THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, GHANA

English Assembly Koforidua District

Focus: Foundational Doctrines of Christianity

Topic: Repentance from Dead works

A. INTRODUCTION
Many people come to realize their need for a Saviour, repent of their sin, and accept
Christ. They are converted and become Christians. They join a church and attend
with some regularity. In their zeal and desire to serve Christ and do Gods will, some
Christians become very active in serving through their church. However, when an
outsider, a non-Christian, asks the basis of the Christians faith, they dont really
know how to answer.
A majority of Christians have just enough knowledge and experience to know why a
person needs salvation and how to accept Christ as Saviour. They know the Gospel
in a nutshell, but have never been taught the foundational doctrines of their faith. In
order for Christians to remain steadfast and grow stronger in their faith, they need to
know what they believe and why they believe it. And to be effective Christians who
whole-heartedly represent Jesus Christ, they must learn and support the doctrines of
Jesus Christ.
A foundation is one of the necessary parts of a building or structure. Where there is a
building, there must be a foundation. Hence, to consider this aspect of teaching
presupposes that we are comparable to a building. This is true and the Holy Spirit
taught it in the following scriptures.
Our desire is not to have foundations only but to build a strong one on which the
whole building can stand. These are foundational principles and are not in
themselves separate doctrines as together they are referred to as The Doctrine of
Christ and it is important we see them as such. The foundational doctrines that will
be considered are as follows:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Repentance from dead works

Faith toward God
Baptisms
Laying on of hands
Resurrection from the dead
Eternal judgment.

B. BIBLE VERSE Hebrews 6:1

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not
laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward
God, (ESV)

C. DISCUSSION
i)

What is repentance?

2 Cor. 7:9-10; Acts 24:25; Acts 3:19; Acts 3:28; Acts 17:30-31; Prov 28:13; Matt 5:20
ii)

After repentance, what should be done?

John 6:28-29; john 17:3; Eph 2:8-10

iii)

Explain the word sin.

1 Sam 12:23; Rom 14:23; Heb 12:16; Prov 24:9; James 4:17; 1 John 5:17;
1 John 3:4;
iv)

Compare good works and dead works?

Good works: Matt 5:16; John 10:32; Acts 9:36; Eph 2:10; 1 Tim 6:18Titus 3:14; 1
Peter 2:12
Dead works: John 15:5; Heb 6:1; Heb 9:14;

D. CONCLUSION
When we live without Christ, the conscience is dead and therefore gives birth to all
manner of dead works. Our conscience is not alive to God to cause it to walk after the
righteous requirements of God. A dead conscience is the source or the root cause of all
dead works.
We have to serve God with a conscience which is void of dead works but alive in God.
Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the full
assurance that comes from trusting with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us continue holding fast to
the hope we acknowledge, without wavering; for the One who made the promise is
trustworthy.