Repentance: Turning from Darkness to Light
The old man of the flesh raises his ugly head at times we least expect him to attack us. Even Jonathan Edwards, often hailed as America’s greatest preacher, after having delivered an inspired message calling thousands back to God, had to battle his own ego by lying prostrate on the floor. Sanctification is setting our heart before God according to his purpose, not ours, and to allow God to work within us to will and to do of his good pleasure when we delight ourselves in him. To set ourselves apart from this world we must remind ourselves that without him we are empty jars of clay… we are earthen vessels molded by the master to allow his light to shine in us and through us.
People are divided into four categories of after having heard the gospel of God. The first category is those who reject of the message. The second category is those who come forward but lack assurance. The third is those who think they are saved but they are not. The fourth category is those who know whom they have believed and are persuaded that he is able to keep that which he’s committed unto them against the day of judgement. Repentance is the key to entering into the fourth category. Repentance is to turn from myself and unto God. In “The Narrow Way” William Nichols says that when Paul spoke to the Greeks on Mars Hill he warned them, “unless you repent, you will perish according to the judgement of the righteous judge.” Repentance begins with seeing and understanding the significance of the fork in the road of life. It is the personal recognition of the wickedness of the fallen nature of our own heart. Repentance means to turn around and to change direction… to change our mind from our own will to see, to seek, and to follow his will, not ours. The voice that convicts us is the “hound of heaven” who relentlessly pursues us and will never leave us or forsake us. Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Repentance is to change priority from the life of my flesh to his life in the spirit. To repent is to right the wrongs that we have done, our cleansing is forgiveness according to the payment of our debt of sin by our Savior Jesus Christ. When we repented and confessed unto salvation, He who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
The story of the Prodigal Son is the story of repentance. When like the prodigal son, the the pig pen of this world shakes us from the delusion of self… when we “come to ourself” and realize that in my soul dwelleth no good thing, when we reach the bottom and there is no where to go but up, this is the point of changing direction. Repentance is forsaking the pig pen of this world and turning our eyes upon Jesus. Repentance is to do an about-face… it is the inflection point when we turn from the selfishness of sin and unto the righteousness of God in Christ.
There are three questions that lead to repentance:
1. Are you willing to turn away from all your sin and willfully pursue the righteousness of Christ instead?
2. Are you willing to give up the right to run your own life and submit to the authority of Jesus Christ?
3. Are you willing to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to become his follower forever?
If the answer to these three questions is “yes,” the final question is: When you heard these three questions, did these three questions sound like a burden or did they sound like being set free from the bondage of sin? When the student is ready for the answers, the teacher will come. When the time is ready, true repentance turns from sin and toward God, begging for forgiveness from sin. The moment of conviction is the point of inflection. It only takes one moment in time to turn a life around… Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth become strangely dim… in the light of his glorious grace.
Romans 2:4 says that It is the righteousness, kindness and goodness of God that leads a man to repentance. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive our sin and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Godly repentance brings us to the righteousness of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh blessed is the flow,
That makes me white as snow,
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus…
May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael