By Gale Nelson
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2021
Tags: #forgiveness #repentance #directions #heaven #resurrection #Christ

If you want to find your way to your heavenly home, then seek directions from the one who has been there before--the almighty God.

It is written, "And said unto them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'"

LESSON AT A GLANCE

• All have sinned and missed the mark (fallen short of the glory of God)… Romans 3:23

• The apostles were to preach to a lost and dying world that they needed to repent.

○ Many people today fail to see the need to repent of their sins.

○ Many want Jesus to save them, but don't want to make changes.

○ Some just think that saying, "I'm sorry" means I have repented.

• Repentance is based on Faith

○ What is faith? (see Hebrews 11:1,6)

○ You have to know what sin is before one can repent.

○ It is not an ignorant process--you must understand the sin.

• Hearing and Believing

○ We need to have a firm foundation in God, not just hearing, but doing. (see Matthew 7:24)

○ Faith comes by hearing (see Romans 10:17)

• The failure to repent comes down to what/whom we are following:

○ Selfishness is at the root: we are following ourselves!

○ Jesus has to be before you--we have to keep ourselves in check! (see Matthew 16:24)

○ Repentance (or "metanoia" in the Greek) requires a change of mind. It is not about what I want to do.

○ To change our mind we have to change our thoughts (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

○ If we truly want a more penitent heart, we have to trust God (see Matthew 23:37)

○ If we are going to repent, don't go back… (see Hebrews 10:38-39)

• Repentance requires restitution… 2 Corinthians 7:10

• Repentance leads to forgiveness … Luke 17:4; Luke 15:10


CALL TO ACTION
• Go the Extra Mile… Matthew 5:41
• Our Heart has to be Broken… Psalm 34:18; Proverbs 16:18,19
• God's Plan of Salvation… https://miamigardenscoc.net/salvation.php
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RECOMMENDED LINKS
* Missing the Mark: https://youtu.be/dViFvu_bmUs
* Website: https://www.miamigardenscoc.net