Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore

 

PARA 1

1._____ Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life. ( Titus 3:2-5 )

OUTLINE

Encouragement to special case 1:  A sinner who lived many years in sin and believes the gospel in the later years, God can grant repentance.  Example:  Manasseh in the OT and Paul in the NT.   

PARA 2

2._____ Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
( Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 22:31, 32 )

OUTLINE

1. Encouragement to special case 2:  A penitent saint who grieves over sin
   • A believer may fall into great sin.  Example: David.
2. Two primary causes for the fall
   1. through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them,
   2. with the prevalency of temptation
3. God’s merciful provision of forgiveness through repentance
   • God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
4. This is not a license to sin, but encouragement to renew repentance.
   • believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.

PARA 3

3._____ This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
( Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Psalms 119:6; Psalms 119:128 )

Eight Traits of True Repentance

1. Evangelical Grace: 
   • This saving repentance is an evangelical grace
2. True Sense of Sin
   • whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin
3. Faith in Christ
   • doth, by faith in Christ,
4. Godly sorrow: 
   • humble himself for it with godly sorrow,
5. Hatred for sin
   • detestation of it, and
6. Hatred of self
   • self-abhorrency,
7. Prayer
   • praying for pardon and strength of grace,
8. Turn to God with full purpose of obedience
   • with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
     
     

4._____ As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man’s duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
( Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15 )

Ongoing nature of Repentance

1. Repentance is a lifelong ongoing task
   • As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives
2.  Reason for ongoing repentance
   • upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof
3. Repentance is not generic, but specific to specific sins.
   • so it is every man’s duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.

PARA 5

5._____ Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
( Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:16-18 Isaiah 55:7 )

1. Praise God for his merciful provision
   • Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation;
2. Enormity of every sin and the great blessing of repentance
   • that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent
3. Importance of regular preaching on repentance
   • which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.