THIS IS REAL REPENTANCE
What is repentance? What actually happens in a repentant person's
life? What does repentance have to do with salvation? Here are the
facts.
You've heard the
story- and what a story it is. "As for Saul, he made havoc of the
church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed
them to prison....
"And Saul, yet
breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the
Lord .. . came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him
a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying
unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ...
"And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And
the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be
told thee what thou must do. And ... they led him by the hand, and
brought him into Damascus. ...
"And Ananias
went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him
said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in
the way as thou earnest, hath sent me ...
"And immediately
there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.... And straightway he preached
Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
"But all that
heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them
which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that
intent...?" (Acts 8:3, 9:1-21).
What a story, indeed!
It is one of the
best New Testament examples of real repentance- what it is, how one
comes to it, how to tell if it's genuine (I Tim. 1:15-16).
Total change
Change. About-face. Total reversal. Redirection. Complete transformation. These are the essentials of real, biblical repentance.
It includes
feeling sorry, of course, but goes much deeper than that. A convicted,
hardened criminal feels sorry when he faces the gallows. Yet
this is not real repentance, merely
selfish depression, inner anxiety triggered by the cowering fear of an inescapable penalty.
The Bible, in a
lucid phrase, distinguishes between "the sorrow of the world" and
"godly sorrow" (II Cor. 7:10). Worldly sorrow is mourning for the self.
It is only another form of selfishness-inwardly directed pity, not the
total transformation of the self, evidenced by real, demonstrable
change, such as Paul experienced (Matt. 7:16).
Paul's life-change was completely overpowering-obvious-striking.
That's why the worst thing you can say to a true Christian is: "You haven't changed a bit!"
Paul
changed-totally. The transformation was so shocking that It stunned the
early Church. Early Christians had a hard time believing it (Acts
9:26). The Bible describes "fruits worthy of repentance"-measurable,
noticeable evidence of change (Luke 3:8). Paul had these fruits.
The Old
Testament prophets knew that real repentance is a definite, heartfelt
change. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death
of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye,
turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"
(Ezek. 33:11).
Jeremiah
eloquently portrayed real repentance: "Turn thou me, and I shall be
turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, T
repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was
ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my
youth" (Jer. 31:18-19).
Repentance is a
point of no return. It is the pivotal decision in life. There is no
room, in the mind of the repentant person, for turning back. God's
terms are unconditional: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19).
Sin is defined
in I John 3:4 as the "transgression of the law." Romans 7:7 explains
that the law that sin violates is the Ten Commandments. God's law is a
spiritual principle regulating our physical actions and relationships
toward others, husbands and wives (Ex. 20:14, 17), parents (verse 12)
and children (verse 10) and property (verses 15, 17).
Christ magnified the law
Jesus Christ
amplified and enlarged the spiritual dynamics behind the Ten
Commandments in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28).
Christ showed that sin begins in the heart (Matt. 15:19). Action follows thought (Prov. 23:7)
"I'm pretty
good," some will argue. "I've never killed anyone." But have we never
felt anger, spite, jealousy, resentment or the desire for revenge? Of
course we have! These emotions are but preparation in the human heart
for the most dire acts, if we dared try to get away with them. There
are no inner reserves of goodness, no strong, selfless motives inside a
human being (Jer. 17:9).
Real repentance,
then-the deeply committed, emotionally jarring confrontation with and
rejection of the evil saturating us deep inside- involves far more than
a few superficial, cosmetic changes on the outside. The outer facade of
righteousness never deceives God and Jesus Christ (Matt. 23:25-26, 28).
The rich young
ruler who interviewed Jesus Christ thought he was doing all right. When
Jesus challenged him with the Ten Commandments he replied, "All these
things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matt. 19:20).
Had he, really?
Christ's next statement flashed right to the heart of the matter: "If
thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matt.
19:21).
What a
bombshell! Jesus discerned covetousness in this young man Though
outwardly successful, moral and a model citizen, the rich young ruler,
whom Christ liked (Mark 10:21), had not even begun to live the deep
spirit and intent of God's commandments. "But when the young man heard
that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions"
(Matt. 19:22).
Death of the self
There have
always been curiosity seekers, those mildly titillated by after-dinner
talk and coffee-break discussions on the ultimate meaning of life. Some
casually evidence an interest in the big questions at one time or
another, and answers are available. Understanding is possible. The
problem is that most people don't want it badly enough to pay the price
(Prov. 17:16)! The price for understanding is to obey God'3
commandments (Ps. 111:10).
This is too high
a price for the average person. It is nothing less than the death of
self, the willingness to crush pride and vanity, the abasement of ego,
the humility to agree that we violate the spirit and intent of God's
Ten Commandments every day of our lives, the willpower mobilized by the
shocking encounter with the evil within, the tenacity to fight for
years in a sometimes tiresome struggle to root out wrong habits,
attitudes and assumptions, even in the face of persecution and
suffering.
This is the essence of the Christian life.
This is why only the few endure to the end (Matt. 7:14).
