CENTRAL THOUGHT
God is never pleased with an outward display of penitence without true inward repentance.
HYMN: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR CLEANSING
TEXT: Joel 2:12-17
INTRODUCTION
Deep remorse and grief was often shown among the Jews by the tearing of clothes and placement of ashes on the head (Esther 4:1-3). As painful or as pitiful as such sight seems to the onlooker, in some instances, it never reflected the true situation of the individuals heart.
In other words, it was possible for an offender to tear his clothes after committing an offence and put ashes on his head without an iota of genuine repentance inside of him.
This practice of outward show of penitence not accompanied by inward (a heart of originated) repentance is not limited to the Jews.
It is common in every society (culture) today. Some persons exhibit a hypocritical attitude when it comes to the issue of sin. They claim to be sorry for sin committed or wrong done and even weep; only to return to commit the same sins from which they claim they have repented.
It must be noted however that God is never pleased with an outward display of penitence, or observance of religious tenets, duties or weeping and sorrowing for sin (like Judas Iscariot and Esau) without true inward repentance or a genuine substance of it (Heb. 12:17). This lesson hopes to examine among other things what it means to “rend” our hearts totally to God.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
1.To know the characteristics of an individual church that has gone astray and requires repentance.
2.To understand what it means to rend one’s heart.
3.To appreciate the lifestyle of an individual who has truly repented.
4.To examine the consequences of not “rending” one’s heart.
5.To know the benefit of genuine repentance.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REND ONE’S HEART? Ps. 51:16-17, 34:18
As defined in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, to rend means to tear something apart with force or violence; an example is when people rend (tear) their clothes in grief.
In Biblical context, to rend one’s heart is to be broken inwardly over a sin committed or a wrong done . Beyond mere remorse, it carries with it a genuine godly sorrow that plagues the heart for the offences that have been committed. It involves a display of a contrite attitude, that is an outward attitude that reveals an inner sorrow of heart for a wrong that has been committed and with a resolve never to commit that sin again.
There are examples in scripture of people who rent their hearts over sins they committed. David (Ps. 51:1-17), Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:1-10), and Peter (Matthew 26:69-75) exhibited the attitude of genuine repentance. The ultimate desire of a broken heart is never to return to the sin that was committed.
Today, to genuinely repent of one’s sin is to confess the sins to the
LORD JESUS, receive Him as LORD and personal SAVIOUR
and ask HIM for grace to live for HIM all the days of one’s life.
Q2. WHAT ARE SOME THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR CHURCH THAT HAS GONE ASTRAY AND REQUIRES REPENTANCE? Rev. 2:4-5, 3:14-17
Many things characterize an individual or church that has strayed from GOD’S way. Some are discussed below.
A.) Leaving his/her “first love”.
It is expected that anyone who has given his/her life to the LORD will love HIM (GOD) with the totality of his being. This love for GOD is usually manifestly in the zeal and commitment shown by the individual in the things of God. He/she lives a holy life, attends church/fellowship regularly, witnesses (preaches) to others about the LORD JESUS CHRIST. However, when the individual begins to stray from GOD’s way, this zeal and commitment to GOD and HIS work dwindles. Such a person has left his first love and needs to repent (rend his heart) and return to the LORD.
What is true of the individual is also true of churches (denominations). There are churches that once bubbled with zeal for the LORD (preaching holiness, actively involved in evangelism, showing love and care for the widows, orphans and the less privileged in their midst) but today they have settled for the mundane things of life. It is an indication that such a church has left her first love and the leaders/members will need to repent individually and collectively and sincerely to return to the LORD.
B.) Lukewarmness
Another characteristic of an individual/church that has gone astray and requires repentance is the attitude of lukewarmness. Obviously, this is the result of leaving one’s first love for GOD. The Bible says such persons are neither hot nor cold. Most times they are nonchalant towards the affairs (things) of GOD. They are no longer moved by HIS word. They lack zeal and are indifferent and careless about GOD and HIS way.
C.) Love of the world. (1 John 2:15-17).
When an individual/church begins to dwindle in the love for GOD, then the love of the world and its ways increases. Greed, covetousness and desire for worldly pleasure become the preoccupation of such individuals and churches. This kind of situation calls for a rending of the heart by such individuals and churches.
D.) Promoting the tradition of men, thereby making GOD’s word of none effect. (Matt. 15:1-6, Mark 7:1-13).
A very sad occurrence in churches today is the attempt to promote denominational beliefs, practices and traditions at the expenses of GOD’s word. In some cases, members are made to do things and/or say prayers that are completely contrary to the teachings of the scripture. This is certainly and clearly an indication of straying from GOD’S way for which individual and churches need to repent.
