INTRODUCTION:
A. What is repentance? (2 Cor. 7:10; Mt. 3:8).
B. Five of the seven church of Asia were told to repent (Rev. 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19).
C. Sardis had a name for being alive, but was dead (Rev. 3:1-6).
I. “REPENT!” IS A COMMAND GREATLY FAMILIAR TO US.
A. “Turn it around!” is the drumbeat of repentance (Jon. 3:4-10; Mt. 4:17; Acts 2:38).
B. You can’t go to heaven headed the wrong direction.
C. We are straying sheep in need of the Shepherd (Ps. 100:3; 1 Pet. 2:25).
II. “REPENT!” IS A COMMAND THAT CATCHES US COMING AND GOING.
A. Sin is “missing the mark” (Rm. 3:23; 6:1).
B. Repentance is as needed for sins of omission as for sins of commission (Jas. 4:17; Eph. 2:20; Tit. 2:14; Mt. 25:45-46; 2 Cor. 5:10).
C. Work must be accomplished while He is away (Mt. 24:45-46).
III. “REPENT! IS A COMMAND CALLING FOR URGENT ATTENTION.
A. To willful child, “If I have to come over there one more time….”
B. Does Jesus issue idle threats? (Rev. 3:3; Jn. 14:3; 1 Th. 4:13-18; Hb. 12:10-11; Rev. 2:22-23).
C. Urgency needed because of the unexpected nature of Christ’s return (Mt. 24:42-44; 1 Th. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).
CONCLUSION:
A. The Lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly.
B. It is time to repent (Lk. 13:3; Rm. 2:4-6).