D. L. Moody lists 5 things that flow out of true repentance:
B1 Conviction
B2 Contrition
B3 Confession of sin
B4 Conversion
B5 Confession of Jesus Christ
(Source: The Overcoming Life by D.L. ©Moody Moody Bible Institute 1994 (originally published in 1896)
Conviction
B1 Conviction is the feeling of guilt and being convinced of it. An example would be Psalm 51.
B2 The foundation of sin is not believing God. If Adam had believed God, he would not have eaten the fruit. Hebrews 11:6 BSB And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
B3 The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to convict of sin. We learn from John 16:8-10 ISV When he comes, he will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment— 9 of sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 of righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;
C1 The Holy Spirit convinces/convicts of sin.
C2 Sin is related to unbelief.
C3 Jesus is the standard for righteousness.
B4 Sin is seen in rebellion against God and His ways by breaking His laws.
Contrition
B1 The 1913 Webster’s defines contrition as The state of being contrite; deep sorrow and repentance for sin, because sin is displeasing to God; humble penitence; through repentance.
B2 Proverbs 14:9 KJ2000 Fools make a mockery of sin: but among the righteous there is favor.
B3 Psalm 34:18 KJ2000 The LORD is near unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.
B4 Adam Clarke writes:
A broken heart - לב נשברי nishberey Web, the heart broken to shivers.
A contrite spirit - רוח דכאי dakkeey ruach, "the beaten-out spirit." In both words the hammer is necessarily implied; in breaking to pieces the ore first, and then plating out the metal when it has been separated from the ore. This will call to the reader's remembrance Jer 23:29 : "Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord? And like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? " The breaking to shivers, and beating out, are metaphorical expressions: so are the hammer and the rock. What the large hammer struck on a rock by a powerful hand would do, so does the word of the Lord when struck on the sinner's heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. The broken heart, and the contrite spirit, are two essential characteristics of true repentance.
Confession of sin
B1 Recognizing the truth that I have sinned. Psalm 51:4 NIV Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
B2 Making no excuses. Compare Adam accusing Eve and God for his sin. Genesis 3:12 NIV The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Conversion
B1 The apostle Paul described the conversion experience to the Romans when he wrote, “Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Rom. 6:17). Conversion does not involve learning a catechism or knowing the doctrine of Christ. It embraces the total person, which means conversion is related to all three powers of man: the intellect, the emotions, and the will. A person muse know certain things to experience conversion, but a knowledge of these facts alone will not save him. Conversion also involves the emotions, but it is far more than an emotional experience. Conversion is not complete until an act of the will has taken place, but even an act of our will is not enough to save if it is done in ignorance or without a heart desire. The intellect. The conversion of a man to Christ is different from a conversion to another religion or commercial product. Though many have tried, conversion cannot be passed off as a mere psychological phenomenon. (Source).
B2 Acts 26:17-18 NIV I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
B3 Conversion is not what we do; it is something God does.
B4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. (Source: 3rd stanza of “And Can It Be” by Charles Wesley).
Confession of Jesus Christ
C1 Not ashamed to acknowledge Jesus, Christianity, and our faith and trust in Him.
C2 Confession
D1 Romans 10:9 NLT If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
D2 1 John 4:15 NLT All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.
C3 Not ashamed
D1 Luke 9:26 NLT If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
D2 Romans 1:16 NLT For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--the Jew first and also the Gentile.
D3 2 Timothy 1:8 NLT So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
God’s grace initiates salvation, brings salvation, keeps salvation, and completes salvation. Without God’s grace, we are nothing. Acts 15:11 NLT We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus."
Titus 2:11-14 NLT For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
A quote from Precept Austin: True faith that saves one's soul includes at least three main elements (1) firm persuasion or firm conviction, (2) a surrender to that truth and (3) a conduct emanating from that surrender. In sum, faith shows itself genuine by a changed life.
Another quote from the same source: Henry Morris Comments: Note the superior category of faith of the disciples to that of the "many" who believed "when they saw the miracles," (John 2:23) but soon fell away. The disciples did not believe because of the miracles but because of the Scripture and Jesus' words. It is far better to place one's faith in God's Word than in signs and wonders." (Defenders Study Bible Online)
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