True Biblical Repentance - [1 Thessalonians 1:9-10]

The other day I happened to be at my father's and he has this Interesting thing that he does for devotions. It's kind of cool. Actually. He has this Greek calendar that he puts up for his yearly calendar and in each little page that he just rips off the calendar it has a verse a Devotional thought and in a prayer.

So I happen to be flipping through some of them and saw one of them in his Bible. I just happened to turn to it and on the prayer part. The prayer said something to the effect of Lord help me to live the gospel.

So that others may see so I told him let's I wanted to have a nice discussion with him a Father to son discussion or more of a son to father discussion and we have great discussions over the things of the Lord.

And I enjoy that with my father and I treasure that. And I asked him about that and he says well people need to see the gospel now when the term gospel is used in the Greek language it literally refers to Everything from Genesis to Revelation.

So if you're talking to somebody who's Greek and you use the Greek term for gospel Evangelio, they'll say yeah the Evangelio the gospel is the Bible. But obviously we know from the Bible itself the way the Bible uses the term.

It's not a reference to the entirety of Scripture. I remember actually one time giving the gospel to somebody and I actually asked him in Greek knowing this about Greeks. Do you know the gospel? And he says well, I don't know the whole gospel and he was referring to everything from Genesis to Revelation.

So I said to my dad What is the gospel that this prayer in your devotional guide tells us to live out? And he said well the Bible and I said, well, yes, we are to live out the Bible but the gospel according to 1st Corinthians 15 is that Christ by definition Paul gives it to us is That he died for our sins according to the scriptures that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

So if we are to live out the gospel I Said you or I are neither Christ. That was a historical event that happened at one point and only Christ is the gospel because he is the one who died for sinners and he is the one who rose again.

And I understand I get it that we are to live our lives in such a way. That when we speak the message of the gospel, it gives credibility to what we say, but nonetheless we don't live the gospel. So as I had that discussion with him I thought it is Critical that we get the gospel, right?

For a number of reasons it's critical because Paul says in Romans 1 verse 1. He refers to it as the gospel of God. It's not the gospel of man. It's the gospel of God. He is the source of it. He is the initiator of it.

He is the subject of it. So if anything is of God, we have to make sure we get it, right? But it's also critical we get the gospel, right? Because Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15 it is of first importance.

Not secondary or tertiary importance. It's important. We get the gospel, right? Because according to Romans 116 only the gospel has the power of God. For salvation it is the power of God for salvation and furthermore It's important to get the gospel, right?

Because according to Galatians 1 Paul pronounces Anathema Somebody to be a curse if we are an angel from heaven Should come he includes himself and preach the gospel contrary to the one you received let him be a curse.

So for those reasons it is important to get the gospel, right? But even as important is to get the response to the gospel, right? You've heard here at BB Bethlehem Bible Church. The gospel is Begins with who God is the four W's with who man is sinner.

Depraved separated from God what Christ has done and the fourth W is really not the gospel. It's the response to the gospel what man must do in response. And it's important not only to get the gospel, right?

But what is the response the right response to the gospel in other words when I present the gospel to somebody when I present and proclaim The evangel the good news what response it might have called people to.

Well, the response to the gospel is not pray the sinners prayer. The response to the gospel is not as Jesus into your heart. That's common in the Greek culture, especially even in Protestant Greek circles so much.

So that grandparents go up to their grandchildren and ask them at a very young age. Who is in your heart. And the grandchild is supposed to say Jesus is in my heart but unfortunately, I got in trouble early on because I was teaching my Children early on that what's in their heart.

Jeremiah 17 9 is sin. So when their grandparents came to my oldest and said what's in you who's in your heart expecting to hear Jesus. She said sin and they looked at her and said who taught you such a thing my father.

So that's not the response of the gospel just as Jesus into the heart it's not either Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The response to the gospel is not discover the purpose-driven life.

The response to the gospel is not find out God's wonderful plan for your life and By the way, the response to the gospel after you present the gospel is not Make Jesus Lord. That sounds kosher because it reflects the Lordship of Christ, but no person can make Jesus anything.

Never mind Lord because Peter in the culmination of his message at Pentecost Acts 2 36 said that this Jesus whom you crucified God the Father has made Lord. We don't make Jesus Lord. We submit to his Lordship.

God the Father has made him Lord. So what is the right response to the gospel if we're to get the response of the gospel, right? It is in essence in one word repentance repentance. There are objections though to that.

Let me give you a few before we get into our text because that'll set the precedence in the soil of this Environment so to speak that we go into in the book of first Thessalonians the first exact objection is all that we don't need to preach repentance as the response to the gospel because it's a Synonym for faith.

