Repentance? For Christians?!
There is a misunderstanding...a false message actually...in the church that if you are saved there is "nothing left to do" but "trust the Lord."
That couldn't be further from the truth. If you "trust the Lord" then you take his warnings and instructions seriously...you trust he was accurate in warning people to get ready to meet Him! That's true faith.
Repentance isn't a one time act, it's a change of direction that implies forward motion. Salvation is a process of choosing to follow Jesus. It's to be worked out...like a muscle. The more I do it, the better I get at it.
Philippians 2:11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.14Do all things without complaining and disputing,15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Faith actually produces a lifestyle of honing our hearts and our ability to live more and more in the realities of heaven with God and with one another. There is only one way to go...we must be going forward in our relationship with God and each other.
The greatest commandments, loving God then loving people, have to be evident and growing in my life. All the law and prophets hang on this reality. That means it's what the Bible is about. Salvation isn't about the "saved people" cajoling the unsaved until they get it. Salvation is about me learning to be like Jesus in a process that requires the rest of my life. That's how long I get to "get it." Part of "getting it" is becoming a lamp on a lampstand. Following Jesus makes Him my shepherd. If I keep following him, the idea is that my walk will show someone else how to walk forward with Him. If I become like Jesus I become like a shepherd. A shepherd leads by going first. Up ahead of me is more stuff I need, because Jesus is supposed to be up ahead of me.
In the first church, Peter et al prayed in one accord in a room until they got something they didn't have, then a bunch of people saw that, asked some questions, and decided to embark on their own journey of salvation.
This is the meaning of "repentance." Repent simply means "agree with God." Its an active thing. Not only a past thing.
Lots of "Christians" aren't actually following Jesus at all...to follow Him requires a life of motion, conforming to His steps!
This needs to be clear in the church, because people who live selfish unrighteous lives (like me) are somehow under the impression they are completely clean and just fine living selfish unrighteous lives. You can do that, I guess, but it isn't following Jesus.
It isn't love to not say anything about this topic. I went many years not understanding this. But, it's hard to say this well. It's hard because people that havent heard it before, but love God, easily feel condemned when they hear it at first. We need to talk about what it really means to follow Jesus, but with the full assurance that He is ready to help us follow Him! That is what grace really is: the power Jesus gives us to change AS WE WANT IT!
We have to actively want to change (repent), and He has the power to accomplish the changes (grace).
This is the most freeing message in the Bible, because it's the truth. The truth sets us free!
Hebrews 10:19Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
35Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
That couldn't be further from the truth. If you "trust the Lord" then you take his warnings and instructions seriously...you trust he was accurate in warning people to get ready to meet Him! That's true faith.
Repentance isn't a one time act, it's a change of direction that implies forward motion. Salvation is a process of choosing to follow Jesus. It's to be worked out...like a muscle. The more I do it, the better I get at it.
Philippians 2:11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.14Do all things without complaining and disputing,15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Faith actually produces a lifestyle of honing our hearts and our ability to live more and more in the realities of heaven with God and with one another. There is only one way to go...we must be going forward in our relationship with God and each other.
The greatest commandments, loving God then loving people, have to be evident and growing in my life. All the law and prophets hang on this reality. That means it's what the Bible is about. Salvation isn't about the "saved people" cajoling the unsaved until they get it. Salvation is about me learning to be like Jesus in a process that requires the rest of my life. That's how long I get to "get it." Part of "getting it" is becoming a lamp on a lampstand. Following Jesus makes Him my shepherd. If I keep following him, the idea is that my walk will show someone else how to walk forward with Him. If I become like Jesus I become like a shepherd. A shepherd leads by going first. Up ahead of me is more stuff I need, because Jesus is supposed to be up ahead of me.
In the first church, Peter et al prayed in one accord in a room until they got something they didn't have, then a bunch of people saw that, asked some questions, and decided to embark on their own journey of salvation.
This is the meaning of "repentance." Repent simply means "agree with God." Its an active thing. Not only a past thing.
Lots of "Christians" aren't actually following Jesus at all...to follow Him requires a life of motion, conforming to His steps!
This needs to be clear in the church, because people who live selfish unrighteous lives (like me) are somehow under the impression they are completely clean and just fine living selfish unrighteous lives. You can do that, I guess, but it isn't following Jesus.
It isn't love to not say anything about this topic. I went many years not understanding this. But, it's hard to say this well. It's hard because people that havent heard it before, but love God, easily feel condemned when they hear it at first. We need to talk about what it really means to follow Jesus, but with the full assurance that He is ready to help us follow Him! That is what grace really is: the power Jesus gives us to change AS WE WANT IT!
We have to actively want to change (repent), and He has the power to accomplish the changes (grace).
This is the most freeing message in the Bible, because it's the truth. The truth sets us free!
Hebrews 10:19Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
35Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
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