 4:15) (2 Corinthians 5:21) (1 Peter 2:21-24) (1 John 3:4-5)

All mankind, therefore, except Christ Himself, are born guilty, Hell-deserving sinners! (Psalm 14:1-4)
There are no ‘big sins’ and ‘little sins’ in God’s Holy eyes.  SIN IS SIN! (James 2:10)
We are double guilty of sin.  We are doubly condemned by the Righteous Judge!  How?  Well, first we are guilty of inherent Adamic sin
(Genesis 5:3), and then again, of the actual sins we naturally commit! (Romans 7:14-24) (1 John 1:8)
There remains, therefore, no hope for any sinner if God’s Righteous verdict goes against us.  ‘…our God is a consuming fire…’.
(Hebrews 10:30-31) (Revelation 20:10-15)

Question 1:  If all are born sinners, all fall short of God’s Righteous standards (i.e. Christ’s perfection) (Matthew 6:33), then, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ (Acts 16:30-31)  How can the born sinner be JUSTIFIED? (i.e. just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned) (Job 14:1-4)

Answer 1:  “Ye must be born again!” (John 3:3-8) (1 Peter 1:18-25)  We must be given a new birth from God Above, we must be regenerated by God the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 37:1-10) and enter into the Body of Christ (i.e. the true church) (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)  Christ must enter into us, and bring His Spiritual banquet of blessings with Him. (Revelation 3:20)  We thus, ‘…die daily…’ unto self, and live daily unto the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:31b) (Galatians 2:20)  Yea, more!  Jesus lives His resurrected life in us, through faith.  (John 14:6) (Leviticus 17:11) (Jon 10:10)  Hallelujah!  Amen!

We cannot work our way towards Justification – it is done through faith, the gift of our Sovereign Lord God. (Hebrews 11:1;6) (Ephesians 2:8-10) (Psalm 115:3)

Question 2:  How, therefore, can we receive faith to be justified before a Holy Lord God?

Answer 2:  One place only – “Faith cometh by hearing (or reading) and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)  We cannot be saved (or justified) without first hearing the Word of God – the glorious Gospel of Christ’s Salvation Sacrifice at the Cross for sinners. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (Acts 4:12)
Who will ever seek to saved, if first they are not made aware that they are indeed lost? (John 16:8) (Luke 19:10)

It is therefore, perhaps easier for an actual thief, and actual murderer; an obvious sinner, to hear and receive the Gospel Truth and be saved!
(Psalm 51:1-13)

Nice old ladies and gentlemen; church-going, ‘good-living’ persons, who have never seemed to do harm to anyone in their lives; these poor people are the hardest to reach with the Gospel!  Why?  Because they don’t really believe they are indeed vile sinners in God’s pure eyes!
(Revelation 3:14-19)

Thus, they die and open their eternal eyes in a Christ-rejecter’s Hell!  Why? Because they never really sought to be justified before God – in Christ Jesus!  They rely on their own assumed righteousness to get them into Heaven.  Thus, they reveal their disbelief of God’s Word – “…none righteous…”.  (Romans 3:10)

Conclusion:  All those sinners, who by simply taking God at His Word, and receiving Christ Jesus as both Saviour and Lord, are born again: declared not guilty; deemed sinless in their STANDING before God’s Righteous Throne (Exodus 12:13) (Isaiah 1:18); imputed (i.e. put to their account) the Righteousness of Christ Himself! (Psalm 32:1-2)  Hallelujah!

We thus manifest true trust in Christ’s Righteous ATONEMENT upon Calvary’s Cross; His suffering in our place; for we who are blessed with faith to believe and to keep on believing (i.e. the continuous verb ‘believeth’ and ‘cleanseth’).  (John 3:16) (John 1:7)  Praise God!

Therefore, when a born sinner REPENTS (i.e. turns away from sin and turns fully to follow God) and receives Christ by faith – he/she is born again of God and declared fully JUSTIFIED in God’s Holy sight.

This is the great Reformation/Protestant doctrine of JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.  Learn it!  Teach it! Believe it!  Be blessed with the joy and liberty of its truth.  Amen.