Biblical Repentance/The Fruits of Repentance

From Gospel Translations

Current revision as of 17:05, 8 August 2008

Fruits Will Always Follow Repentance

In conclusion, let us consider the fruits which always follow genuine Biblical repentance.

John the Baptist warned his hearers, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Mat 3:8). And the Apostle Paul told King Agrippa that his message to the Jews and to the Gentiles was “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Act 26:20). So from these two Scriptures we learn that true biblical repentance will show itself in the believer’s life by its fruits. Let us look then at some of these fruits. As we do, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to His precious Word and that He will open and search our hearts. May the Lord show us if these fruits are being produced in our lives by the Spirit of the living God.

A. Repentance Results in a Real Hatred for Sin

First, the fruit of true Biblical repentance in our lives is a real hatred for sin as sin and not merely hatred for its consequence, which is separation from God in hell forever. This hatred is not against this or that sin, but hatred of all sin, and particularly of the root itself which is self-will. In Ezekiel 14:6 we read, “Thus saith the Lord God; repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abomina-tions.” We do this with a hatred for them and a loathing of ourselves. This is set forth in Ezekiel 20:43: “Ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.” You see, the change of mind which God requires, the change of mind which God is pleased with, is a real hatred for sin as sin against God. Therefore, I ask, do you and I have a hatred for sin in this manner? If not, then we have not brought forth the fruits of true Biblical repentance.

B. Repentance Results in a Godly Sorrow for Sin

Second, the fruit of true Biblical repentance is a godly sorrow for sin. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 reads, “Ye sor-rowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner...for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.” This sorrow consists of grief for having despised such a God, for having rebelled against His au-thority, and for having been indifferent to His glory. It was a sorrow such as this that caused Peter to go out and weep bitterly over denying his Lord (Mat 26:75). And a sorrow such as this causes us to weep bitterly over our sins because they are against God. We are made to cry like David, “I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” (Psa 51:3-4).

Have you thus sorrowed for sin as being against God? This fruit of true Biblical repentance causes us to “crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal 5:24) and to follow God in Christ with all our hearts. Only this kind of sorrow for sin is genuine.

C. Repentance Results in Confession of Sin

Third, the fruit of true Biblical repentance is confession of sin. We read in Proverbs 28:13, “He that cover-eth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Yes, there must be the fruit of confessing and hiding nothing. You see, you and I both know that it is our nature to deny our sins, directly or indirectly, and to minimize or make excuses for them. But when the Holy Spirit works in our souls and brings our sins to light, we must acknowledge them before God.

If true Biblical repentance is working in our hearts, we will find no relief until we confess our sins and lay them bare before God. This is brought out in Psalm 32:3-4 in these words: “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into drought of summer.” You see, only heart-felt confession of our sins will bring us peace with God in Christ. And my friend, this continues in our life until we get to glory. Confession and repentance are part of the believer’s daily prayer, as he pleads 1John 1:9 at the throne of grace: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

D. Repentance Results in an Actual Turning from Sin

Fourth, the fruit of true Biblical repentance is an actual turning from sin. True repentance is a radical change of mind and heart that leads to a complete turnabout of our life. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Pro 28:13). If I really hate sin and sorrow over it, then I shall forsake it. I shall take to heart Isaiah 55:7, which reads, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord; and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” This is the change of course which God requires. It will show itself in the repenting, believing sinner taking heed to the Word of God which says, “Flee fornication” (1Co 6:18); “Flee from idolatry” (1Co 10:14); “Flee the love of money” (2Ti 6:10-11); “Flee also youthful lusts” (2Ti 2:22). And it will also show itself in putting into practice the positive graces of following after “righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2Ti 2:22). My friend, the question be-fore us is—have you and I, from our hearts, actually turned from sin unto God?

E. Repentance Results in a Desire for Righteousness and Holiness

Fifth, the fruits of true Biblical repentance will be seen in a desire to put into practice the Scriptures that teach us to walk in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24), and to be careful to maintain good works (Tit 3:8). This, to me, is one of the most distinguishing marks of true Biblical repentance: the desire to walk in a different way—a different course of life than we did before. We read in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” So by God’s grace we desire to follow after this peace and holiness because God has given us a new heart. In Matthew 1:21 we read that Christ came to save His people from their sins, not in their sins. So the heart of the true penitent cries unto God daily to be deliv-ered from sin and self. Again, in Ephesians 1:4 we read, “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” So by God’s grace we desire to be holy, delivered from our sin and self-will. And in 1 Thessalonians 4:7 we read, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” So by God’s grace, we desire to walk worthy of this calling unto holi-ness.

