Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

1
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• In order to find the favor of God a man must
  repent!

2
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• In order to find the favor of God a man must
  repent!
• How did Jesus and John begin their ministry? (Mt
  32 417)

3
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Matthew 32 (NKJV) - and saying, Repent, for
  the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

4
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Matthew 417 (NKJV) - From that time Jesus began
  to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of
  heaven is at hand.

5
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• John knew the difficulty of repentance and how
  many were hypocrites in what they
  claimed that they were. (Mt 37-8)

6
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Matthew 37-8 (NKJV) - But when he saw many of
  the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
  baptism, he said to them, Brood of vipers! Who
  warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8
  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

7
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• One brother said The bottleneck of conversion
  is repentance!

8
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• What if Jesus came to the University church? What
  would be His message for us?

9
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• What was His message to the seven churches?
  Ephesus (Rev 25), Pergamos (Rev 216), Thyatira
  (Rev 220-22), Sardis (Rev 33), the Laodicean
  Church (Rev 319-20)

10
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Revelation 25 (NKJV) - Remember therefore from
  where you have fallen repent and do the first
  works, or else I will come to you quickly and
  remove your lampstand from its placeunless you
  repent.

11
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Revelation 216 (NKJV) - Repent, or else I will
  come to you quickly and will fight against them
  with the sword of My mouth.

12
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Revelation 220-22 (NKJV) - Nevertheless I have
  a few things against you, because you allow that
  woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to
  teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual
  immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21
  And I gave her time to repent of her sexual
  immorality, and she did not repent.

13
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and
  those who commit adultery with her into great
  tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

14
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Revelation 33 (NKJV) - Remember therefore how
  you have received and heard hold fast and
  repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will
  come upon you as a thief, and you will not know
  what hour I will come upon you.

15
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Revelation 319-20 (NKJV) - As many as I love, I
  rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
  repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
  will come in to him and dine with him, and he
  with Me.

16
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• We can easily become like the Pharisees of Jesus
  day. Those who have a great knowledge of God
  without repentance are often very harsh and
  dangerous.

17
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Maybe you should ask the question the disciples
  asked Jesus Is it I?

18
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Maybe you should ask the question the disciples
  asked Jesus Is it I?
• Remember that Judas also asked the question! (Mk
  1419 Mt 2622, 25)

19
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Mark 1419 (NKJV) - And they began to be
  sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, Is it
  I? And another said, Is it I?

20
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Matthew 2622 (NKJV) - And they were exceedingly
  sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him,
  Lord, is it I?

21
Why do people reject genuine Christianity?

• Matthew 2625 (NKJV) - Then Judas, who was
  betraying Him, answered and said, Rabbi, is it
  I? He said to him, You have said it.

22
What is repentance?

• Repentance is brought about from a knowledge of
  God's will.

23
What is repentance?

• Repentance is brought about from a knowledge of
  God's will.
• God tells us what sin is. (1 Jn 34 517)

24
What is repentance?

• 1 John 34 (NKJV) - Whoever commits sin also
  commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

25
What is repentance?

• 1 John 517 (NKJV) - All unrighteousness is sin,
  and there is sin not leading to death.

26
What is repentance?

• We are to repent of sin! (Acts 822-23)

27
What is repentance?

• Acts 822-23 - Repent therefore of this your
  wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought
  of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see
  that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by
  iniquity.

28
What is repentance?

• In order to repent we must know God's standard.
  We must know God!

29
What is repentance?

• In order to repent we must know God's standard.
  We must know God!

30
What is repentance?

• Repentance is preceded by godly sorrow. (2 Cor
  710)

31
What is repentance?

• 2 Corinthians 710 (NKJV) - For godly sorrow
  produces repentance leading to salvation, not to
  be regretted but the sorrow of the world
  produces death.

32
What is repentance?

• Satan's substitute for this is worldly sorrow.

33
What is repentance?

• In worldly sorrow we are sad about the
  consequences or being caught.

34
What is repentance?

• In worldly sorrow we are sad about the
  consequences or being caught.
• Many have this kind of sorrow over their sin.

