Playlist:

playlist Go to the Repentance (topic) playlist

Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Six)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The proof that a person has truly made a change of heart appears when his life begins to show him doing what is right. Right living is the fruit of repentance.


Basic Doctrines: Repentance

Bible Study by Staff

Repentance is a condition for baptism, and ultimately of conversion and salvation. It is also a lifelong process—one never stops needing to repent.


Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

When we repent, we turn off the path that leads to destruction and onto the narrow path—through the strait gate—that leads to life in the Kingdom of God.


Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

True repentance involves pain, particularly emotional pain. To repent is wrenching to the psyche. It really hurts because it is difficult to do.


Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part One)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Repentance is a first step, but it is also ongoing throughout our lives. To become a true Christian, we must repent—and then we must make it a continual practice.


Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Five)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We recognize our need to change when we see, not necessarily how we are, but how we compare to and fall woefully short of the perfect righteousness of God.


What Is Repentance? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Repentance has fallen out of favor in mainstream Christianity, yet neither genuine baptism nor remission of sins can occur until the individual repents.


Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Four)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

When we look back and realize what we have done, we are led to think deeply about our actions, which can lead us into changing our future actions.


Repentance

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

In mainstream Protestantism, repentance has fallen out of favor, yet it is mentioned far more in the New Testament than in the Old Testament.


The Fruit of Repentance

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We may feel sorry or even guilty when we sin, but have we actually repented? The Scriptures show that true repentance produces these seven, distinct fruits.


Repentance and Righteousness (Part 1)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Nothing happens in our lives (including repentance) until God initiates it. A change of heart, by God's Holy Spirit, results in a total change of direction.


Time to Repent (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

More time to change does not always lead to more repentance. It may actually increase the danger that we will adjust to the sin and think it acceptable.


Repentance and Righteousness (Part 2)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Mechanically keeping the law is only the beginning of righteousness. By emphasizing principle, Christ came to magnify, not to destroy God's law.


Letters to Seven Churches (Part Seven): Repentance

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

As High Priest, Christ is putting His people through the paces, tailoring the trials and experiences needed for sanctification and ultimate glorification.


Time to Repent

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

God usually grants abundant time for people to repent, but the recipients of this grace often interpret it as God's tolerance for their sin.


What Is Repentance? (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Five out of the seven of the churches in Revelation—71%—are out of alignment with Christ in ways critical enough that He tells the people to change.


What Is Repentance? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

To understand repentance, we must understand what sin is, since sin is the behavior that we need to turn from when we repent. Simply, sin is breaking God's law.


What Must We Do When We Recognize Our Guilt?

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

When we do something against the law or our own conscience, guilt is triggered, and we suffer, not just a gut-wrenching emotion, but also a descent into sin.


Are You Justified?

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

'Justification' is a theological term that many do not understand, thinking that it is a complex point of doctrine. But it is not as difficult as it may seem.


Saved By Faith Alone?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn

Protestantism is based on Luther's insistence that Christians are saved by faith alone. But is the really true? It is true of justification, not salvation.


Why We Must Put Out Leaven

Article by Earl L. Henn

Why must we put leaven out, yet we do not have to circumcise our baby boys? Is deleavening 'Old Covenant'?


A Sin Unto Death

'Ready Answer' by Staff

I John 5:16 often raises questions about sin and its consequences. This verse is about more than appears on the surface, and holds out hope for backsliders.


Footwashing

Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Footwashing is the initial part of the Passover ceremony. Why did Christ institute it? What is its purpose?


Sins in the Balance (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The Bible is full of commands to forgive and examples of forgiveness, and none of them stipulates that we wait for the sinner to repent before we forgive.


What Is Propitiation? (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Propitiation is the way God and man can be reconciled and experience a profitable relationship.


Is Obedience Required Before Receiving God's Holy Spirit?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn

Acts 5:32 declares that God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him, yet some argue that keeping God's law is not necessary. What is the truth?


What Would You Do With a Second Chance?

'Ready Answer' by David F. Maas

How often have we wished we could live some part of our lives over again to correct a wrong? God gives us multiple chances to change our character for the better.


Soldier On! (Part One)

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

People often give up when tragedy or adversity strikes. We all make mistakes. But God does not want His people to think that failure is the end of the road.


Are Some Sins Worse Than Others?

