Revolving Door
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 NASB
Repent – Repentance is the first step to becoming human again (see yesterday’s Today’s Word). Since it is now a vital issue for every homo sapien, we need to explore the concept and process of repentance a bit more. It’s no longer just a religious idea about getting right with God. Now it’s a concern about who I really am. Without repentance, I cut myself off from the purpose of God and that purpose is to be uniquely human in the world. In other words, one of the dynamics of being human is to be purposeful. To be in God’s image is to be purposeful about God’s intentions for me. When I either do not know what those intentions are or I do not pursue those intentions even if I know what they are, then I make of myself something other than “in His image.” Repentance is the way back.
The Bible sees repentance as more than simply confession and request for forgiveness. Repentance must be followed by atonement and atonement by transformation. Unless atonement and transformation are consequences of repentance, then repentance has not occurred. That’s why regret is not the same as repentance. Regret is remorse for what I have done (usually because my actions have caused me pain and suffering). Regret proclaims that I wish I had not done what I did. But regret is not the determination to never do these acts again. Regret is feeling sorry, contrite or even lament over past behavior but it does not necessarily redirect future actions. It might make us much more careful, but it doesn’t have to change our direction. Repentance is a change in the moral compass – or it is nothing at all.
How can we tell the difference? “If the sinner repents the sin, atones, and attains reconciliation with God, the sin is wiped off the record, the sinner forgiven, and the sinners’ successors rendered blameless. The mark of repentance comes to the surface when the one-time sinner gains the chance to repeat the sinful deed but does not do so; then the repentance is complete.”[1]
The Jewish concept of repentance is much like the Jewish concept of education. I have not learned anything if I can repeat the facts, do the calculations, recite the text. I have only learned when what I have absorbed changes the way I live. Until that moment, no true education has occurred no matter how many courses I have taken. So it is with repentance. Until I no longer do what I used to do, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbl_cZ4OhMo&feature=related) repentance is only a word in the lexicon. It is not a reality in my life nor are its consequences a reality with the community and with God. Teshuvah requires altered behavior. There is no way around it. To believe is not to gather mental or spiritual stowage. To believe is to change direction.
Topical Index: repent, teshuvah, transformation, Matthew 3:2
[1] Jacob Neusner, Judaism When Christianity Began, p. 154.
wholesome teaching, thank you!
Thanks Skip for the SRV interlude…my morning devotions took a turn that went all through the tribute concerts for Steve…and ended when I found myself on a rooftop in Liverpool with some guys telling us to “Get Back” – repent!
toda rabbah,
Chris
Revelatory. Thanks.
Reminded me of II Corinthians 7 (where worldly sorrow/regret is contrasted by Paul with godly sorrow/repentance). Regret and remorse tends to be more self-centered and self-serving (“Sorry I…”). Repentance tends to be more concerned with the consequences of my sin and its affect on others (e.g. “I have sinned against heaven AND you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son” – indignation over what I have done, public shame without wanting to rescue my own reputation, personal zeal to make things right and right now, no matter what it costs me etc.). I also thought of the negative examples of Esau (Hebrews 12:16-17) and of Judas (Matt 27:3-5) – where they manifested remorse and regret but not repentance. And we all know where the absence of true repentance led them.
What I generally see parading across the screen of my TV on a regular basis by those whose “private” sins have become “public” is more worldly sorrow and regret than true godly sorrow and repentance – scripted “sorry’s” with attempts to rescue personal reputations. Some exceptions but very few come to mind (e.g. Chuck Colson).
Amen David! LOL… we were on the same track (I’m typing my response below as you were posting yours!
~MB
This passage in 2 Corinthians 7 captures the difference between regret and repentence well:
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. (NIV)
Regret = “worldly sorrow” but Godly sorrow brings repentence, i.e., a change in direction that leads to life – life to the full!
~MB
So much to say concerning “repentance” and so little time!- (crunched by the clock again!). What we all need is a Biblical “picture” of what repentance looks like and here are (only) two:
~ Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment ~ (Psalm 51.4) and Who, my friends, was David speaking with/to?- And another “classic” picture of true belief and true repentance found in the parable of the prodigal Father (Luke 15): ~”The son (me) said to Him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against You. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ~ Yes brothers, “been there- done that!”- and than more than once, to be sure! -for repentance is not a one-time event, but a continual restoration and renewal of relationship. I have done more repenting and continue to do so, than I ever did before I was “saved.” Before I was saved- I didn’t even care (at all!) During this pre-Christ era of my life I leaped into sin and loved it- and now?- I lapse into sin and loathe it!- I have “repented” concerning sin (and the holiness of YHWH!) Oh, so much to repent of! -Amen!
