Ep 8 - What is Repentance?

What does the bible say about Repentance?  Who needs to do it?

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

Hi, I'm Emma Lisa.

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Welcome to our podcast, Christ, Our Hope and Refuge. And I'm Natalie. Our heart behind this podcast is to be a resource for those who are seeking refuge and to point them to the hope that is in Christ.

SPEAKER_02 0:20

Welcome back, everyone. So um it's good to be back again.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Yeah, it's been a while since we recorded. We've had a lot in store. So um meaning like we recorded a lot in the past, and so we were kind of using those, but um, it's good to be back.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Yeah, it is fun to be back. Um, so to just get us started, I just wanted to ask um a little icebreaker just about your week and one thing that you're thankful for this week.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Yeah. Well uh I have to say the sun because it's shining today, and um here in northern Michigan we don't get very much of it. Um, we had some sisters who were praying for us um for today's recording, and one of them said, The sun is shining for your recording today. That was so kind of the Lord, and truly it is. It's been yeah, it's just been a beautiful day. It started off quite cold, um, but having the sun shine is yeah, just very joyful. Um, but I would say the thing that I'm thankful for this week is just the fact of having a healthy body. Um, just I feel like we take can take for granted um just the the simple things that we're just used to um until we get sick or something. And thankfully I'm not sick, but just been really thankful to be able to um just move and exercise, and both of us are training for some runs this spring and summer, and so just the ability to be able to go for runs and just have a healthy body that works is um a miracle in itself. So just thankful to the Lord for that.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

Yeah, how about that's awesome. Um, yeah, so I am also so thankful for the sunshine. It's like actually just so crazy how in the winter up here we don't even often realize we don't get much sun, so we just don't realize until it comes back. And I always say it's just so fun to see everyone come out of hibernation. Yeah, like literally you go like downtown and you see like families and kids biking again. I'm like, oh, I love it. It's just like everyone's coming out of hibernation. But yeah, I would say another thing that I'm so thankful for is so this um actually yesterday we uh just finished up our women's Bible study, finished studying through the book of Hebrews.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 2:33

So yeah, I'm just so thankful for all the ladies who just like are so just so wise and just like have been walking with the Lord longer than I have been. Um, and just learning so much from them and just growing and yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

What would you say was like the overarching theme of the book, or what maybe like a one big main takeaway that you are walking away with from studying Hebrew so in-depth?

SPEAKER_02 2:59

Um, yeah, so my biggest takeaway was like Christ's sacrifice is complete, like it's just enough. And it just like continues to say that like again and again and again, and then just like the end talks about how you know we're supposed to live as Christians. Um But yeah, just like even because the book of Hebrews was written to um believers that were, you know, Jewish, so they knew all the they knew the whole Old Testament, they knew all the laws, they knew, you know, the sacrifices that were brought, the animal sacrifices. Um, so it was just so like the author was continuingly to point back to like, but Christ's sacrifice is complete.

SPEAKER_00 3:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

And just like not only is it complete, but just like hold fast to that, cling to that, and like keep just like being on. Yeah, pressing on, being faithful and like what God has called you to do.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Yeah. It feels like that's um a lot of the the letters are at the beginning, is yeah, reminding you of all of that the Lord has done for you, and at the end is like then okay, now now go forth and um and then how to live. Based upon all these things, this is what the Lord has done for you now. Go ahead and um and go and live this way. Um, so yeah, I feel like that's a common message of of the letters, which is really helpful.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

For sure. Yeah. Yeah. So um, Natalie, what is it that we are talking about today?

SPEAKER_01 4:30

Yeah, a really um important topic. Um, we are talking about repentance today. What is repentance? Um, we're gonna try to um keep it as um digestible, I guess, as possible, like um just as easy to understand as possible. Um, because um I think a lot of times there can be these like big words in the Christian um circles that maybe we just get used to, but outside of like the Christian circles, they might not really make that much sense or people might maybe don't know what they are.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

Um for someone who hasn't like ever studied, for example, repentance, you know, it's yeah, very important for them to have, you know, information that they can understand. Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

Right, because I don't know about you, but that I don't think I ever really knew, you know, it was a word that I heard, but I never thought like, oh, what does that actually mean, you know? Um, so yeah, I definitely was didn't know what it meant. Nor was I repentant. I was not myself repenting, and I also didn't know what it meant. So just wanna, yeah, talk about that. Um, and just so you have a little bit of an idea, like moving forward, like we had mentioned in the last few um episodes, we um wanted to like start as best as possible, like kind of at the beginning. Um we're trying to very intentionally order the episode. So the beginning is like, what is the Bible? And then how do you read it, and different things like that, and then kind of walking through some of the the very basics um from there. So um the plan is Lord willing that they'll kind of build upon each other these these episodes, and we're gonna attempt to keep them short. We'll see what we can do.