It's just another way of saying faith and that's not biblically true. There's two sides. They are two sides of the same coin of conversion. Repentance turns from sin To Christ and then faith embraces Jesus Christ as the only hope for salvation.

Paul put it well in Acts 2021 when he said testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is not a synonym for faith. It's two sides of the same coin.

Repentance turns from sin to Christ. Faith embraces Christ as the only hope of salvation. Another objection to repentance that we are not to preach repentance as a response to the gospel people will say and many from the seminary where I came from will say well all you have to do is look at the gospel of John and as pastor Steve has been walking us through it.

He's highlighted on a number of occasions the authorial intent of John is what John? 2031 that Jesus did many signs. But these signs have been written these miraculous signs for what purpose so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and by believing you may have life in his name and they'll say it's the most Evangelistic of all the four Gospels right and not once is the objection.

Does John the Apostle use the term repentance? So there you go case closed. You need to preach repentance. Well, the problem is they don't understand the difference between John and the synoptics. Matthew Mark and Luke the synoptics.

We're written much earlier and they covered that ground already repentance first. John was written years later and wasn't going to go over the same ground that the first three gospel writers did. So that's why included the other aspect of the coin faith.

Or that argument or that objection would be like saying well in the Gospels that we have in the revelation of the Word of God. You know Jesus never used the term grace. So he must not believe in grace.

That's foolish theological thinking, of course a Third objection that we are not to preach repentance, which is false is they'll say look at the classic verse acts 1631 the Philippian jailer Point-blank asked Paul and Silas what what must I do to be saved?

And what was their response. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. There you go. You don't need to preach repentance. Well, if we read the rest of the story. Something we call context and those who bring this objection forget that sometimes The jailers repentance is seen first and foremost by his service.

The text says in Acts 16 that he brought the disciples in and he cleaned up their wounds. And then he opened their house to them to serve them with food. Furthermore his repentance is seen by his obedience in baptism.

He immediately it says the text at once was baptized and Finally, it's seen by his joy over the work of salvation That was done in his life by the Lord. That was the fruits of repentance. Let's turn in first Thessalonians these two brief verses we're going to look at tonight.

Because they give a beautiful picture of What true biblical repentance is? First Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 9 and 10 for they themselves report concerning us the kind of Reception we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and To wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead.

Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. First and foremost as we will see here from the greater context is this first truth about biblical repentance. True biblical repentance will be the response of those chosen by God.

True biblical repentance not may it will be the response by those who are chosen by God. Look earlier in the context with me as Paul writes to this church in Thessalonica Verse 4 for we know brothers loved by God that he has chosen you.

Because our Gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full Conviction and they responded in true biblical repentance because they were chosen by God. Later on in chapter 2 of our book in verse 13 he Paul reveals the Attitude that the Thessalonians had towards the Word of God and this is it First Thessalonians 2 13 and we also thank God constantly for this that when you receive the Word of God I love this which you heard from us you accepted it not as the Word of men But as what it really is the Word of God, which is at work in you believers.

True biblical repentance was their response to the gospel because they had been chosen by God. They received the word not as the Word of men, but as it is the Word of God. Scripture is replete with this truth.

Recall with me Peter when he went to Cornelius. In Acts chapter 10 he was adamant against it. Initially was he not but then God used Peter and proclaimed the truth about Christ and Opened the eyes of Cornelius in his household.

And then in Acts chapter 11 Peter goes back to the Apostles to the party of the Circumcision as Luke says who were aghast that he would go to a Gentile household. However by the end when Peter relates the story to them.

The text says in Acts 11 18 when they the circumcision party heard these things They fell silent no more arguments. The text continues they glorify God saying and here's the key as it relates to our discussion on repentance.

Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life. So a couple of truths there that yes to the Jews God granted repentance. But also to the Gentiles and the term for granted. There is the same Greek word or root rather as the term we have in English for grace.

By grace hotties you are saved. God granted he graced The Gentiles with repentance he granted it to them by his grace. Paul made the same statement in writing to Timothy 2nd. Timothy 225. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of The truth and For that reason the Thessalonians received the Word of God not as the Word of man.

But as the Word of God received the gospel because they were chosen they responded in true Biblical repentance and that will always be the response of those chosen by God and that what that should do for us.

Implication wise in terms of our evangelism. It's the idea of Acts 13 48 all who are appointed for eternal life. Believed. So I don't have to coerce somebody. Our role is to be an instrument of voice for God to proclaim the good news of Salvation in Christ and leave the results to God because we know that they will respond with repentance if they've been chosen of him.

