Repentance -- What shall we do? (Part 3)

In Acts 2 when the men of Israel asked "What shall we do?", the first word out of the apostle Peter's mouth was "Repent". First proclaimed by John (Matthew 3:2), then by Jesus (Matthew 4:17), the earliest message of the gospel was "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Peter proclaims in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord ... is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Repentance is central to the gospel of Christ. It is the natural and essential response to belief in the message of the cross.

What is Repentance?

Repentance is a change of heart and of mind. Repentance is not merely feeling regret or remorse for past deeds. Certainly, godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-12). But repentance is more than just regret. Repentance is the determination to change the direction of your life. It is the sincere determination to cease living in selfishness and sin, and the resolution to live in obedience to God.

On-going Repentance

Repentance is not a one-time action. Repentance is necessary throughout our walk as servants of God whenever we find ourselves straying from His will. In James 4:4-10, James writes to Christians,

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you now know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resis the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The repentance James describes involves mourning for our past behavior, humbling ourselves before our God in our admission of guilt, and a sincere determination to change ("purify your hearts, you double-minded").

The No Repentance Gospel

We live in a proud society. We don't like to admit wrong-doing or weakness. I've heard advertisements from churches proclaiming, "Come as you are!" and "No perfect people allowed". I understand that we need to meet sinners where they are to begin teaching them the gospel. However, the message seem to be (and is sometimes explicitly stated) that not only can you "come as you are", but you can "remain as you are". This attitude that repentance is not necessary for salvation is not Biblical.

Many churches have stopped preaching about sin and judgment. It makes people uncomfortable. It is supposed to make people uncomfortable! Until you understand the righteous judgment of God and that your actions have placed you under condemnation, repentance is impossible. How can you feel remorse if you don't think you have done anything wrong? Why do you need to change if you are just fine as you are? We aren't going to save anyone unless we tell them the truth -- we have all sinned and unless we repent, we will be lost (Luke 13:1-5). Conviction of sin, contriteness of heart, and determination to change are essential responses to the gospel of Christ.

-PG