Call to repentance in the Bible

CONTENT

• Paul’s Repentance
• David’s Repentance
• The Repentance of The Ninevites

INTRODUCTION

Repentance is the act of changing ones attitudes and behaviours from bad to good. This is only completed when you decided to change totally and forsake the evil ways absolutely. Everyone that is born on earth with flesh and blood has the tendencies to perpetuate evil. This is as a result of Adamic nature in us. In fact, our environment also contributes greatly to this, because of the level of corruptions that has eaten deeply into our system. It is a pity that some take evil for good and good for evil.

PAUL’S REPENTANCE

Conversion of Paul from Judaism to Christianity [Acts 9:1-21]

Saul (Paul) got letters from high priests to Synagogue at Damascus to bring bound to Jerusalem those who professed the name of Christ. Approaching Damascus, a sudden light shown, he fell down and heard a voice: “Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who art thou, Lord” “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Rise and enter the city, you will be told what to do”.

He rose up blind, was led to Damascus, no sight for three days – neither ate nor drank.

Ananias saw a vision; was told to go to a street called straight, ask for the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus, lay hands on him to regain his sight. Ananias complained of Saul’s murderous intent towards the followers of Christ. Go for he is a chosen instrument of mine. Ananias laid hands on Saul who regained his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized.

For several days Saul was with the disciples at Damascus, proclaimed boldly in the Synagogue that Jesus is the son of God. He met with opposition, the governor under Aretas, the king kept the city with a garrison to apprehend paul. Paul had to be smuggled out for safety. At Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples, again, they were afraid of him until Barnabas vouched for his sincerity. There was another plot to kill him in Jerusalem. So he was escorted to the coast and shipped off to Tarsus. This was how the Jews reacted to Saul’s (Paul) conversion from Judaism to Christianity.

EVALUATION

1. Describe the early life of Saul
2. What were the reaction of (i) Christians in Damascus and Jerusalem (ii) The Jews in Damascus and Jerusalem to Saul’s conversion.

DAVID’S REPENTANCE

David committed sin by having affairs with Bethshebah and end up killing Uriah, the husband in the battle field.

Prophet Nathan accused David of his sin, and he repented totally of this. He demonstrated this by fasting for seven days .So by this, he wrote Psalm 51 as a prayer of forgiveness.

EVALUATION

1. What is repentance?
2. What are the requirements for repentance?

REPENTANCE OF THE NINEVITES

The people of Nineveh were so sinful and God decided to destroy them. However because God is merciful, he wanted them to repent. Hence, God sent prophet Jonah to preach to them to repent. Jonah was not willing to go, so he planned to board a ship to Tarship instead of Nineveh. God allowed a strong wind to disturb the ship and Jonah was thrown into the sea to prevent the people in the ship from perishing. Jonah was swallowed by a big fish. He repented in the fish to obey God and the fish vomited him at the bank of Nineveh, on the market day. When they saw this, they were eager to listen to his message. They reported to the king of Nineveh who declared fasting and pleaded that the people should repent and God pardoned the people because they all acknowledged their sins and repented of it. Unlike Adam that was giving excuses for sins.

CONTENT

• John The Baptist  (Matt. 3: 1-12,  Luke 3: 1-14)
• The Prodigal Son  (Luke 15: 11-32)
• The Demands of Repentance

JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist was known to be a messenger of God specifically calling people to repentance for forgiveness of sins. His message was basically on baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist clearly told the multitude  that came to him to listen to his special message that he baptized them with water for repentance, but someone is coming after him, the one who is mightier than himself who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He further told them that Jesus was the one he was talking about and He would gather His wheat from the threshing floor into His granary, but the chaff He would burn with unquenchable fire.