This is why the
Bible teaches so emphatically: "They are all under sin; as it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God" (Rom. 3:9-11).
This is why
Paul, a real repenter, proclaimed so exultantly: "I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:2U).
A tumultuous upheaval
What is real
repentance? It is a tumultuous upheaval in a person's life,
a spiritual and emotional crisis triggered by a painful and intense
conviction from grasping the true inner motives and intentions-the evil
inside us (Matt. 19:17).
Real repentance
is an experience that hammers home to us that we haven't just done
wrong but that we are wrong (Ps. 51:5). The truly repentant are pricked
in the heart (Acts 2:37). They are shocked by the deceit and vanity
that permeate their words and deeds-they realize that even their good
deeds are many times only selfish attempts to appease God's wrath or to
make themselves feel better than others (Isa. 64:6).
Real repentance
includes the heartbroken desire to give ourselves over to God-the
willingness to allow God to refashion us as He sees fit. This includes
submitting 10 the human representatives of God once we prove who they
are (John 20:21).
Real repentance
is the stabbing awareness that our personal sins, the wrong habits that
we relish and enjoy, required the brutal and excruciating death of
Jesus Christ (Isa. 53:11).
Real repentance
is toward God and no one else. The truly repentant worry about their
personal standing with God, not their standing with anyone else.
Real repentance
means to tremble at God's Word, not at the opinions, customs and
traditions of mere men (Isa. 66:2). When God speaks, we listen. We are
submissive, teachable. We're willing to observe any festival, pay any
tithe, shun any worldly association to measure up to God's standards
(Phil. 3:8).
Real repentance
is the sober desire to replace selfish, fleshly reactions with the
promptings of God's Spirit inside us (Eph. 4:24), It is the axial
change in life, the most important experience we can ever pass through.
How repentance comes
How can we come to this conviction overnight? The answer is that we can't!
Who can deeply grasp true repentance inside a circus tent, listening to a sweating preacher whip up a frenzy about "hell fire"?
Real repentance
does have an emotional content, but is much more than sheer emotion. It
is conviction. Purpose. Determination. A quiet resolve to change.
Now, how do we get that?
Can it be "worked up" in a moment of hysteria?
No. "The
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance," Romans 2:4 tells us. Even
the desire to repent comes from God. No human being decides of his own
volition to surrender before God unless God is at work first in that
individual's mind. God must help us pass from darkness to light, from
death to life, from blindness to understanding. He must grant
repentance:
"When they heard
these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then
hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" (Acts
11:18).
"Him [Jesus
Christ] hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a
Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins"
(Acts 5:31).
"In meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give
them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (II Tim. 2:25).
Repentance is the gift of God! How else could we ever see ourselves through God's eyes?
God the Father
Himself carefully selects those to whom He wants to reveal His truth at
this time (John 6:44). God then gives a small portion of His Holy
Spirit to work alongside our minds (John 14:17). We begin to sec our
way of life for what it is-for the first time, we understand our true
motives and intentions.
God watches for
the reaction this produces. If our conscience is tender, if we are
yielded and teachable, we begin to put some things right in our lives.
Then, in direct proportion to how much we yield to and obey God, God
gives us more understanding. He works with us more strongly through His
Spirit (Acts 5:29).
This begins the
process of Christian growth. A responsive heart and a pliable spirit
are essential. Finally we amass enough evidence, through study, prayer
and meditation, to see ourselves for the first time-as a sinner, with a
chemical, temporary life expectancy of only 70 years, in need of
forgiveness and power from Almighty God.
But this new
attitude of obedience cannot atone for past sins. Thus the truly
repentant believer comes to hold an undying respect for the enormous
sacrifice Christ made for him almost 2,000 years ago. Only Christ's
death can purge our past sins, wipe the slate clean (I John 1:7).
Gratitude,
willingness to learn, an exquisite consciousness of God's mercy-these
are the attitudes that predominate during real repentance. No
hardheartedness, belligerence or placing blame on others. None of the
"But here's the way I look at it" syndrome.
The repentant
person surrenders to God. He throws himself upon God's mercy and
pardon. Job's cry is now his: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of
the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and
repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6).
An ongoing process
But repentance
is not merely a one-time event in a person's life. It is an active,
ongoing, dynamic process. Even after we have deeply, sincerely repented
of our past sins and been convicted to follow God's way in everything,
we will stumble and fall. We do not become perfect all at once. We
still are ruled, for the most part, by our human nature. We are still
under the influence of Satan and the world around us.
We will, in
moments of weakness or carelessness, sin again. And then we must again
repent and ask God to allow Christ's precious shed blood to cover the
sin (I John 1:8-10).
As we obey God
and submit to His government in our lives, He will give us more of the
power of His Holy Spirit to overcome. The process of Christian
growth-the process of developing God's perfect character within
ourselves-is gradual, a lifelong profession (II Pet. 3:18). The true
Christian consistently keeps himself in an attitude of repentance and
submission to God's will.
