Call to Repentance – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Repentance is changing one’s attitudes and behaviour from bad to good. It is complete only when a person decides to change totally and forsakes evil ways. This lesson looks at three examples from the Bible: Paul, who turned from persecuting Christians; David, who repented after sinning with Bathsheba; and the people of Nineveh, who repented after Jonah preached.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what repentance is;
• narrate the conversion of Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus;
• describe how the Christians and the Jews reacted to Saul’s conversion;
• state how David showed repentance after his sin;
• explain how the Ninevites escaped the punishment for their sins.

What is repentance?

Repentance is the act of changing one’s attitudes and behaviours from bad to good. This is only completed when you decide to change totally and forsake the evil ways.

Everyone who is born on earth with flesh and blood tends to perpetuate evil. This is a result of our Adamic nature in us. Our environment also contributes greatly to this, because of the level of corruption that has eaten deeply into our system. It is a pity that some take evil for good and good for evil.

How did Paul repent? (Acts 9:1-21)

The meeting on the road to Damascus

Saul (Paul) got letters from the high priests to the synagogue at Damascus, so that he could bring bound to Jerusalem those who professed the name of Christ. As he approached Damascus, a sudden light shone. He fell down and heard a voice: “Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Rise and enter the city, and you will be told what to do.”

Saul rose up blind and was led into Damascus. He could not see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

Ananias and Saul

Ananias saw a vision. He was told to go to the street called Straight, ask at the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus, and lay hands on him so that he could regain his sight. Ananias complained of Saul’s murderous intent towards the followers of Christ. He was told, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine.” Ananias laid hands on Saul, who regained his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptised.

How people reacted to Saul’s conversion

For several days Saul was with the disciples at Damascus. He proclaimed boldly in the synagogue that Jesus is the Son of God. He met with opposition: the governor under King Aretas kept the city with a garrison to apprehend Paul, and Paul had to be smuggled out for safety.

At Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were afraid of him until Barnabas vouched for his sincerity. There was another plot to kill him in Jerusalem, so he was escorted to the coast and shipped off to Tarsus. This was how the Jews reacted to Saul’s (Paul’s) conversion from Judaism to Christianity.

How did David repent?

David sinned by having an affair with Bathsheba and ended up killing Uriah, her husband, on the battlefield.

Prophet Nathan accused David of his sin, and David repented totally. He showed this by fasting for seven days. He also wrote Psalm 51 as a prayer for forgiveness.

How did the Ninevites repent?

The people of Nineveh were so sinful that God decided to destroy them. However, because God is merciful, he wanted them to repent. Hence, God sent the prophet Jonah to preach to them.

Jonah was not willing to go, so he planned to board a ship to Tarshish instead of Nineveh. God allowed a strong wind to disturb the ship, and Jonah was thrown into the sea to prevent the people in the ship from perishing. Jonah was swallowed by a big fish. He repented in the fish and agreed to obey God, and the fish vomited him at the bank of Nineveh, on the market day.

When the people saw this, they were eager to listen to his message. They reported to the king of Nineveh, who declared a fast and pleaded that the people should repent. God pardoned the people because they all acknowledged their sins and repented of them. This was unlike Adam, who gave excuses for his sin.

Evaluation

Paul’s repentance

1. Describe the early life of Saul.
2. What was the reaction of (i) the Christians in Damascus and Jerusalem and (ii) the Jews in Damascus and Jerusalem to Saul’s conversion?

David’s repentance

1. What is repentance?
2. What are the requirements for repentance?

Repentance of the Ninevites

1. Describe the sin of Nineveh.
2. How did the Ninevites overcome the punishment for their sins?

General evaluation

1. How can a sinner get forgiveness?
2. Explain the situation of the Ninevites.
3. Explain this statement in your own words: “Man by nature is a sinner.”
4. Discuss how David got forgiveness after his grievous sins.

Assignment

Reading assignment

Read Acts 9:1-43, II Samuel 11:1-27, II Samuel 12:1-31 and Jonah 3:1-10 in the Holy Bible (RSV).

Weekend assignment

1. Which of the following is not correct? (a) Paul was a Roman citizen (b) Paul was a Jew (c) Paul’s father was a wealthy and influential Christian
2. Paul was trained in Jerusalem by ____, the great leader of the Pharisees. (a) Tarsus (b) Gamaliel (c) Nicodemus
3. He did his postgraduate study in ____. (a) Jerusalem (b) Damascus (c) Tarsus
4. The letters given to Saul by the high priests were for ____. (a) binding and bringing to Jerusalem those that professed the name of Christ in Damascus
5. One of the following is not a reaction to the conversion of Saul. (a) The Christians rejoiced that he confronted Jesus (b) The Christians were afraid of him (c) The Jews and the governor under King Aretas wanted to kill him.

Theory

1. Narrate the encounter between Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus.
2. Describe the family of Saul (Paul).