Then in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 we read that the will of God for our lives is for us to be sanctified- to be set apart for God’s holy use. So we desire by God’s grace to be separated from sin unto Christ. By desiring right-eousness, walking in true holiness, and being careful to maintain good works, we manifest the fruits of Biblical repentance in our lives. For we read in Titus 2:11-12:

“The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodli-ness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”

And this is the desire of our hearts! Our cry is, “O Lord, help me to understand Thy Word, and by Thy grace help me walk in the way that is well-pleasing unto Thee.” Or like that of the Psalmist: “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psa 25:4-5). And, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Psa 73:25), so teach me Thy way, and lead me in plain paths that I will follow Thee all the days of my life.

These then, are the fruits of true Biblical repentance:
• a deep desire to be finished with sin, because it is the plague and sorrow of our hearts
• a deep desire to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
• a desire to fight the good fight of faith
• a deep desire never to go back to a way of self-will and self-pleasing, but to show forth the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light
• a deep desire to follow the Lord in a path of holiness all the days of our lives
• a deep desire to please Him in all our ways
• a deep desire to judge ourselves before Him every day and to live at His feet with broken hearts and contrite spirits.

Conclusion

True Biblical repentance cannot be separated from true saving faith; the two always go together. He who truly repents truly believes, for the same Holy Spirit Who gives us repentance to the acknowledging of our sin-ful conduct before God and gives us a desire to confess and forsake it with true godly sorrow, will also turn our eyes upon yon lovely Lord Who died in our place. The Word of God reveals that the Holy Spirit never sepa-rates repentance and faith. Where you find one, you will find the other in the life of the saved soul. Praise the name of our thrice-holy God! He, Who gives saving faith, also gives repentance!

Faith finds in Christ a complete Savior. We find in Christ peace because He made peace by the blood of His cross. We find in Christ hope, and hope is not made ashamed because the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We find in Christ a perfect standing before God, Who makes Christ wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption unto us (1Co 1:30). We find in Christ a perfect hiding place from the wrath of God against our sins because the judgment of all of our sins has fallen upon Christ (Isa 53). We find in Christ all that God gives to poor, repenting, believing sinners; for we find that we are complete in Him, the Savior of our souls, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Repentance looks away from self to Christ in faith and finds in Him a sufficient Savior for every need. Let us look to Him in true Biblical repentance. It is the need of the hour.

Study Questions The Fruits of Repentance

Fruits will always follow repentance

1. Will repentance show itself in the life of the believer? Answer this question by quoting the key phrases from the two Scriptures given.

a. Matthew 3:8
b. Acts 26:20

Repentance results in a real hatred for sin (a)

2. What is the difference between hatred of sin itself and hatred only of sin’s consequences?

Repentance results in a Godly sorrow for sin (b)

3. What does “this sorrow consist(s) of”?

4. In the final analysis, when we sin, who is the sin against?

Repentance results in confession of sin (c)

5. As opposed to confession, what is in our nature to do regarding our sin?

6. What does Psalm 32:3-4 tell us will happen if we are under Holy Spirit conviction for sin?

Repentance results in an actual turning from sin (d)

7. What do the following Scriptures tell us will result in addition to confessing our sin? List each reference and the key phrase which answers the question.

a. Proverbs 28:13
b. Isaiah 55:7

8. Making It Personal Do you believe it is possible for you to repent and still purposely hold onto your favorite sins? Why?

Repentance results in a desire for righteousness and holiness (e)

9. When God saves us, what has He called us to? (Use several of the Scriptures listed in your answer.)

10. Making It Personal At the end of this section, seven “deep desires” are mentioned as the “fruits of repentance.” Which is the most meaningful to you and why?

Conclusion

11. What are the six blessings that faith finds in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Making It Personal

12. To what degree are you experiencing each of the six blessings mentioned above?

13. In your own words, what is Biblical repentance? (Answer without referring to the text or notes if possible.)

14. Please review all the lessons of this study of Biblical repentance.

a. What have you learned overall from this study?
b. How has your understanding of repentance changed?
c. How will your life be different?