Q3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS TRULY REPENTED?
The individual who truly repents with a resolve not go back to his/her old way of life, is characterized by a lifestyle that reveals the following:
a.) Completely yielding of one’s life to GOD.
The individual sees the LORD JESUS CHRIST as his MASTER and to WHOM he owes absolute allegiance. His life is completely yielded to the LORD and allows HIM (CHRIST) exercise his/her life. In the words of the Song writer, “where the LORD sends he will go and what the LORD says, he will do”.
b.) Prompt obedience to God’s Word.
The individual who has truly repented inclines his/her heart to GOD’s word and willingly obeys it. He hides GOD’S word in his heart so that he might not sin against GOD and the WORD becomes a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path (Ps. 119:11, 105). Also, our love for God is demonstrated in our obedience to His Word (John 14:15).
c.) Being led of the HOLY SPIRIT. (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 5:25).
The individual who has truly repented is guided by the HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT teaches him the way of GOD and supplies him with the grace to obey. (John 14:26).
d.) Laying aside all weights and besetting sins (Heb. 12:1)
A heart that is truly rend and broken does not return to or continue in old habits. Such weights and besetting sins are laid aside and the sole desire of the individual is to please HIM (JESUS) who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith (Heb. 12:1-2).
e.) Deliberate efforts to normalize strained relationship (Rom. 12:18-19).
The mindset of a truly repentant individual is to live at peace with all including those who have offended him. He/she does not seek revenge.
NOTE: The Sunday School class may want to wish to discuss other characteristics of a truly repentant individual.
Q4. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT RENDING ONE’S HEART? Ezek. 18:20, Rom. 6:23, Isaiah 57:21, 59:1.
The consequences of not repenting genuinely are many and includes the following:
a.) Unanswered prayers.
It is stated clearly in scripture that “the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither HIS ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your GOD, and your sins have hid HIS face from you that he will not hear (Isa. 59:1-2). Also, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me”. Any sin that is not repented of is a hinderance to prayer.
b.) Stunted Christian growth/unfruitful life When an individual’s heart is not “broken” or “rend” before the LORD, the result is stoutness in Christian growth and an unfruitful life, that individual will not enjoy the joy that springs from the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT in one’s heart.
c.) Lack of peace.
Anyone who has not repented genuinely cannot enjoy God’s peace. Christ came to reconcile us to GOD and it is only when we repent and put our faith in the LORD that we can be partakers of GOD’s peace (Rom. 5:1).
d.) Eternal damnation.
The individual who walks in hypocrisy claiming to know the LORD when in fact he has not rend his heart in genuine repentance before the LORD will ultimately suffer eternal separation from GOD and be damned in hell. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD” (Rom. 6:23).
NOTE: The Sunday School class may wish to discuss other consequences of not genuinely repenting.
Q5. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF RENDING ONE’S HEART COMPLETELY? Joel 2:13, Ps. 51:17, Isa. 57:18.
An individual who “rends” his heart completely to God stands to benefit. Some of benefits are:
a.) Assurance of forgiveness
The individual who genuinely repents of sin receives forgiveness from God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
b.) Assurance of salvation
When we rend our heart in true repentance before the LORD, and believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, receiving HIM as LORD and SAVIOUR, then we are saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
c.) Answers to prayers
The LORD answers the prayers of those who have shown genuine repentance and are walking in HIS ways.
d.) Eternity with the LORD
The individual who rends his heart completely to God in genuine repentance and follows HIM consistently all through life on earth will spend eternity with the LORD in heaven.
NOTE: Other benefits include peace (Isa. 26:3), protection (Ps. 91), provision (Phil. 4:19), etc.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
There must be a deliberate effort of will and attitude of mind to abandon evil. In the Bible, GOD offered the Israelites the opportunity for repentance so as to have a right relationship with HIM. Today GOD is also calling upon us and giving us the opportunity for a complete turn from all forms of hypocritical life. Every unbeliever is encouraged to repent genuinely and give his/her life to the LORD JESUS CHRIST while the believer is admonished to keep watching and praying as he lives each day for the LORD.
MEMORY VERSE
Psalm 51:17
“ The sacrifices of GOD are a broken Spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O, GOD, thou will not despise”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: Repent and be saved.
Acts 2:38, 16:31, Eph. 2:8
Tuesday: Put away every sin.
Heb. 12:1-2
Wednesday: Sin hinders prayers
Isa. 59:1-2
Thursday: The Penitent heart receives forgiveness
1 John 1:9
Friday: GOD promises peace to the believer.
Isa. 26:3, John 16:33
Saturday: The believer has assurance of protection.
Ps. 91