'Ready Answer' by Martin G. Collins

It seems that some sins should be worse than others in God's eyes. Though all sin merits the death penalty, some sins carry greater consequences and penalties.


Basic Doctrines: Salvation

Bible Study by Earl L. Henn

Are you saved already or are you being saved? What is salvation anyway? What part do we play? Here is a study of God's Word on salvation.


Choosing Not to Remember

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

God does not forget our sins because He cannot any longer remember them, but because He actively chooses to forget them upon our repentance.


Amazing Grace

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The old song speaks of "Amazing Grace" but do we really understand just how amazing it is? The Bible reveals some details on this vital topic.


What Every Christian Must Know

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

I John is a very encouraging epistle, giving us a testimonial of what God has done. It teaches that there are foundational things every Christian must know.


The Wonderful Ordinance of Water Baptism

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Baptism symbolizes a burial and resurrection, or the crucifixion of the carnal self. After a person realizes his ways have been wrong, he should counsel for baptism.


Reconciliation and the Day of Atonement

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Repentance is something we must do with our God-given free moral agency. Reconciliation is an ongoing process that enables us to draw closer to what God is.


Peter's Pentecost Sermon

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The signs that accompanied Peter's Pentecost sermon attracted attention, confirmed God's Word, and provided meaning to the effects of the Holy Spirit.


What Sin Is

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

No one seems to talk about sin anymore, but it still exists and continues to wreak havoc! Scripture describes sin and what God wants us to do about it.


A New Beginning

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Atonement represents a new beginning when people of the world would be reconciled to God and freed from their bondage, reflecting the year of Jubilee.


The Christian Fight (Part Four)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

While we must express some of our own faith as we come to salvation, most of saving faith is a gift of God. Abel and Enoch illustrate the pattern of faith.


The Beatitudes, Part Three: Mourning

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Blessedness and mourning seem contradictory, but obviously Jesus saw spiritual benefits to sorrow. True, godly mourning gets high marks from God.


Holy Days: Unleavened Bread

Bible Study by Staff

The Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately follows the Passover. In it we see how hard it is to overcome and rid our lives of sin.


Handpicked By God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

God handpicked us for a specific purpose, just as He did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Noah. God also handpicked second-generation Church members.


The Book of Joel (Part One)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

When Joel describes the devastating locust plagues, instead of promising a silver lining on a very black cloud, he says things are going to get intensely worse.


Basic Doctrines: Doctrine

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

In these days of psychology and feeling, doctrine is not very popular. But it is absolutely necessary for the salvation! Here are the basic doctrines.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twelve)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The fault of the Old Covenant was with the hearts of the people. Christ took it upon Himself to amend the fault enabling us to keep the commandments.


The Three Witnesses of Christ (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The Trinitarian controversy surrounding I John 5:7-8 overshadows the record of what Jesus Christ did. It also hides key characteristics of God's children.


Dealing With a Sinning Brother

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Disfellowshiping is only used for the most extreme cases in which the safety of the congregation is threatened. Lesser offenses require more sensitivity.


The Will To Change

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

Like the fable of the scorpion who stings the frog carrying him, our carnal nature is set, causing us to act in destructive ways. Repentance begins with changed thinking.


A Contrite Heart

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The contrite or brokenhearted person finds special favor with God, and a humble or contrite spirit is indeed a precursor to forgiveness and spiritual healing.


Our Walk Out of Darkness Into the Light

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

After we accept Christ's sacrifice, we desperately need to come out of sin, walking in light rather than darkness, having continuous fellowship with God.


Choices and a Man After God's Own Heart: Turn, Turn, Turn

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Honoring our free choice and understanding our weaknesses, God alters time and chance for us, using our mistakes as tools to enhance our godly character.


What Does 'Examine Yourselves' Mean?

'Ready Answer' by Staff

Christians prepare for Passover by engaging in a thorough, spiritual self-examination. An analysis of II Corinthians 13:5 shows us what we need to look for.


Innocent Victims?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We often hear of 'innocent victims' dying in some tragic way, but are they truly innocent? The Bible gives God's perspective of the human condition.


Basic Doctrines: Water Baptism

Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Baptism is one of the initial acts that a new Christian must experience. This fundamental doctrine gives the right frame of mind for continuing in God's way.


What Do You Mean . . . Salvation?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

Not one in a hundred knows what salvation is—how to get it or when you will receive it. Don't be too sure you do! Here is the truth, made plain.