35
What is repentance?

• Godly sorrow involves a complete focus on God.
  (Psa 511-4)

36
What is repentance?

• Psalm 511-4 (NKJV) - Have mercy upon me, O
  God, According to Your lovingkindness According
  to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out
  my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my
  iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I
  acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is
  always before me.

37
What is repentance?

• 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done
  this evil in Your sight That You may be found
  just when You speak, And blameless when You
  judge.

38
What is repentance?

• We are grieved because God knows. What if you do
  not know God?

39
What is repentance?

• We are grieved because God knows. What if you do
  not know God?
• If no one else knew we would still repent because
  we have grieved God.

40
What is repentance?

• Repentance is a turning of the will. (Mt
  2128-32)

41
What is repentance?

• Matthew 2128-32 (NKJV) - But what do you
  think? A man had two sons, and he came to the
  first and said, Son, go, work today in my
  vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not,
  but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then
  he came to the second and said likewise. And he
  answered and said, I go, sir, but he did not
  go.

42
What is repentance?

• 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?
  They said to Him, The first. Jesus said to
  them, Assuredly, I say to you that tax
  collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God
  before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of
  righteousness, and you did not believe him but
  tax collectors and harlots believed him and when
  you saw it, you did not afterward relent and
  believe him.

43
What is repentance?

• There becomes a complete yielding to God and a
  desire to see it all. No more lies and deceit.
  (Psa 515-7)

44
What is repentance?

• Psalm 515-7 (NKJV) - Behold, I was brought
  forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived
  me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward
  parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to
  know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall
  be clean Wash me, and I shall be whiter than
  snow.

45
What is repentance?

• The will is actually crushed and replaced with a
  great humility.

46
What is repentance?

• The will is actually crushed and replaced with a
  great humility.
• No one can have pride and repentance at the same
  time.

47
What is repentance?

• Repentance has fruits that will follow. (Mt
  37-8)

48
What is repentance?

• Matthew 37-8 (NKJV) - But when he saw many of
  the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
  baptism, he said to them, Brood of vipers! Who
  warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8
  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

49
What is repentance?

• This will involve restitution where possible.

50
What is repentance?

• This will involve restitution where possible.
• This will involve confession to those we have
  wronged.

51
What is repentance?

• This will involve most of all, ones seeking the
  forgiveness of God. (Psa 518-12 Acts 238)

52
What is repentance?

• Acts 238 (NKJV) - Then Peter said to them,
  Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
  the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
  sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
  Spirit.

53
What is repentance?

• Psalm 518-12 (NKJV) - Make me hear joy and
  gladness, That the bones You have broken may
  rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot
  out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean
  heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within
  me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
  And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

54
What is repentance?

• 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And
  uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

55
What is repentance?

• A common mistake we make is to baptize one before
  they repent!

56
What is repentance?

• A common mistake we make is to baptize one before
  they repent!
• A fruit of repentance is praising God and telling
  others about Him.

57
Three things that block repentance

• A dishonesty that refuses to see clearly admit
  wrong. (Prov 1215 162)

58
Three things that block repentance

• Proverbs 1215 (NKJV) - The way of a fool is
  right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel
  is wise.

59
Three things that block repentance

• Proverbs 162 (NKJV) - All the ways of a man are
  pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the
  spirits.

60
Three things that block repentance

• Did the Laodicean Church want to see this? (Rev
  317)

61
Three things that block repentance

• Revelation 317 (NKJV) - Because you say, I am
  rich, have become wealthy, and have need of
  nothingand do not know that you are wretched,
  miserable, poor, blind, and naked

62
Three things that block repentance

• Do you want Gods eye salve? (Rev 318)

63
Three things that block repentance

• Revelation 318 (NKJV) - I counsel you to buy
  from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be
  rich and white garments, that you may be
  clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not
  be revealed and anoint your eyes with eye salve,
  that you may see.