Second truth. About getting the response right to the gospel. True biblical repentance will be evident. True biblical repentance Will be evident. Notice what it says in verse 9 of our text for they themselves Report the Greek word reporter up on Galo.

It's the same root as the word angel and angel was used what as a messenger of God. So they're declaring they're proclaiming as messengers. They're reporting concerning us the kind of reception we had among you.

And what else are they reporting. And how you? Turned To God from idols to serve the living and true God. This was evident to others. Who were these others? Look back in our text in the context verse 6 and You became imitators of us and of the Lord.

For you received the word in much affliction With the joy of the Holy Spirit so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in the KIA. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and a KIA.

But your faith in God has gone forth Everywhere so that we need not say anything. Notice that last phrase. Paul is saying we don't need to say anything because it is evident to others. Beyond Macedonia and a KIA even that there has been genuine repentance here.

Because that is the nature of genuine repentance it is evident to others. Paul said very clearly in Acts 26 verse 20 that they should repent and turn to God. Performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

This was the same message of John the Baptist brings forth fruit in keeping with repentance. It was the same truth that Jesus highlighted. Think back with me to Luke 19 Zacchaeus. He goes to his household and he sits and eats with them and Zacchaeus makes the statement that what he has stolen as a tax gatherer from others He will repay how much fourfold and half of his possessions He will give to the poor.

And then comes the Lord's pronouncement about his salvation. And he says the Lord Jesus Christ says today salvation has come to this house. For even the Son of Man did not come to seek came to seek and to save that which was lost.

How could Jesus the question must back determine that Zacchaeus was saved? All Zacchaeus said was this is what I'm going to do now. I'm gonna give fourfold to those who have stolen and half of my possessions to the poor.

Christ was able to determine that because he saw that as the fruit of Zacchaeus repentance. It was true biblical repentance Towards the Lord Jesus Christ, but the amazing thing in our context here in with a Thessalonian Church.

Is that their true biblical repentance was evident? Yes in Macedonia and Achaia and beyond that but it was evident in the midst of much persecution. Verse 6 I highlighted it earlier. You received the word in much affliction.

Notice was it what he says in chapter 2 verse 2. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi as you know We had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

And he continues later in chapter 2 beginning in verse 14 for you suffered the same things for your own countrymen as they did from the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out and Displeased God and opposed all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved if we were to look back in the context of Paul's second missionary journey what he is describing here in the book of first Thessalonians as The suffering and persecution that he and the Thessalonians face.

Acts 17 records that. Beginning in verse 5 it says. But the Jews were jealous and taking some wicked men of the rabble. They formed a mob set the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

When they could not find them they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authority shouting these men who have turned the world upside down have come here also and Jason has received them and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar.

Saying that there is another King Jesus and the people in the city authorities were disturbed. When they heard these things and when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest they let them go.

A Person may profess repentance. But when everything in their life is going Fine and dandy is one thing but these Thessalonians received the word received the gospel. They repented in the midst of deep affliction and Persecution nonetheless their biblical repentance was evident to others.

Thirdly true biblical repentance is a change of direction. True biblical repentance is a change of direction. The Prophet Isaiah put it beautifully. Isaiah chapter 55 verse 7. Let the wicked forsake his way in the unrighteous man his thoughts.

Let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. Now in the New Testament The term translated repentance in our English Bibles. There's two Greek words.

The main word is primarily the word metanoia or metania as I would say. It literally means a change of mind and That is true biblical repentance. It is a change of mind. It's a change of mind as to who God is.

That he is the ultimate standard that he is the one who sets the standard of perfection and holiness. It is a change of mind as to who I am a sinner depraved and lost who needs a Savior. It's a change of mind as to who Jesus is as to what Jesus has done.

It's even a change of mind as to the response I give to the gospel. Whereas before I may be embracing other forms of salvation other things that I think can save me whether it's morality Religion my own supposed goodness now.

I forsake that in terms of Christ all of that involves a change of mind. That is metania that is biblical repentance. But another word that is used for metania is the word epistepsis. And that is the word that is used here in our text when in verse 9 Paul says in the second part how you turned to God.

For models to serve the living and true God. Turn with me briefly just to highlight these two words as it relates to biblical repentance to the book of Acts chapter 3. The book of Acts chapter 3 verse 19.

This is an interesting verse because in this verse both words for repentance biblical repentance are used metania a change of mind and Epistepsis a change of direction. Acts chapter 3 verse 19 repent therefore and Turn back.

That your sins may be blotted out. They're both there. The first repent is Metanoia repent change your mind therefore and turn back epistepsis to return. To change your direction to turn to the Lord. It's a change of direction.

Away from those things that you were turning to as we see in our text from idols to the true and living God and notice in our text this change of direction as he says in verse 9. He says You turn to God for models.

The emphasis is God-centered. He doesn't say you turn from models to God. He says the order in which they did this he they turned to God for models to serve. And how does he describe God here? Because he's contrasting God to idols.

He describes him here as the living and the true God because that is the contrast to idols. Which are not living they are dead to idols, which are not true, but they are false. I. The true and living God he says the instruction of idols is but would.

Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from you fads. They are the work of the craftsmen and of the hands of the goldsmith. Their closing is violent and purple. They are all the work of skilled men.

But the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King at His wrath. The earthquakes and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Every man is stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols for his images are false and there is no breath in them.

They are worthless a work of delusion at the time of their punishment. They shall perish not like these. Is he who is the portion of Jacob? For he is the one who formed all these things in Israel is the tribe of his inheritance.

The Lord of hosts is his name. Well, you say we don't worship idols today there's no craftsman of goldsmiths goldsmith anything or anyone that replaces the rightful place of God in a person's life because God has created every human being a worshiper and every human being worship something and When his rightful place is usurped by something or someone else that has become an idol.

But what's interesting to me is even the Apostle John in the New Testament. When you read through his first epistle, which is written primarily for the assurance of salvation. When he says I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know That you have eternal life.

The very last verse of his epistle he says. Little children Keep yourselves from idols. I remember the first time I read that I thought what does it have to do with his authorial intent of? Assurance of salvation.

Well, then looking at the context the very verse right before that John writes in Contrasting again idols and the true and living one and we know that the Son of God has come and has given us Understanding so that we may know him who is true.

And we are in him who is true in his son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children keep yourselves from idols. True biblical repentance is a change of direction. From putting giving God the place and turning to him the rightful place that he deserves over idols in a person's life.

Number four true biblical repentance enslaves you to the Lord. True biblical repentance Enslaves you to the Lord. The text says in verse 9 how you turn to God for models to serve. The living and true God.

There are three Greek words in the New Testament for the English term serve. It's none of the other true Greek words the aquino where we get the term for Deacon or. The other word for in the Greek where it means a servant this is the word for slave.

It's in the verb form they turn to God for models to serve as a slave. The living and true God true biblical repentance enslaves you to the Lord. In his 20th year anniversary John MacArthur 20th year anniversary I'm sorry of his landmark book the gospel according to Jesus.

He writes this in that edition concerning slavery. He says quote the gospel is an invitation to slavery. On the one hand the gospel is a proclamation of freedom to sins. Captives and liberty to people who are broken by the bondage of sins power over them.

On the other hand It is a summons to a whole different kind of slavery. Having been freed from sin you have become slaves of righteousness. There is a glorious freedom. He writes and being the slaves of Christ because if the son shall make you free you shall be free indeed.

On the other hand being a true follower of Christ means the end of human autonomy. True biblical repentance enslaves you to the Lord. This is a consistent teaching of the New Testament Paul in particular and also the Apostle Peter.

Remember learning as a young Christian. I was into Scripture memory a lot and one of the first verses I learned Romans 6 23 right for the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I knew to look at the context. But sometimes I didn't look at the context even though I knew that. Well when you read the verse before that one because you think the wages of sin is death, but the free gift.

It's a free gift. Verse 22 before that says you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God. Paul juxtaposes those two truths of the free gift of salvation. But at the same time being set free from sin and becoming slaves of God.

And that's why I wrote to the Corinthians in chapter 6 you are not your own you were bought with a price. Even in writing to Titus Titus 2 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession.

But the Apostle Peter also highlights his truth first Peter 2 9. But you are a chosen race a royal priesthood a holy nation a people for his own possession. We are the Lord's true biblical repentance.

Enslaves us to the Lord. Notice how even Paul introduces Jesus Christ in this epistle. Paul Silvanus and Timothy chapter 1 verse 1 to the Church of the Thessalonians and God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.

No, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the parallel term for the term for slave in the Greek New Testament slave doulos. The term for the Lord is Kyrios used 750 times in the New Testament if you study the book of Acts alone.

The term Savior is used of Jesus Christ twice. The term Lord in the book of Acts is used 90 times. Pretty strong case that he is the Lord and we are to serve him as his slaves. This Excellent passage in Exodus 21 that kind of illustrates this even more this this being enslaved to our Lord.

It says this in the text. Now these are the rules that you shall set before them when you buy a Hebrew slave an actual slave. He shall serve six years and in the seventh year. He shall go free for nothing.

