Monday, September 22, 2008

Repent?

What do you think of when you hear the word "Repent"? An invitation given at an evangelistic rally? The rants of an angry preacher during "revival" meetings"? Sorrow and tears after we sin? Repentance is a key Biblical ingredient for personal and church renewal, so we must be sure to understand it rightly.

In Revelation, Jesus tells the Church in Ephesus to "Remember, Repent, and Recover" (2:5). In our "Embers to a Flame" FBH class, we've been taking a hard look at what this means. If we want to see revitalization as a church, we've got to recover the Biblical patterns for spiritual renewal!

What is Repentance?

Repentance is a wonderfully healthy Biblical word. In its simplest form, repentance is turning away from sin by God's grace for purposes of reconciliation to him and intimacy with him. With that turning also comes a willingness/commitment for God to change us in any way he wants. Repentance results when a person with a soft and humble heart realizes they've gone of the path. Or have drifted from their closeness and love with God. Or have been convicted by the Holy Spirit of an area of sin or compromise in their life.

When does repentance happen?

The "original repentance" for a Christian happens at the moment of faith. Repentance is a turning away from sin. Faith is a turning to Jesus in trust. So faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin! But we must also speak of "ongoing repentance". That is the day to day sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our lives making corrections and adjustments to our walk with Christ. In that way, Martin Luther was right when he said, "When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance" (#1 of 95 Theses!)

Repentance happens when we take seriously the meditations of passages like Psalm 139 and Psalm 19:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23-24

"Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression." Psalm 19:12-13

Such introspection is not done in a spirit of shame, guilt, groveling, or condemnation. Rather we ask our gracious Father to pinpoint anything standing in the way of intimacy with him.

How do we repent?

Repentance must never become kowtowing before God so we can convince him to forgive us. It is not self-flagellation in the hopes we can do penance for our sin. That is an affront to the cross-work of Christ! We don't bring shame, but we do bring humility! Humility is a virtue that attracts the gracious attention of God. But we always humble ourselves in the context of the hard-fought, blood-bought, grace of Jesus! Here are two important reminders and important scriptures upon which to meditate (click and read!)

Seek Humility! Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2b

Remember Grace! 1 John 1:9, Micah7:7-9

And bear in mind these helpful words: "All the wickedness in this world that man might work or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live coal in the sea." —William Langland (1332-1386), Piers Plowman

The well wisher of your soul's happiness,

Pastor Tom

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Love your blog, Tom. Our pastor blogs too but in a very different way. http://pastorhoward.blogspot.com/