64
Three things that block repentance

• David did not appeal to the sins of others or
  tried to lay the blame on others. (2 Sam 1213
  Psa 5114)

65
Three things that block repentance

• 2 Samuel 1213 (NKJV) - So David said to Nathan,
  I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said
  to David, The LORD also has put away your sin
  you shall not die.

66
Three things that block repentance

• Psalm 5114 (NKJV) - Deliver me from the guilt
  of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And
  my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

67
Three things that block repentance

• A fear of the consequences of repentance.

68
Three things that block repentance

• A fear of the consequences of repentance.
• Consider the man who confessed a murder after
  seeing the movie about Jesus.

69
Three things that block repentance

• Davids call to repentance involved strong
  consequences. (2 Sam 127-12)

70
Three things that block repentance

• 2 Samuel 127-12 (NKJV) - Then Nathan said to
  David, You are the man! Thus says the LORD God
  of Israel I anointed you king over Israel, and
  I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave
  you your masters house and your masters wives
  into your keeping, and gave you the house of
  Israel and Judah. And if that had been too
  little, I also would have given you much more!

71
Three things that block repentance

• 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the
  LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed
  Uriah the Hittite with the sword you have taken
  his wife to be your wife, and have killed him
  with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now
  therefore, the sword shall never depart from your
  house, because you have despised Me, and have
  taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your
  wife.

72
Three things that block repentance

• 11 Thus says the LORD Behold, I will raise up
  adversity against you from your own house and I
  will take your wives before your eyes and give
  them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your
  wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it
  secretly, but I will do this thing before all
  Israel, before the sun.

73
Three things that block repentance

• David offered no excuses and accepted whatever
  God would do.

74
Three things that block repentance

• What if he had said, "What's the use of
  repenting?

75
Three things that block repentance

• Real repentance will not focus upon the price
  that must be paid!

76
Three things that block repentance

• Real repentance will not focus upon the price
  that must be paid!
• A refusal to pay the full price of repentance.

77
Three things that block repentance

• We must surrender all that is dear to us and turn
  to God. (Lk 923-24 1433)

78
Three things that block repentance

• Luke 923-24 (NKJV) - Then He said to them all,
  If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
  himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
  Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will
  lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake
  will save it.

79
Three things that block repentance

• Luke 1433 (NKJV) - So likewise, whoever of you
  does not forsake all that he has cannot be My
  disciple.

80
Three things that block repentance

• We must learn and live a new way of life. (Acts
  1917-20 Lk 310-14)

81
Three things that block repentance

• Acts 1917-20 (NKJV) - This became known both to
  all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus and fear
  fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus
  was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came
  confessing and telling their deeds.

82
Three things that block repentance

• 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic
  brought their books together and burned them in
  the sight of all. And they counted up the value
  of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of
  silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily
  and prevailed.

83
Three things that block repentance

• Luke 310-14 (NKJV) - So the people asked him,
  saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answered
  and said to them, He who has two tunics, let him
  give to him who has none and he who has food,
  let him do likewise. 12 Then tax collectors also
  came to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher,
  what shall we do? 13 And he said to them,
  Collect no more than what is appointed for you.

84
Three things that block repentance

• 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, And
  what shall we do? So he said to them, Do not
  intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be
  content with your wages.

85
Three things that block repentance

• "To move across from one sort of person to
  another is the essence of repentance the liar
  becomes truthful the thief, honest the lewd,
  pure the proud, humble."

86
Three things that block repentance

• Many accept that which is not repentance at all.

87
Three things that block repentance

• Many accept that which is not repentance at all.
• We must live a life of repentance.

88
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• How do we view and treat other people? (Lk
  189-11)

89
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Luke 189-11 (NKJV) - Also He spoke this parable
  to some who trusted in themselves that they were
  righteous, and despised others 10 Two men went
  up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the
  other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and
  prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that
  I am not like other menextortioners, unjust,
  adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

90
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• One characteristic of the Pharisees was the use
  of social exclusion of sinners.
  (Mt 910-11)

91
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Matthew 910-11 (NKJV) - Now it happened, as
  Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold,
  many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down
  with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the
  Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples,
  Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors
  and sinners?

