2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 (NASB)

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Three prayer petitions to encourage the church’s continued spiritual growth together

1) All-encompassing peace from the Lord (3:16a)

2) All-inclusive presence of the Lord (3:16b)

[*] All-authoritative truth from the Lord (via Paul; 3:17)

3) All-sufficient grace of the Lord (3:18)

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Guest Speaker : Mark Borsuk

Introduction

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  1 Corinthians 7:10

Genuine repentance trusts in the character of God.  (V.1-2; 7-10)

 a. God’s Grace – “Be Gracious” – A plea for underserved favor from God

b. Steadfast Love – speaks not so much of God’s mercy, but of his loyalty to His covenant.

Psalm 25:7; Psalm 130:7; Ps 136; Psalm 138:2 Isaiah 54:10

It is at the cross where we see God’s lovingkindness, His steadfast love, His New Covenant promise that Christ’s perfect life has been imputed (applied) to us. This is the gospel, but it is the gospel that we need to remember and apply every day of our lives. (cf. 2Cor 5:17-21)

1. Compassion –A deep awareness and sympathy for our need.
2. Forgiveness – God can do what no human priest can
3. Blot Out 2) Wash 3) Cleanse

Isaiah 44:21-23 “Shout for joy…for the LORD has done it!”

I. Genuine repentance does not minimize sin.

a. Transgression (vv. 1,3) rebellion, revolt
Those who reject God’s authority and therefore cause a breach of relationship.

b. Iniquity (vv. 2, 5, 9) – crooked, twisted, or perverse behavior.

c. Sin (vv. 2, 4, 9) – miss the mark or fall short.

d. Evil (v. 4) – As Defined by God.

e. Blood guiltiness (v. 14) – shedding of innocent blood often through violence.

II. Genuine repentance expresses the  justification of God. (v. 4)

David does not vindicate himself, he vindicates God.

III. Genuine repentance renews Joy in salvation (vv. 8, 12, 14)

Guilt keeps us in a pattern of joylessness (cf. Ps 32:3-4)

David’s joy was not lost because he sinned, David sinned because he had already lost his joy in God.
“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.” Jonathan Edwards

IV. Genuine repentance leads to a focus on evangelism. (v. 13)

People are not looking for perfect lives, they are looking for how God has met us through Christ in our sin, in our brokenness, in the same struggles of daily life that they are experiencing.

Genuine repentance produces genuine worship from a broken humble heart (vv. 15-17)

… as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.    2 Corinthians 6:10

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