SPEAKER_02 6:11

Yes, yeah, and yeah, we're we're just praying that it's you know an encouragement and blessing to you guys. Um it's just it's it's very it's very um sweet to just be studying for these and talking about them and also just like yeah, it's just again and again points back to how kind and gracious the Lord is. But he is also gonna judge one day, you know, he is a judge, you know. So like just like how urgent this is all sure this all is.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

I just wanted to read a verse so on repentance from Luke 5.32. So I'm gonna hold up my Bible because I'm working on staying close to the microphone. Um, so you guys can all hear me well. Um, so Luke 5.32 um says, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick, that's actually starting in verse 31. Um, but then verse 32 says, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Yeah, so who needs to be who needs to be called to repentance and who needs to repent the scripture says sinners. And so can you give like a a general um explanation of maybe like what is repentance, like in a very basic terms, and then like who is a sinner?

SPEAKER_02 7:44

Yeah, so first I'm actually gonna start with you know who is a sinner. So we are all sinners. Um everyone not one is born without sin. Yeah. Um what's that?

SPEAKER_01 8:00

There's no not there's none that are righteous, no not one.

SPEAKER_02 8:02

Yeah. And so yeah, which we have talked so much more about in previous episodes, but even just like, you know, you can look good on the outside, but your heart might not be right with the Lord or different things like that. Um, so we are all considered sinners. We are all born sinners. Um And sorry, what was the second question?

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Yeah, so the scripture that you read is saying that he has called to he has come to call sinners to repentance, and so who is a sinner and then like so who needs to what what is repentance, I guess? What does that what do what do said sinners need to do and like what is repentance?

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Yeah. So repentance is just like crying out to God, turning away from that sin, and like basically just like running the opposite direction. And not only like um, like alongside with crying out to God, you're just like feeling like that sadness over the sin. Like your heart is sad over whatever um it is that I have done different things like that.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Right. So it's not just saying sorry for doing something wrong. So it's not um you hurt a friend, it's not just saying sorry to that friend and moving on. Um, but repentance would be um, you know, making the wrong right, you know, with the person, let's say the said person. Um, but then also in a sense, saying sorry to God, I guess would be like an easiest way to say that. But yeah, like repenting to the Lord, like Lord, I'm sorry for that thing that I did, um, help me to yeah, not do that anymore, right? It's like a desire to um to flee from from that sin. Um I I don't use this word in my um work with my three and four-year-olds, but like I'm trying to help them understand the general concept and the idea um by, you know, so like when you're just when you say sorry to someone, it's not it's not just that, it's like okay, like apologizing right to the person, but then also um like asking God to help you, right? Because we if we just are saying sorry and then like okay, and then just moving on, but understanding that like we need the Lord's help um to change and yeah, wanting to turn from it.

SPEAKER_02 10:32

Yeah, and it looks different than just saying, you know, like um, I'm sorry in a sense of like I don't want to face like this world's consequences, it's truly having that heart that's like, Lord, I am so sorry that I've sinned against you.

SPEAKER_00 10:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

Um, there's actually this really good verse from Second Corinthians 7, 10 that says, For godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

That's what I was thinking of too when you were saying that. Yeah. Yeah, it um as I was doing some studying for it, um the word repent or repentance is in the Bible about 50 times. It depends on your translation. Um, in the KJV, it's actually in there more than a hundred times, but the word is used um more widely for um it's translated differently. But the version that I use is in there about 50 times, and so um it must be important. It's talked about a lot. Um, and so it is talked about a lot in the gospels. That was like as I was doing some studying, um, it's interesting in in the gospels. Um, Jesus begins his ministry, like that's like one of the first things he says to the people is repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, you know. So it was like right away, that's what he was saying. Like day one, scene one, you know, like repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And um, so yeah, it must be important if Jesus himself is right away.

