Repentance
A Sermon on Repentance
Originally preached March 19, 1954
Scripture
Sermon Description
What is the difference between repentance and remorse? In this sermon on repentance, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the incredible weight of these topics that separate eternal life from death. Repentance is a turning from sin to Christ. It is a genuine regret and full confession of sin. But how does it differ from worldly remorse? Dr. Lloyd-Jones carefully explains that while repentance involves feelings of anguish and guilty remorse, it is repentance that results in a change of mind. Worldly remorse will cry, but not forsake and turn away from sinful activities. The gospel message must call others to submit their life to Christ, not just feel bad about their sin. Only once one has been saved can they come to know the joy of discipleship, forgiveness, and move forward in Christian living. For the gospel message to be believable, the world must see transformed lives, lives redeemed from eternal death.
Sermon Breakdown
- The term repentance means to think again or reconsider. It involves changing one's mind and regretting previous wrong views and conduct.
- Repentance is brought about by the grace of God through the preaching of the Word. God grants repentance.
- Repentance engages the whole person - the mind, emotions, and will. It involves gaining knowledge of sin, feeling sorrow for sin, and turning from sin.
- Repentance deals with one's view of God, self, the relationship between God and man, life, death, and eternity. It leads to a changed view of all these things.
- The experience of repentance involves:
- A changed view of God's holiness, greatness, justice, mercy, and love
- A sense of guilt, unworthiness, and pollution due to sin
- A realization of one's weakness and helplessness
- A hatred of sin and love of holiness
- Grief, sorrow, self-loathing, fear, longing for deliverance, confession of sin, and a desire to please God
-
Crying out to God for mercy
-
Repentance differs from remorse. Remorse involves sorrow for failure and fear of consequences. Repentance is godly sorrow that leads to a change of life. It gives a sense of offending God, pollution from sin, hatred of sin, longing for holiness, and hunger for righteousness.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Biblical Repentance: Questions and Answers
What is the biblical definition of repentance according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, biblical repentance is more than just "thinking again" about religion. It involves a complete change of mind that results in changed actions. He illustrates this with the parable in Matthew 21:28-32 about the son who initially refused to work in his father's vineyard but "afterward he repented and went." True repentance includes: reconsidering one's position, changing one's mind, feeling regret for wrong views and conduct, and a change of conduct. As Lloyd-Jones states, "the going is a part of the repentance."
What are the essential elements involved in true repentance?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that repentance must involve the "whole man." He outlines three essential elements: 1. The mind/intellect - "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20) 2. The emotions/heart - "Blessed are they that mourn" (from the Beatitudes) 3. The will - "Let the wicked forsake his way" (Isaiah 55:7)
He criticizes modern approaches that rush people to decisions without understanding the full depth of repentance, saying: "People are rushed to decisions without knowing what repentance means."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish repentance from remorse?
Lloyd-Jones clearly differentiates between mere remorse and true repentance: - Remorse involves: sorrow because of failure, annoyance with oneself, and fear of consequences - True repentance (godly sorrow) includes: a sense of having offended against God, a sense of pollution and unworthiness, a longing to be rid of sin, and a determination to be rid of it
He references 2 Corinthians 7 where Paul describes "godly sorrow" that "worketh repentance to salvation," producing carefulness, clearing, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, and revenge against sin.
What changes in perspective occur during true repentance?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, repentance brings about fundamental changes in one's view of: 1. God - Seeing His holiness, justice, and greatness 2. Self - Realizing one's guilt, unworthiness, pollution, and helplessness 3. Sin - Developing a hatred of sin itself, not just its consequences 4. Righteousness - Gaining a new appreciation for "the beauty of holiness" 5. Life itself - Changing one's whole outlook on life's purpose
He says, "Repentance not only includes the whole man, it includes his whole outlook upon everything that is of value and of concern in this life and in this world."
How is repentance produced in a person according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that repentance is a gift of grace from God that leads to action by men. He provides several scriptural references: - Acts 5:31 - God exalted Christ "to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" - Acts 11:18 - "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" - 2 Timothy 2:25 - "If God peradventure will give them repentance"
God produces repentance through the preaching of His Word, as seen in examples like Jonah's preaching to Nineveh and Peter's sermon at Pentecost that caused listeners to cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Great Biblical Doctrines
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.