Repentance

It is a word too infrequently spoken in our churches today. I suspect it’s because congregations prefer to hear “feel-good” sermons and sing about Christ’s love for us...and that’s it. There is rarely a mention of the pathetic condition of man without Christ, or the condition of a “Christian” who continuously allows sin to creep in uncontested. We rarely talk about the coming day of judgment and the wrath of God. Instead our focus seems often, only on the love of God. “Fire and brimstone” sermons are avoided and considered too old fashioned and too harsh for “seeker services”. Are we really doing our fellow man a favour by ignoring the spiritual battle around us and in us, and by ignoring God’s coming day of judgment? Have we lessened the urgency to repent by saying things like :”who am I to judge” , when Christians should instead be holding one another accountable? Is there a greater failure than to fail to warn of God's impending judgment?

2:4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! [Romans 2:4-5]

Our recognition of God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience should lead us to the next step – lead us to daily repentance. We need to examine our hearts, thoughtfully read the bible, and pray that God would give us wisdom to make repentance a priority, and it should hurt us when we recognize that we have sinned. The world is sending us the opposite message: of tolerance and understanding of sinful behavior. That is not surprising because Satan is the ruler of this temporary world. Unfortunately, I see that this message is also polluting the church’s thinking. As Christians, we need to confess our sins daily and admit when we’ve failed. Woe to that person whose conscience has been so dulled that they rarely see the need to repent. That is Satan’s ploy – to make us believe that we’re really not that bad, that “surely you will not die” [Genesis 3:4] I don’t know about you, but I find that I am in a constant battle against sin, “which so easily entangles” [Hebrews 12:1], and is so prevalent in our self-seeking world. Lord forgive us and prevent us from ever becoming comfortable with sin, or failing to recognize it.

And then here’s the best part: the recognition of sin and repentance produces an overflowing, grateful heart for God’s free gift of grace. Christ died for us, so that we can live – it is impossible to overstate this! We have no hope apart from Christ to live up to the righteous standard that is demanded by God. Praise God, he has provided us a way. It’s only through the recognition and admission of sin, that we see the immeasurable value of Christ’s death.

And Lord, let it begin with me – amen:
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. [I Corinthians 9:25-27]