SPEAKER_02 12:10

Such a such an urgency to, you know, go to be going and telling, you know, these people like you need to recognize your sin and like repent of that sin. Turn from that sin. And turn from that sin.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Yeah, and it's not just turning the the important, it's not just turning, we talked about this earlier, but from that sin, but then then what? Turn from that sin and turn to God, right? So it's not just okay, I'm gonna stop doing that thing, but it's not like full repentance if you're not turning to God, right? Um, that's not a yeah, a repentance that can save you is yeah, repent, um, apologizing, repenting of the sin and then turning to God is the important part. Um, I wanted to um bring up um one scripture that I um stood out to me as I was doing some studying. So it can be found in Matthew 3.8 as well as Luke 3.8. Do you want to turn to Luke 3.8, Annalisa? Well, I'm in Matthew 3.8, just if there's any slight differences or additional words or whatever. Um so John the Baptist is preparing um the way for um Christ to come. So he was like the forerunner to Christ. Um, if you're familiar with the story, um he came on the scene shortly before Jesus and was said that he, you know, or it was said that he was preparing the way for Christ to come. Um, and so he was baptizing people with a baptism of repentance, and then Jesus, um, his disciples would also baptize them. But um so um in Matthew 3, um John the Baptist is preparing the way, and he sees the Pharisees and Sadducees who didn't particularly have a good name. Um John, I don't think, was much of a fan of them. They were um very heavy on like keeping the law, but like their heart was far from the Lord. Um and so he said to them, Um, you brood of vipers who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, bear fruit in keeping with repentance. You do not presume to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children from Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root, to the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And so it just really stood out to me, um, because uh John is telling them, like, um, don't be trusting in your like descendants, or I am your child of Abraham, or you're whatever, so therefore you're good or you're God's children, but um bear fruit in keeping with repentance, in other words, like um, like a changed life. Uh so someone who has repented, turned from their sin, has a changed life that then bears fruit. And we've talked about that um quite a bit in the different um conversations, and I think at some point we'll probably have like a specific conversation about what that is, like fruit and like good works. But um, we talked about that like good fruit, um, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Um, those are not what save you, but they are a result of being saved. So they're a result of being a Christian. And so um John is saying, um, don't be trusting in like your heritage or you know, all of these things, but um repent and and you'll you know, and bear fruit in re keeping with repentance. So it just was really I feel like it really um it strikes a chord with just religious people in general, wouldn't you say?

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Like that's I think it's really just a call for us each own individually to examine our hearts and our lives. Like, have I truly repented of my sins? Have I turned from that sin? Have I um and it's not to say that we won't still struggle with sin because we will. Um, but but have I like do I have a saddened heart over that sin and like turning to towards God?

SPEAKER_01 16:37

Right. Which not just a worldly star, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:41

Which I'm like also excited for our next conversation, which is talking about just like being born again and like what does that exactly look like? Um, but yeah, it's just so cool how it all ties together. But yeah, um, it's interesting that you read that verse. Um because as I was studying, um there's a verse in Revelation and it's Revelation 221. So um it's to the church. Do you know how to pronounce that word? Taya no idea. Give me a fresh shot. Okay, it's to the church in Tayaturia. I know I'm pronouncing that wrong, but um, verse 21 says, I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation unless they repent of her works. So just this constant call to to just like search our own hearts and like ask ourselves, have I repented of my sins? You know?

SPEAKER_00 17:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:00

And alongside that, you know, it's also like uh um when we come to know the Lord, um I'm trying to figure out how to word this. It's like repentance is almost like a daily thing. Yeah, it's yeah, that's really important. So it's not a one-time thing, it's like uh because we are, as me and Natalie were saying earlier, we do still struggle with sin, you know. So it's like coming to the Lord, you know, and saying, Lord, like I am so sorry for the way that for example, maybe I said something mean about a brother or a sister, or I did something rude, or you know, there's just so many different ways that my flesh, you know, yeah gets in the way, but it's like my heart about that sin is saddened, you know, and like coming to the Lord and just like continuing to ask him, you know. And not each time that we're asking him is he like resaving you, resaving us, like he has you're secure, we're secure in Christ, but like still being sad about that sin, whatever it may be, and then just you know, yeah, and um, yeah, I'm glad you brought that up because I think that is a good point.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

So um repentance is necessary for salvation. Um Christ was right always calling right away and always calling people to repentance, you know, like okay, there these people are not following the Lord, so repent and and the kingdom of God is at hand, right? Like repent, become um become mine, turn to me. Um, so it is an it is um essential for salvation. Um, so if you ask anyone their testimony or when they like came to know the Lord, a lot of people will have um stories of um when they recognize their sin and the Lord granted them repentance. Um and actually uh 2 Timothy 2 actually talks about repentance being a gift, so it's actually it's actually something that the Lord grants, like He um opens your eyes to your sin and and gives you the gift of repentance, um, being able to recognize your sin and then um repent of it and turn to the Lord, so necessary for initial um salvation, but that it's an ongoing um process. So once you have been oh I'm gonna use a big word, but I'm gonna explain it. Once you have been justified, so like when the Lord saves you, that initial like repentance, the Lord saves you, so you're um you're you're between you and God, every like you're good. You're secure, you're secure, yeah. You've been justified, you've been um your sins have been washed clean and you are in right standing with the Lord because of your faith in Christ. Um, so once you have been justified from that point, then um there's an ongoing process of sanctification, which is becoming more holy and becoming more like Christ. And um it's very painful, but like the Lord working the our sins out of us and making us more like Him, um, and from the point of justification to the sanctification journey, which is your entire life until you get to glorification, which is in heaven, um, but the sanctification process, um we ought to live a lifestyle of repentance. So being a repentant people, right? Um, and not hardening hardening ourselves to our sin. Um and yeah, having like that being a normal part of our life. So just wanted to make that clear that it is essential for salvation, but it is not like just okay, I repent one time and then I'm good to go, kind of thing. Um for sure.

