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REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS: PART I
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
· Write the Key Verse from memory.
· Define "repentance from dead works."
· Explain the origin of sin.
· Recognize different names used for sin in the Bible.
KEY VERSE:
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Hebrews 6:1-3 lists principles of the doctrine of Christ on which a believer is to build his spiritual life. These principles are called the "foundations" of the Christian faith. They are the basic doctrines on which the Christian faith rests. The first of these principles is "repentance from dead works."
The basic meaning of the word "repentance" is a change in mind which results in a change in outward actions.
Some people associate repentance with emotions, like shedding tears and feeling sorry for wrong actions and thoughts. Repentance is not an emotion. It is a decision. Emotion sometimes accompanies true repentance. But it is possible for a person to feel great emotion and to shed many tears and yet never truly repent.
Other people associate repentance with meeting special religious requirements. This is sometimes called "doing penance." It is possible to fulfill many such religious requirements and yet never repent in the true Biblical sense.
True repentance is a change of mind that results in a change in outward actions. Outward change is the act of turning away from sin towards God and righteousness. This "turning away" shows the inward change of mind which has occurred.
To summarize: Biblical repentance is an inner change of mind resulting in an outward turning away from sin to move towards God and righteousness.
There are some passages in the Bible where the word "repent" is used in a different way.
JUDAS:
In Matthew 27:3-4 Judas Iscariot realized Jesus had been condemned to death. He repented of his part in betraying Christ:
Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood...
(Matthew 27:3-4)
The Greek word used here is not the same word which means change. It is a word which people often misinterpret as true repentance. In many languages there are words which have more than one meaning. This is true in the languages in which the Bible was written. There is more than one meaning to the word "repent" in the Bible. The word used in this passage about Judas means emotion, sorrow, and anguish.
Judas experienced sorrow over what he had done but he did not experience true Biblical repentance. He did not make a decision which resulted in change in his actions. He continued in sin and in the end, hung himself.
ESAU:
Esau was another man who made this tragic error. Esau sinned by selling his God-given birthright for a bowl of soup. The Bible records:
...ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. (Hebrews 12:17)
Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup. In doing so, he rejected all the blessings and promises of God associated with the birthright.
Later, Esau regretted what he had done. He cried aloud and shed bitter tears. But strong emotion is not proof of repentance. Esau did not truly repent. He was just sorry he had lost the birthright and wished he could have it back. His "repentance" was not acceptable because there is a difference between regret and true repentance.
If we are to fully understand the meaning of repentance, we must understand what it is from which we are to repent. We must understand "dead works." "Dead works" are the actions of a life lived apart from God. These works may be wrong deeds or acts of self-righteousness.
These are called "sin" in the Bible. The basic thing that causes sin is selfishness. It is the love of self as opposed to the love of God. This love of self results in man going "his own way":
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way... (Isaiah 53:6)
Jesus died for the sins of men in order that...
...they should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again. (II Corinthians 5:15)
When you repent from these dead works of selfishness it means you acknowledge the existence of the one true God, realize you are a sinner, ask forgiveness of your sin, and accept God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Evil existed before man was created. Sin was originated by Lucifer, also known as Satan. The Bible records that Lucifer was a special angel who was originally created perfect by God. Lucifer sinned when he tried to stage a rebellion against God. Because of this sin, Lucifer was cast out of Heaven to earth:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High... (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God...
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee...I will cast thee to the ground...
(Ezekiel 28:14-16)
On earth, Lucifer [who became known as Satan] continued his rebellion against God. When God created the first man and woman [Adam and Eve], Satan led them to sin against God. This rebellion is sometimes called "the fall of man", meaning that man fell from righteousness into sin. You can read about this in Genesis chapters two and three.
God warned Adam and Eve that the penalties of sin would include physical and spiritual death. Spiritual death was a loss of their relationship with God. Physical death was death of their actual physical body. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve death came on all men:
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)
Because of the fall of the first man and woman, sin passed on all mankind. That means everyone born inherits the basic nature of sin.
Just as physical traits are inherited, the spiritual trait of the basic sin nature is inherited. Each person has sinned and faces the penalties of physical and spiritual death.
Satan is responsible for all evil in the world. His rebellion towards God still continues as he tempts man to sin. There is a constant battle in the spirit world for the hearts, minds, and souls of men.
Each person has inherited the basic sin nature. Each person sins individually when he is drawn by this sinful nature to rebel against God:
Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14-15)
All have sinned, but God has provided a way to escape the penalties of sin. Through repentance from dead works and accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior you can be "saved" from the penalties of sin.
The Bible uses several different names for sin:
SIN:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
The actual meaning of the word "sin" is to miss the mark and be in error. It is like shooting a weapon and missing the target. It is falling short of what you should be and God's perfect plan for you.
EVIL:
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...
(Mark 7:21)
Evil means bad, worthless, corrupt, wicked, and morally sinful.
WICKEDNESS:
Wickedness means to have an evil mind set to do mischief. It is a mental disregard for righteousness, justice, truth, and virtue:
So shall it be at the end of the world: The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just. (Matthew 13:49)
TRANSGRESSION:
Transgression means breaking the law. It is like a man stepping across a line over which he has no right to step, invading forbidden territory, and crossing the boundary between right and wrong:
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgression... (Galatians 3:19)
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS:
This word means injustice, wrong, iniquity, falsehood, and deceitfulness:
All unrighteousness is sin... (I John 5:17)
UNGODLINESS:
Ungodliness means dishonesty, wickedness, and total disregard of God. It is treating God as if He did not exist. Ungodliness is not the same as atheism, which believes there is no God. Ungodliness is knowing there is a God but totally ignoring Him and His laws:
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness... (Romans 1:18)
INIQUITY:
Iniquity means to be lawless, either without the law or violating the law:
...Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)
DISOBEDIENCE:
Disobedience is the opposite of obedience. It means to ignore God and His law:
By one man's disobedience many were made sinners... (Romans 5:19)
TRESPASS:
Trespass means to leave the right path and cross the boundary from right into wrong. It is like being on another man's property where you do not belong:
And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
(Ephesians 2:1)
JUST AN INTRODUCTION...
This chapter is only an introduction to the subject of repentance from dead
works. You learned the definition of repentance, the names and definitions
for sin, and the origin of sin.
The next chapter continues this discussion of the first principle of the
Christian faith, repentance from dead works.