What Place Does Penance Play in a Christians Life? This study helps to answer this question. Is penance the same as repentance? Does penance have a place within our Christian experience?

1. Penance Problems
Does God require penance?

2.  2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death.
Repentance Is Good

3.  What sort of sorrow do you have when you have been found
out/know that you have committed iniquity or, as we often say,
sinned?
 It’s a very important question because one type of sorrow leads to
salvation and the other type of sorrow leads to death.
Godly Sorrow Is Good

4.  Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast
out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.
Lead into Death

5.  Well yes they can and if they do does the Lord still know them?
This verse puts these two clauses together to confirm that the seal
and the sure foundation of God stands
 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Can the Saved Sin

6.  As the nervous system of our body kicks in in order to warn us if we stop
breathing or our heart has stopped beating so God has given to every man the
gift of conscience.
 John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into
the world.
 John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience,
went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus
was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Our Conscience – Our Greatest
Gift

7.  As a born-again spirit filled believe that you have a conscience that is
quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 Your heart will condemn you if you are really hungering after
righteousness.
 Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they
escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall
not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heightened Conscience for Born-
Again

8.  Don’t be fooled by this false idea about a heart that condemns itself:
 If your heart condemns you, God who is greater than your heart and
knows all things, condemns you – that is sends his Holy Spirit to
convict you of your sin.
 1 John 3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our
heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us
not, then have we confidence toward God.
You Are Not above Condemnation

9.  We need to declare ourselves approved in the matter of forgiveness of
sin.
 2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed
after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what
clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye
have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Sorrow after a Godly Sort

10.  We can rest in the hope that it is the goodness of God that leads us
to repentance in the first place:
 Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of
God leadeth thee to repentance?
The Goodness of God

11.  1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Here is power -

12.  1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How Complete Is This -

13.  How long does this cleansing take?
 This is where the “skill of a quick recovery” comes in!
How long does this cleansing
take?

14.  We must walk in the light – the light of a clear conscience so that
we can serve God with joy & power
 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
If we walk in the light

15.  Penance is Self-punishment -
 Penance is not of faith -
Penance Self-punishment -

16.  The punishment (of yourself) does not fit the crime.
 The punishment has been laid on another.
 Penance IS NOT Bible Repentance -
This does not glorify God.
Penance IS NOT
Repentance –

17.  True Repentance is not penance!
 Penance Is Wallowing In Self-Pity -
 Feeling this “false” condemnation is really pathetic.
Bible Repentance -

18.  This paralyses your spiritual walk.
 It is not justified.
 Penance & feel condemned OR Repentance with faith & Return to
holiness at top speed.
This does not honour God.
 Penance OR Return to holiness at top
speed.

19.  be convicted by having your conscience scream at you agreeing
with the word & spirit
 Let sin make you physically sick to the stomach BUT repent with
faith.
If you sin - Call it sin –
 Rise up – become justified - it is as if
you have never sinned -

20.  1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous:
Sin Not -

21.  You are not a Victim -
 You have sinned -
 Repent with faith & confidence
IF is not the same as WHEN -

22.  This repentance & faith is all you need to show God you are sorry -
 Get rejoicing & walking in righteousness -
What Shows God That You Are
Sorry?
 So you want to show you are sincere!

23.  We do not prove our sincerity by a prolonged spirit of “repentance
(penance) of dead works.”
 You won’t prove how sorry you are by “hanging down your head.”
 You prove how sorry you are by believing in his forgiveness &
knowing that you have it.
Prove Our Sincerity

24.  When we have faith to be forgiven & empowered to walk in
righteousness
We prove our sincerity -

25.  Just as if I had never sinned!
 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Get back into RIGHTEOUS living
ASAP

26.  Do Not bother yourself about it again.
 When your sin is forgiven it is forgotten -
 Get On With IT.
So get on with it –
Get On With IT.