Repentance
posted by bill Sloat at 7:58 AM
CGGC in an Emerging World
The world is changing rapidly. Postmodern thinking is increasing in the west and the East is becoming part of the Global community. Many in the Churches of God General Conference are interested in what church will look like as fresh expressions in the 21st century. This blog has been encouraged by the CGGC but in no way reflects the official thinking of the denomination. It is a place for free flow of thought and conversation.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
16 Comments:
John the Baptist on Jesus:
"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12 see also Luke 3:17)
Let me play devil's advocate (so to speak)... After Jesus ministered for awhile, and John watched his approach, which lacked fiery judgment on the average sinner, John had to send guys to ask if Jesus was really the one... or was it going to be someone else?
Having said that, I'm FOR repentance, though I have been known to both dodge and forestall it on occasion:)
Okay, a serious thought: I think modern man is in serious need of a stance of repentance in his life, but he needs the word to be freshly translated for him, because in western culture he now associates it merely with being stringently religious.
The Gospel of Mark on Jesus' core teaching:
""The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
I think one of the struggles today is determining what Jesus meant by repentance. Evangelicalism has typically communicated that it is "sorrow over specific acts of sin". In some cases, we have extended the meaning to include "turning around and going the other direction". In his book The Challenge of Jesus, N.T. Wright makes the case that in historical context and usage, Jesus primarily meant "give up your agenda and embrace mine", meaning that a person needs to stop living for what they are living for, and live for something different, for the good, bigger, and better story God is unfolding in us and in the whole world. Wright ties this to the way Jesus co-opts and redefines "kingdom" in a religious culture that already had several motifs about the kingdom of God and how it would come flying around.
I'm with you on repentance all the way... but it's something more, something deeper, than what modern conservative Christianity has define it as being.
There are several verses in Acts that gives the impression that repentance is given to us by God.
Acts 5:31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
Is it that repentance comes from within us or is it that God, by His own grace, gives it to us as a gift that we must use to produce good fruit?
Luke 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'
When we repent we are deciding to turn away from our past sins, out of regret, and instead focus on Jesus Christ as our Savior. But what if repentance is a higher state of maturity God gives us through Jesus Christ in-order to build us up for His purposes. Then when we are using God’s grace gift of repentance we are worshiping God by living our lives as a holy and pleasing, living sacrifice. To repent is a singular action where repentance is the process that, if we were to surrender to it perfectly, would allow Jesus to gather up what is good in us and put the rest to unquenchable fire. Because today our faith in the omnipotence of Jesus Christ is weakened, it’s not enough for us to repent once, or even on a regular basis, we need it to be a constant ongoing process. If we are worthy God can elevate us to the highest levels of faith, similar to that of Paul. Few make the commitment necessary to achieve this maturity. To reach these heights and fall back again would surely be among the greatest of insults to God.
Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Jesus to the Church at Ephesus:
"...You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you..."
I'm not very good at conversations where people just lob Scripture passages over the wall without...
--Why they are bringing up that passage in the discussion
--Trying to talk about what the passages mean or how we perceive them
--How the kinds of Christianity current in the culture have affected how people hear language.
Signing off on his one...
Jesus to the Church at Thyatira:
"...you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
Jesus to the church at Thyatira:
"I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
What those scripture passages make abundantly clear, with no need for explanation, is that repentance is vital and of insurmountable importance to the Church. Especially if we are to function correctly.
I would wager that most common-folk-Christians don't give repentance a second thought in their daily devotions (if they even have them) or even ponder it as they read through their Bible.
Repentance seems to be a subject of the old days, back when fiery preachers dressed in black and white would deliver their sermons covered in spit and sweat. We desperately try to distance ourselves from that sort of Christianity. However, nobody questions whether the whole repentance, fire & brimstone type of stuff has any merit- because it's not what people wanted to hear. Let's not even think about the fact that there IS a hell, there WILL BE judgement, and unless there IS REPENTANCE, well, heck, let's not get caught up in all that negative stuff.
Um, what? Are we whitewashing everything? Sugarcoating the TRUTH so people can take it better? NO. People need to WAKE UP and realize we have work to do- and repentance is part of that. A big part, as scripture indicates.
We can help by showing people what repentance is, demonstrating it to the best of our ability- if we have the ability, and also by preaching/teaching the truth in love. How can we love people if we are simply telling them what they want to hear, when it's obvious that they are in for a big surprise when Jesus seperates us into sheeps/goats!
The bottom line is this: Without repentance, God will discipline us into repentance. That discipline might be unpleasant, to say the least. I believe we are in for it- because for too long we have been Christians-in-comfort-zones, and not Christians as the Living Word calls us to be!
I. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
II. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
III. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
IV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
V. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
VI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
VII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
VIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
IX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
X. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XIV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”……
DXCIX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DC. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCIV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCVI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCVII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCVIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCIX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCXI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCXII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCXIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
I. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
II. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
III. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
IV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
V. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
VI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
VII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
VIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
IX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
X. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
XIV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”……
DXCIX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DC. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCIV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCV. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCVI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCVII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCVIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCIX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCX. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCXI. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCXII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
DCXIII. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
That's fantastic, itis, however, do not forget that Jesus says, "and the second is like it- love your neighbor as yourself." Pretty important.
Jesus to the church at Sardis:
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
This comment has been removed by the author.
fran,
i understand what you mean, on the one hand. bill seems to be getting at something he's not begin explicit about. on the other, the Scriptures are meant to stand on "their own two feet", so to speak. perhaps it's good to just let them speak for themselves now and again.
bill,
to quote luther, "the whole life of believers should be repentance." if i'm correct, you make a good point. but i think we would all agree you have produced a multitude of Scriptural evidence, and could go on doing so for years. please, be concise and make your point plainly, that we may not go lengthening this comment thread until Christ returns.
all,
repentance is, indeed, the turning from one thing to another. in the way that Christ speaks of it, it is, truly, a turning from our sins and to righteousness. this is the truth of it.
yet this, when taken to it's full, means turn from ourselves, our kingdom or rule, our will, our sinfulness, to Him, His kingdom and rule, His will for all creation (including us), and His perfect righteousness, which by His grace is imputed to us by faith, as our sin is imputed to Him on the cross.
so indeed, repentance is turning from our sins of lust, of covetousness, of falsehood, of idolatry (the root of all sin), and turning to our Lord Who saves us, giving us life, declaring us justified, and adopting us into His family. this is the Christian life, and i believe to this we all hold. let us remember it, and let us live it.
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