Repentance
Illustrated
A Chart Illustrating
what it means to repent
THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES that a person is saved by faith and not by their
degree of goodness, the amount of good deeds they performed while alive, nor
even their faithfulness at satisfying their church requirements. The Bible says
"For by grace are ye SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the
GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8-9). (For a more
extensive listing of Bible verses, refer to the Send the Light publication entitled 101
Verses that Teach Salvation is NOT by Works.)The object of one's faith and trust should not be their own works but rather the finished
work of Jesus Christ. "Christ DIED FOR OUR SINS" (1 Cor 15:3). His shed blood on the
cross has already paid the sin debt that we could never pay with our own efforts, no
matter how righteous such efforts may seem to us.
We merely have to acknowledge our lost, hell-bound, sinful state before God,
recognize our utter helplessness at trying to save ourselves, and claim the free gift of
salvation that Christ has ALREADY bought for us: "For whosoever shall CALL UPON the
name of THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." Rom 10:13Having said all this, however, it is necessary to have a repentant attitude when
approaching God and asking Him to save us. Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry
preaching: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and
believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Jesus also warned: "I tell you, Nay: but, EXCEPT YE
REPENT, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).The Bible also says that God, "Commandeth all men every where TO REPENT" (Acts
17:30). God is, "Longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE." 2 Pet 3:9Repentance is not a form of works. It is a genuine change of mind. It is changing
one's attitude toward their sin, and their obligation to the will of God.
A repentant attitude is the opposite of a rebellious attitude.To repent means to change our minds about our known sin, and forsake it. After all, we
can't expect God, who sacrificed His only begotten Son on our behalf, to save someone
who has every intention of continuing their sinful lifestyle. If we truly recognize our need
to get saved, we must be willing to forsake the very rebellious attitude that condemned
us in the first place.A repentant attitude also results in SUBMISSION to God; surrendering control of our life
and making God the Lord of our life. Yes, salvation is free for the asking, but it cost God
His Son. The Bible says of the redeemed sinner: "For YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE:
THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD in your body, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD'S" (1 Cor
6:20). Don't expect God to hand over a blood-bought free gift if you are not willing to
make Him the Lord, as well as Saviour, of your life.The chart on the inside [below] page further illustrates what a true repentant attitude is like.
Please take the time to look through it. You are encouraged to look up the verses
referenced in the far left column . . .
Bible
ReferenceGod says
to man . . .Man responding with a
Rebellious Attitude
(Opposite of repentance)Man responding with a
Repentant AttitudeGen 1:1
John 1:1-10
Rev 4:11I created you and everything else for my pleasure. Without me, you are nothing; you wouldn't exist. Wrong! You don't exist. I evolved. I don't need you. I please myself. You're my Creator.
I was made to glorify You. I need You.Ex 20:1-7
Rom 7:7-12
John 4:16-18
Rom 12:14
Matt 5:28
John 5:27-28Since I created everything, I set the rules. Therefore, don't lie, don't cheat, don't fornicate, don't co- habitate without being married, don't curse, don't drink alcohol, etc.
Don't even think of sinning!There are no absolutes. Nobody made me, nobody owns me, nobody tells me what I can or can not do! I do as I please. I answer to no one but myself. Okay, whatever You say! You're God, I'm not. Besides, since You made me and everything else, who better than You to tell me what's best? Rom 3:10-20
Eccl 7:20
Job 21:14
Job 22:17
Isa 53:6You have not accepted your intended role in my creation. You have broken my laws and have sinned against me. You are guilty of rebelling against your Creator. I'm a free moral agent. I have a right to self- expression. Besides, you don't exist, remember? No God, no rules! I was created to please You. I'm guilty of ignoring You. I've disobeyed You. I have no excuse. Rom 3:23
Job 33:27
Rom 7:24
Isa 6:5
Luke 18:13
Job 33:27-29You have offended my holiness. You are a lost, hell-deserving, hell- bound sinner. Not only do you sin by choice, but you sin by nature and have no sense of remorse or regret over it. Whoa! Okay, so I'm not perfect. But I'm not bad enough to deserve Hell. There are a lot worse people than me! Nothing wrong with a little sin. You are right; I agree. Compared to you I fall short. I admit to being a hell-deserving sinner! I regret having sinned. I've offended a holy God! Rom 1:28-32
Matt 13:41
Matt 7:19
Matt 25:30
Isa 6:5I can't have a rebellious, sin-loving creature running around loose forever in my universe. My holiness forces me to "clean house." I must judge you. Why don't you leave me alone? Cut me some slack! You're taking this whole sin thing too far! Save it for the devil. You are right. You would not be a holy God if You didn't judge me, a sinner. I am condemned. Rev 20:10- 15
Matt 13:41
Matt 25:41
Matt 3:10
Psalm 51:4
Mark 9:43You are just as rebellious as the devil; he didn't want to accept his role in creation either. If I "cut you some slack" I would have to cut him some also. You must go to Hell, the place I originally created for the devil and his angels. THAT'S NOT FAIR! You are supposed to be a loving God! I'll make it up to you; I'll be good from now on. I'll do good deeds. I'll be so good you'll have to forgive me. I won't argue. I'm guilty.
I throw myself at your mercy. "For I acknow- ledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." Psa 51:3Eph 2:8-9
Titus 3:5
Isa 64:6
Gal 2:16
Rom 6:23
Prov 6:16-19It's no use trying to bribe a holy and just God with your good deeds. I hate sin. I can't simply ignore it. Justice must be served. Someone has to pay for it, and the payment is death and shed blood. I don't believe it. You'll have to give me credit for my good deeds. It's only reasonable! I'm a religious person: baptized, confirmed; you name it. If You say so, there's no sense trusting in those things to save me.
I forsake them!
(2 Cor 1:9-10)John 1:13
Acts 8:36-38
Matt 5:3-9
Eph 4:4-7
Rom 6:23
Heb 9:22
Mat 19:26Your baptism, religion, self- righteousness, church membership, or anything other than death and shed blood WILL NOT save you from judgment. My Word, the Bible, says not to put your trust in them. You can't say I never warned you. But I've always trusted in those things. My minister told me they would save me. My church has always taught them. Besides, who says the Bible is right,
anyway?"God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). I admit my guilt. I admit I can't save myself. Oh, will somebody save me?!
I NEED A SAVIOUR! (Rom 8:3)2 Pet 3:9
Isa 1:18
Rom 3:27
Isa 55:7In my infinite love I will show mercy. Not by foregoing judgment; (my holiness still demands it) but by providing you with a Saviour. Forget it. I'll take my chances on my own. No one has to bail me out. I have my pride, you know. Glory to God! This is good news! There is a chance for forgiveness. You are a great God! John 3:16
Rom 5:8-9
Rom 3:24-28
Mark 1:15
Acts 20:21
Rom 10:9
Rom 10:13
1 Cor 1:18
2 Pet 3:3-7
Isa 1:18
Luke 13:3I, God the Son, Jesus Christ, died in your place and paid for your sins with MY shed blood. I bought your salvation and now offer it as a free gift, to you, and whosoever wants to receive it. You must simply stop rebelling against me, REPENT, forsake your known sin, and trust ONLY in what I have already done for you. As a result, I'll become your LORD and SAVIOUR. No way! The price is too high. I want to maintain complete control over my life. I like my sin. No one is going to lord over me, except me! Besides, I don't really believe any of this. It doesn't make sense. You really expect me to simply believe like some naive little kid? Get real! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
I surrender. I submit to Your rule over my life. I'm more than willing to forsake my known sin. I resolve, with Your help and grace, to practice whatever Your Word commands as I learn it. All my trust is in Jesus Christ as MY one and only Lord and Saviour!
IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven? The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you
from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated
between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For
all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.SECONDLY, you must realize that there is
NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn
Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
man should boast." Eph. 2:8-9 Baptism, good
deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are
all examples of good works that cannot save you,
because: "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he [Christ] saved
us," Titus 3:5.THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through
Jesus Christ. He said: "I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) THAT'S
WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us." (Rom. 5:8-9)THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your
mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner
and can't save yourself. And call upon Christ, and
Him alone, to save you. "if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and
shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Romans 10:9SEND THE LIGHT
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