SPEAKER_02 21:53

Yeah, and so I just wanted to uh read this a verse, and so it's Second Peter 3, 9. So if you're, you know, for example, someone that may be listening to this, Natalie, that may be like, I haven't repented of my sins. I haven't fully trusted in Christ. Um there is hope for them, you know, and that's the most beautiful, amazing news. So, and it's just like just such a reminder of even, you know, how the Lord was so gracious with both of us and so many people we know, and how, you know, he was so slow to that anger. Um, for example, the Lord could have taken me before I got saved, you know, like I if that would have happened, I wouldn't be living in eternity with him, like I would be living in hell. Um so I do want to just um and or I do want to just point out this verse, Second Peter 3, 9 um says the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

SPEAKER_00 23:16

So good.

SPEAKER_01 23:17

Yeah, he is so patient. Yeah, and um if you are going off of what you said, if you are hearing this um for the first time, if you've maybe never heard the word, if you um are understanding it, if you're recognizing, yeah, that that's something that you need to do. Um, I would love to read Acts too, um, because this very similar scenario. Um, so um Jesus' disciples were preaching. Um, so Acts is all about um the the early church. Um, so it's the um right after Christ uh ascends into heaven. Um the the church is is being made, I suppose would be the best way to say that. But either way, it's a the story of the early church. Um and um who is preaching here? Let's see. Uh probably Peter. Um yes, Peter standing with the eleven. Okay, so Peter's servant at Pentecost. So he is um he is preaching and he's he's telling the people around around him that um that they crucified Christ and um and they were they were cut to the heart. They were cut to the heart um by what he said um by their sin. Um and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brothers, what shall we do then? And Peter told them. So so in this situation, they're um feeling sorrowful, right? They're cut to the heart. The the Holy Spirit is um convicting them and they're asking, What do we do? And Peter said, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And so that call is is still the same today. Um, if you yeah, if the Lord has revealed to you um that there are things that you know, or that you never have uh repented, or um, yeah, just that if the Lord is convicting you of sin, the answer is to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. And the Lord is so faithful um and is such a merciful.

SPEAKER_02 25:30

No sin is outside of his grace.

SPEAKER_01 25:33

Absolutely. Yeah, and we don't say this as um, yeah, as people who are perfect who have it all figured out, right? Like we um the Lord had to humble us um and help us recognize our need for him, right? When we came to know him. Um, but then it's a constant humbling process, that sanctification journey. Um definitely. Yeah, so we say this in much love. Um do you want to talk about the song that we're recommending?

SPEAKER_02 26:05

Yeah, so I'm I'm kind of bad at remembering names of songs. So um I know the line in the song is there's since they are many, his mercy is more, but I'm not sure what the title of the song is. Is that what it is?

SPEAKER_01 26:19

I think it's called His Mercy Is More. Okay. It's funny.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

I'm always like, I remember the lyrics, but I don't know names and I don't know artists. But yeah, it just talks about like God's love and his mercy. Um can triumph over all of our sins. Yes, yeah. There's a line in the song. Um I almost feel like I have to sing the song to remember it, but I'm not definitely.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

Oh, that's true. Okay, generally uh the general idea of the song.

SPEAKER_02 26:56

Yes, we figured that out the first uh first few episodes. Um yeah, just talking about like Christ's sacrifice is just like sufficient for you know any sin. You know, yeah, if people trust in him, repent, turn from that sin.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

Um He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 27:21

He takes our sins as far as from the east to the west.

SPEAKER_01 27:26

East is from the west, yep.

SPEAKER_02 27:28

Yeah. Or south is from the north, it's one or the other.

SPEAKER_01 27:32

Which living up north, south is very far from us. So that would make more sense for us, no.

SPEAKER_02 27:38

Yeah, yes, but it's just such a beautiful song. I just recommend everyone to go and listen to it.

SPEAKER_01 27:43

Absolutely. And the artist um who it's by is by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, um, would highly recommend those artists as well. Um, one of them is a pastor. Um, Matt Boswell is actually a pastor, and so that's cool.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 27:59

Yeah, he writes really beautiful and rich music. Um, yeah, and it's just very, very beautiful. You can learn a lot just even from their songs, and so um would highly recommend their ministry as well. Um, so um, yeah, that's our song suggestion for for the week. Um, any last thoughts that you have before we close up today?

SPEAKER_02 28:23

I don't think so. Yeah. Everyone just enjoyed their day and thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

Yeah, thank you so much for being here, and we will talk to you very soon. Bye. Bye bye.