If he comes in single he shall go out single if he comes in married. Then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears some sons or daughters the wife and her children shall be her Masters and he shall go out alone.

But if the slave plainly says I Love my master My wife and my children. I will not go out free. Then his master shall bring him to God and he shall bring him to the door of the doorpost and His master shall bore his ear through with an all a sharp instrument and he shall be his slave forever.

So it commanded there in the Old Testament for six years and the seventh year the slave is free to go but if the slave willingly decides to stay He is the master's forever. And that is true biblical repentance when God who has chosen people who will respond in true biblical repentance takes an unwilling heart and makes it willing to be free from sin and enslaved to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Number five true biblical repentance results in Joyful and hard-working service. True biblical repentance results in joyful and hard-working service. Again from the same verse how you turn to God for models to serve.

It's in the verb sent form the living in true God to serve as a slave it's joyful because an Actual slave who had a master the master took care of everything for that slave. He completely provided for him how much more we've been enslaved to God he provides for his own children.

So to serve him to serve as it says in our text the living in true God. It's done out of joy out of a gratitude a grateful heart for what he has done for us. But it's also because it is this particular term for service that it's used in the New Testament here.

It is hard working service serving the Lord is a joy. But it's also hard work. There's toil involved but we do it even in the toil because it is a joy to serve the master who has freed us. And finally number six true biblical repentance is accompanied by an eager expectation of the Lord's return.

True biblical repentance is accompanied by an eager expectation of the Lord's return. It's not the streets of gold. We should be looking forward to it's whom we're going to see. Yes. We will see loved ones, but the biblical testimony is those things Fade in comparison to ultimately who we're going to see notice how our text point it puts it Verse 10 and to wait for whom?

For his son. The Lord Jesus Christ whom introduced him in chapter 1 verse 1 the one whom women's we're enslaved to to wait for his son from heaven. That Greek term for wait. It literally means it's the same root word as Jesus uses in John 15 15 where he talks about the vine and the branches.

Remain in me or abide in me. Same root word with a prefix attached to it. It literally means to wait for someone with patience and trust. So he's saying you have biblically repented to the gospel. And now you're waiting for his son in a way that you're doing it with patience and trust.

Now in the English somebody might read this and say well, I can just sit around and wait idly. There's idleness involved in my life. But that can't be true. First of all because as I highlighted with point number five.

Because we are to serve him as slaves in a hard-working fashion and yet with joy. It's also not true because Paul wrote a lot about the second coming of Christ and in the Thessalonian Church. Some were quitting their jobs actually.

Because they felt it was very imminent and he actually writes to them in his second epistle to the Thessalonians chapter 3 the following. Now we command you brothers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you keep away from any brother Who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you receive from us?

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command if anyone is not willing to work. Let him not eat for we hear that some among you walk in idleness not busy at work. But busy bodies now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their living.

In other words go about living your life. But with an eager expectation of the Lord's return. Don't just as one of my friends years ago on to do I'm gonna just quit my job. Close them all accounts and wait for the Lord.

No, that's the exact opposite of what Paul is telling the Thessalonians and they thought this way but it's a way to expectantly patiently trusting that it will happen. The book of first this it's the only book that in each chapter Paul highlights the Lord's second coming as we saw in our text to wait for his son.

Chapter 2 verse 19. He says this of the Lord's return. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you for you are our glory and joy? Chapter 3 verse 13.

He highlights it again so that we may establish your hearts blameless in holiness. Before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the Saints. Chapter 4 16 through 18. Actually begins in verse 13, but for the sake of our discussion verse 16 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with the cry of.

With the cry of command with a voice of an archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God and The dead in Christ will rise first then we who are alive Who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

So we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words in chapter 5 9 and 10 for God has not destined us for wrath. But to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep We might live with him.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up. So he's not only exhorting the Thessalonian Church to wait as a response to their repentance. But to encourage one another in the body concerning the Lord's Return there to wait For the Sun from where what does our text say from heaven?

This is what the angel told the disciples in Acts 1. When he had said these things as they were looking on he was lifted up and the cloud took him out of their sight. While they were gazing into heaven as he went behold two men stood by them in white robes and said men of Galilee.

Why do you stand looking into heaven this Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you? Saw him go into heaven. That's what we're waiting for him. Recently I had some fun discussions with my daughters about where is Jesus.

So I decided to end the discussion quickly and say he's in your heart. No I did not say that. Where is he is in heaven? Where in heaven is he. Is he coming. All the text says he's coming in the clouds.