92
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• They did not hate the sin but the sinner.

93
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• There are many who will punish other Christians
  socially because of others weaknesses and even
  because one is socially awkward.

94
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• There are many who will punish other Christians
  socially because of others weaknesses and even
  because one is socially awkward.
• These actions tear down the work of God. (1 Cor
  1220-25)

95
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 1 Corinthians 1220-25 (NKJV) - But now indeed
  there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the
  eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of
  you nor again the head to the feet, I have no
  need of you. 22 No, much rather, those members
  of the body which seem to be weaker are
  necessary.

96
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 23 And those members of the body which we think
  to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater
  honor and our unpresentable parts have greater
  modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no
  need. But God composed the body, having given
  greater honor to that part which lacks it,

97
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 25 that there should be no schism in the body,
  but that the members should have the same care
  for one another.

98
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Am I willing to be tested? (Jn 932-34)

99
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• John 932-34 (NKJV) - Since the world began it
  has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes
  of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were
  not from God, He could do nothing. 34 They
  answered and said to him, You were completely
  born in sins, and are you teaching us? And they
  cast him out.

100
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• I have seen people harshly turn on the perceived
  faults of another in order to stop them from
  pointing out their sins. (Ex. Hypocrites in the
  church.)

101
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• I have seen people harshly turn on the perceived
  faults of another in order to stop them from
  pointing out their sins. (Ex. Sending a brother
  to jail.)
• We are facing a trend in churches to preach a
  positive gospel.

102
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• I have seen people harshly turn on the perceived
  faults of another in order to stop them from
  pointing out their sins. (Ex. Sending a brother
  to jail.)
• We are facing a trend in churches to preach a
  positive gospel.
• Some that write and warn others run from open
  study!

103
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Great arrogance can come from those who have a
  position to protect. Listen to Jesus warning.
  (Lk 121-3)

104
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Luke 121-3 (NKJV) - In the meantime, when an
  innumerable multitude of people had gathered
  together, so that they trampled one another, He
  began to say to His disciples first of all,
  Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is
  hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that
  will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be
  known.

105
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark
  will be heard in the light, and what you have
  spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be
  proclaimed on the housetops.

106
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Is the joy and purpose of repentance in my life?

107
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Is the joy and purpose of repentance in my life?
• A fruit of repentance is praising God and telling
  others about Him. (Psa 5113-19)

108
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Psalm 5113-19 (NKJV) - Then I will teach
  transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be
  converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of
  bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my
  tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
  15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show
  forth Your praise.

109
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I
  would give it You do not delight in burnt
  offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken
  spirit, A broken and a contrite heart These, O
  God, You will not despise.

110
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices
  of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole
  burnt offering Then they shall offer bulls on
  Your altar.

111
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• One of the worst things you can do it take an
  unrepentant Christian to talk with the lost
  about salvation. (Rom 217-24)

112
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Romans 217-24 (NKJV) - Indeed you are called a
  Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in
  God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things
  that are excellent, being instructed out of the
  law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a
  guide to the blind, a light to those who are in
  darkness,

113
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of
  babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in
  the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do
  you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man
  should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say,
  Do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
  You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

114
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you
  dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For
  the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
  because of you, as it is written.

115
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Evangelism will be a hunger for those with a
  repentant heart.

116
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• We need to understand and willingly pay the price
  of repentance.

117
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• We need to understand and willingly pay the price
  of repentance.
• In Jesus' day there were many who would not. (Jn
  1242-43)

118
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• John 1242-43 (NKJV) - Nevertheless even among
  the rulers many believed in Him, but because of
  the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they
  should be put out of the synagogue 43 for they
  loved the praise of men more than the praise of
  God.

119
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Any consequences of sin can be borne if we know
  God is with us. (Heb 135-6)

120
Are the fruits of repentance in my life?

• Hebrews 135-6 (NKJV) - Let your conduct be
  without covetousness be content with such things
  as you have. For He Himself has said, I will
  never leave you nor forsake you. 6 So we may
  boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not
  fear. What can man do to me?