“I wish the reader to understand that as often as we mention faith alone in this question, we are not thinking of a dead faith, which worketh not by love, but holding faith to be the only cause of justification (Galatians 5:6; Romans 3:22). It is, therefore, faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone: just as it is the heat alone of the sun which warms the earth, and yet in the sun it is not alone, because it is constantly conjoined with light.”

~John Calvin

Sadly many churches offer salvation without insisting that the hearer come and die.

Where there is true repentance, there will be transformation. If there is not transformation, then there is not true repentance.

“Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a pronouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ.” - Wayne Grudem.

Outline:

1) The word comes, and John goes (vv. 1-3)

2) Prophecy fulfilled (vv. 4-6)

3) The content of the sermon, true repentance (vv. 7-9)

4) True repentance applied (vv. 10-14)

5) The Christ and the results of false repentance (vv. 15-20)

There can be no true repentance if you do not know that you need to have your sins forgiven.

Forgiveness is given to anyone who truly repents.

True repentance is not merely a declaration.

True repentance is not merely sorrow.

Where there is true repentance, there will be transformation.

“Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”

~Martin Luther

True repentance that leads to transformation shows itself in gratitude and grace.

“Repentance, then, is not seeing in your doing some extra-ordinary feat but in your living ordinary life in a transformed way.”

~Dale Ralph Davis

Those who are not truly repentant and therefore transformed will get what they desire. They will be separated from Christ forever in a literal place called Hell.

Where there is true repentance, there will be transformation.