Our common Bible instructs us to “covet earnestly” the best gifts. Today, I will “covet” the grace-gift of repentance, and if I am willing, God will always be there to provide.
(Carl) “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12.2) Amen.
IT GRIEVES ME SO MUCH AS I’M SURE IT DOES “HIM” – TO SEE PEOPLE DO THE SAME OL SIN OVER & OVER & OVER AGAIN. I FEEL THIS COMES FROM GREASY GRACE THEOLOGY – IT DOESN’T MATTER IF I SIN OVER & OVER & OVER AGAIN BECAUSE GRACE WILL ALWAYS DO THE TRICK FOR ME…
SO SO SAD & SO SO GRIEVOUS… 🙁
I think any who do this are deceived and have never met the Lord Jesus at all. If they cross our paths, lets consider them the mission field.
I DO DOROTHY & MY HEART GETS & IS SO BROKEN FOR THEM… ♥
This is an excellent post.
As a cousellor of many (redeemed souls) of post-abortive women, I know saved people can have a real big issue with REGRET.
You are correct in that their sin hurts them, but satan is so incrediabily evil, he blinds people while he is coaching and easing them into horrible sin. It can all seem so right to do. He offers a plethora of good sounding reasons. Afterwards, he rips the blindness away and reveals the full horror.
Sometimes while they are still on the table admist the blood.
It really is a truthful saying that two people enter an abortion “clinic”; and one dies and one is wounded for life.
It is SO HARD to forget the past. But thank the LORD, God’s Word supplies all we need. I am thankful for Phil. 3:13-14.
Deep sorrowful regret spurs some on for the rest of their lives to coaching others to not do that, and offering real help, not just warnings. Yet still they live in it. Satan loves to trash saints for sins of this magnitude.
We can’t really forget it. But what we CAN do is not dwell on the past. The Holy Spirit will help us out of the mirey clay. The past is under the blood, God doesn’t see it anymore. Its taken by one man’s hand and led way, way out in the desert, lost sight of, gone, nobody knows where. Jesus is that man. He took our sins away. They are gone.
So many in the Bible had a “past”
Moses killed a man, David committed adultery, Paul persecuted the church and killed Christians before he was saved. Yet God used every one of these and many more, for His purposes.
None of us are without sin, but there’s not a sin that God can’t forgive.
I write this in case it helps someone. If not those reading this, then just maybe it gives someone a way to talk to a friend, or a daughter.
Lyrics of a song to help sweep REGRET away: (It really is an awful entanglement)
Rise Up Again
Though sin has beset you and taken control,
Though Satan’s great strongholds stand fast in your soul,
What ever your failure, though great be your fall,
God’s mercy and pardon are offered to all.
Rise up again, take back the ground.
Turn from your sin and let grace abound.
Press toward the prize; the victory you”ll will.
Forget things behind you and rise up again.
Let’s seek those who’ve fallen from grace to restore
and show them God’s mercies forever endure.
In spite of our past our Lord uses us still,
and works it for good in the course of His will.
Rise up again, take back the ground.
Turn from your sin and let grace abound.
Press toward the prize; the victory you”ll will.
Forget things behind you and rise up again.
I meant: “the victory you’ll win”, (not will)
~ For “all” have sinned and come short of the glory of God ~ ~ There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins ~ (Ecclesiastes 7:20) There is only ONE sinless man who ever lived. (and He is not me!)
Jan, what do the scriptures say about what you are calling “greasy grace?” some may call it “cheap grace,” but these are the ones who have no clue concerning the cost of Calvary and the “far beyond our collective comprehension of the suffering of our Savior. Don’t dare talk to me of “cheap grace” when I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died… Come with me to Calvary and let us see Him hanging there..
Too much talk of Torah and not enough of the tslav. Paul, a pedigreed prince among the Pharisees had this testimony: ~ But may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! ~ (Galatians 6.14)
When our LORD Jesus said- “paid in full”- what was the price of our redemption?
Man of Sorrows! what a Name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew tHis song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! -What a Savior!
I echo hallelujahs !
Sermon on the atonement: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0095.htm