In II
Corinthians 7:9-11, Paul describes seven mental reactions triggered by
real godly repentance. This Paul calls "godly sorrow," the profound
realization that our personal sins caused the death of the perfect,
spotless Son of God.
It is a mature,
heartfelt mourning over the wasted energies, the squandered
opportunities, the misplaced time and attention, the deep hurt to
ourselves and others that sin produces. Yet the truly repentant
believer comes roaring out of this emotional turmoil raring to do
something about it all.
Let's notice these qualities:
"For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you" (II Cor. 7:11).
Carefulness
encompasses the diligent, circumspect, intense habits the genuinely
repentant believer practices. He is wary. He wants to avoid the same
sins springing up again (II Pet. 2:20). The really repentant aren't
involved in the same sins again, at least as a life pattern or habitual
walk. A motorist pardoned from the penalty of a speeding ticket is
careful. He doesn't gleefully charge off to speed again. The lesson
sinks home.
"Yea, what clearing of yourselves."
How true1. The
deeply sorry, sincerely broken-up individual now eagerly seeks God's
approval. He wants to be totally absolved of guilt. He is disgusted
with himself for allowing sin to "lord it over him," and he
energetically applies himself to the advice and counsel that will help
him not miss the mark again (Ps. 63:1).
"Yea, what indignation!"
It is maddening
to see how Satan subtly cons us into collapsing before temptation.
Satan's ploy is to deceive us into thinking that the satisfaction we
derive from sensual enjoyment is more worthwhile in the short run than
the thrill we can feel from resisting temptation and making real
progress in our personal lives.
Don't fall for
this "cunning craftiness," this devilish sleight of hand (Eph. 4:14).
Abhor and despise the temporary "pleasures of sin" (Heb. 11:25). The
real, repentant Christian is infuriated at Satan's victories against
his own attempts Lo overcome.
"Yea, what fear."
Fear is a vital
component in real repentance. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge" (Prov. 1:7). Once we understand that God considers Sabbath
breaking as wrong as murder, adultery and stealing, we should fear to
disobey (Heb. 12:28). We will want to flee the folly and distraction
involved in worldly, pagan holidays like Christmas, Easter and
Halloween once we deeply grasp the cunning deception involved.
We should recoil
instantly from sin (I Cor 6:18). Otherwise our conscience slowly
hardens and we end up half enjoying the sins we should hate. This is
serious! Unless we dramatically wrench ourselves from some sins we can
slowly become amoral creatures, conscienceless reprobates whom even God
cannot shake up (Matt. 5:29-30). Godly fear helps yank us out of this
attitude (Matt. 10:28).
"Yea, what vehement desire."
The spirit of
our drifting, calloused, noncommittal generation affects us all.
Vehement desire changes this. The casual "I suppose I should do
something about this sometime" melts before the burning, pressing
desire of the truly repentant to shake up his life, get back on track
and stay there.
"Yea, what zeal."
The genuine
Christian isn't a spiritual cliffhanger, edging as close to the
spiritual abyss as possible. The repentant believer deeply feels the
need to put as much distance between himself and his sins as possible.
The invincible power of God's Spirit gives one a conquering, formidable
zeal-
King David of
ancient Israel, even in the inky blackness of despair over his capital
sins of adultery and murder, found relief only in real repentance.
Psalm 51 is his emotion-etched expression of that crucial event in his
life.
David came
storming out of that experience bursting with zeal, overflowing with
godly projects as an expression of his thanks to God (verses 13-19).
David's enthusiasm, triggered by his gratitude to God for showing him
mercy, helped seal his repentance. He threw
himself into God's Work even more.
"Yea, what revenge."
Exactly. David
bounced back from his sins. The apostle Peter's cowardly rejection of
his Lord and Savior shook him to the depths of his being (Luke
22:61-62). It was a different Peter on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 31
helping move 3,000 people to real repentance (Acts 2:36). Peter's
conviction and intensity flowed in part from his determination to
overcome his own nature (II Cor. 10:6).
Are you holding back?
How about you?
If you have read
this far you must surely realize that it is no shame at all to kneel
before your Creator, your Savior, your Lord and Ruler, and to really
mean it when you say, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13),
Real repentance. It is that catalytic key step on the road to real life-the road to eternity (Luke 15:21-24).
So how about it?
Do you still only agree halfway with God? Do you resent the concerned
direction and authority you receive from this
Work?-
Do you still say, "Well, here's the way I look at it."
Do you hold
back? Do you still retain sovereignty over part of your inner nature?
Those of you who really understand should know by now that this is
God's Work, not that of men (Acts 5:38-39). Those of you who feel
pricked in the heart by the promptings of God's Spirit as you study our
publications should begin to respond.
Why? Because the
Holy Spirit can be inside you, illuminating your understanding, giving
you a richer contact with the God Family, setting you on the road to
your eternal destiny-a life of accomplishment, service and usefulness
in the coming Kingdom of God.
It all begins
with that first step: the willingness to admit, the honesty to confess,
the strength and wisdom to agree, that we just didn't do wrong, but
that we are wrong. This is real repentance.