THE PRODIGAL SON (LUKE 15:11-32)

Jesus told a parable of a man who had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that falls to me” the father divided his belongings between them.  After some days, the younger one gathered all he had and went to a far country where he squandered his wealth in loose living. After spending all he had, he  had nothing left. He came back to his senses and decided to go back to his father. As the father saw him afar off, he was so happy and ran towards him and embraced him and made a feast for him.  The elder brother was not happy. The father comforted him and asked him to join in welcoming his younger brother, for his brother who was dead had come back to life.

LESSONS TO LEARN

1. The important point to note in this case is that the father had compassion on the son and welcomed him back with happiness, despite the loose life he had lived and the father’s wealth he had wasted. In the same manner, God is always ready to welcome his children once they confess their sins and forsake them.
   1. The prodigal son decision to return as a servant and not as a son shows a high sense of humility on his part. The Psalmist wrote “A broken and contrite heart, O God thou will not despise” This is the type of Sprit God wants in His children – Christians.

EVALUATION

1. Narrate the parable of the prodigal son.
2. Explain the significance of the parable of the prodigal son.

THE DEMAND OF REPENTANCE [LUKE 3;1-14’MATT 3;1-12]

John the Baptist, preached repentance and baptized people at river Jordan. He said that it was voice of one crying in the wilderness that people should repent of their sins. The following are reward of genuine repentance.

1. Acknowledge your sins [Rom 6;23, 3;23]
2. Accept that you cannot save yourself
3. Belief that Jesus died for your sins
4. Repent of your sins and forsake them

EVALUATION

1. List the four conditions for repentance.
2. Why was John called John the Baptist?

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Narrate the parable of the prodigal son
2. What are the lessons to be drawn from it regarding God’s love?
3. State three lessons you learnt from the parable of the prodigal son.
4. What is the importance of the ministry of John the Baptist?

READING ASSIGNMENT

1. Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for SS1-3 by Edmond Ugochukwu pg 113-115.
   1. Christian Religious Education for JSS.BK 1, by A.A Adeyinka. Pages 85-86.

WEEKEND ASSIGNENT

1. ­____ killed Uriah when he was a king in Isreal [a] ­­­­David [b] Saul [c]­ Johab

[d] Jazebel

• “If I have taken anything forcefully, I will return’’ was said by ____ [a] Jesus

[b] Peter [c] Zacchaus [d] Judas

• Jonah was sent by God to preach in ____ [a] Tarship [b] Ninevah [c] Isreal

[d] Jerusalem

• The first step of repentance is ____ [a] acknowledge of sin [b] forgiveness [c] reading the bible [d] going to church
• The main message of John the Baptist was [a] forgiveness [b] baptism [c] repentance [d]  reconciliation

THEORY

1. State the four steps to repentance.
2. Narrate how the people of Nineveh demonstrated true repentance.

EVALUATION

1. Describe the sin of Nineveh.
2. How did the Ninevites overcome the punishment for their sins?

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. How can a sinner get forgiveness?
2. Explain the situation of the Ninevites.
3. Explain this statement in your own words “Man by nature is a sinner.”
4. Discuss how David get forgiveness after his grievous  sins.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Read Acts 9:1- 43, II Samuel 11: -27, II Samuel 12: 1-31, Jonah 3:1-10. in the Holy Bible (RSV)

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Which of the following is not correct? (a) Paul was a Roman citizen (b) Paul was a Jew (c) Paul’s father was a wealthy and influential Christian
2. Paul was trained in Jerusalem by____ the great leader of the Pharisee (a) Tarsus

(b) Gamaliel (c) Nicodemus

• He did his postgraduate study in ____ (a) Jerusalem (b) Damascus (c) Tarsus.
• The letters given to Saul by the high priests were for ____ (a) bounding and bringing to Jerusalem those that professed the name of Christ in Damascus
• One of the following is not a reaction to the conversion of Saul. (a) The Christians rejoiced that he confronted Jesus (b) The Christians were afraid of him (c) The Jews and the governor under king Aretas wanted to kill him.

THEORY

1. Narrate the encounter between Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus
2. Describe the family of Saul (Paul).