“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
– 2 Corinthians 7:10
Sermon: Joel 2:12-13, True Repentance
Main Point: Respond to God’s message of judgment and hope by rightly understanding and embracing true repentance.
I. The Call to True Repentance – 2:12-13.
II. The Nature of True Repentance
“Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.” – Thomas Watson
Spurgeon’s Catechism Q 70: What is repentance to life?A. Repentance to life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sins, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it to God, with full purpose to strive after new obedience.
Elements of True Repentance:
1) Sight of Sin: “Sin is not simply making bad choices or mistakes. Sin is having the desire in our hearts to do the will of the enemy of God.” – R.C. Sproul
2) Sorrow for Sin: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalms 51:17
3) Confession of Sin
4) Shame for Sin: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.” – Ezra 9:6
5) Hatred of Sin: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” – Romans 12:9
6) Turning from Sin: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” – Isaiah 55:6-7
III. The Promise of True Repentance – v. 13b.
See Joel 12:13
Application
1. Be honest with yourself. Have you returned?
2. Are you taking your sin seriously?
3. Are you properly defining the cure?
4. Have you truly embraced the cure?
5. Have you found God gracious & merciful and rested all of your hope for salvation in Christ?
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