Sixth Grade Lessons, Block 4—The Way of Salvation
Week 18
Through Repentance
Reading Reference: The Gospel of God, ch. 11; Acts 2:37-38; 3:19-20; 17:30; Luke 24:45-47
Memory Verse: Repent therefore and turn, that your sins may be wiped away. (Acts 3:19)
Suggested Songs: We Have a Father
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:37-38; 3:19-20; 17:30; Luke 24:45-47
Points to Emphasize
- Repentance in the Bible—Acts 2:37-38; 3:19-20; 17:30
First, the meaning of the word repentance in Greek is a turning of the mind. The mind is the thinking organ within man. Hence, repentance as taught in the Bible is not a change in conduct, but a change in mind.
Second, in the New Testament, repentance is always used in reference to our past. It concerns what we have done in the past, what we have thought and said, and what we were as persons in the past.
Repentance is not for the good of tomorrow, but for the wrong of yesterday. Repentance is not saying what one should do in the future; it is a reevaluation in the mind, a changed view, and a different judgment concerning the things of the past.
Originally, we thought that it was a glory and a joy to deceive others and that the one who was deceived was such a fool because he was ignorant of being cheated. One might delight and glory in this. But what he once considered glorious, now he considers shameful. [Present other examples like lying, cheating, hiding, gossiping, etc.]
After a man has some faith, he must repent. If a man has a certain amount of faith in God’s word, he must repent.
- Repentance being given by God—Acts 5:31; Luke 24:45-47
God gives man repentance in the same way that He gives him forgiveness. It is God that enlightens us and tells us that our past was wrong. It is God who gives us a heart of repentance, who commands us to repent.
If a child’s face is dirty, his mother would not ask him to earn some money to buy a towel to wipe it clean. Instead, the mother would find a towel and tell the child to use it. When God wants us to repent, He Himself gives us repentance in the same way that He gives us forgiveness. God Himself gives us repentance so that we would see our past and realize how low, weak, and corrupt we were. After this, He tells us to repent.
Those who repent are the believing ones and the saved ones.
[Ask the 6th-graders to think about those things they did or said in the past that they did not consider as wrong, but now after hearing all the previous lessons, they realize that those things were wrong and they need to take some time to repent. They can do this with the help of their parents.]