THE
BOOK OF GOD'S PROMISES
Understanding Biblical Repentance
By
J. Stephen Lang
CBN.com
-- This word has gone out of style, although the word change is
certainly popular. Change is part of repentance, of course. In fact, it is the
forgotten part. We have the strange idea that repentance simply means saying to
God, with tears in our eyes, "I'm sorry." Well, that is Step One.
Step Two, more
important than the tears, is change. Martin Luther put it this way: "To do so
no more is the truest repentance." In other words, if we are gossiping, cheating,
committing some sexual sin, being just plain selfish, the response to God is "I'm
truly sorry" followed by "I won't do it again."
The good news is, God accepts
this -- joyfully, in fact. "If my people who are called by my name will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear
from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." 2 Chronicles
7:14 If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and
to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:9 The Bible's great "song of repentance"
is Psalm 51, written by King David himself. It expresses the desire -- and the
expectation -- that God will forgive the believer's sin and restore the broken
relationship. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will
be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me -- now
let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. .
. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish
me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me
again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will
teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you. You would not be pleased
with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you
would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant
heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:7-13, 16-17 People often like
to think of Jesus as a great moral teacher. He was that. But as the opening of
Mark's Gospel makes clear, Jesus' main message was repentance: Jesus
went to Galilee to preach God's Good News. "At last the time has come!" he announced.
"The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!"
Mark 1:15 "Healthy people don't need a doctor -- sick people do. I have
come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those
who think they are already good enough." Luke 5:31-32 The Lord isn't really
being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being
patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more
time for everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 Jesus' most famous parable is usually
called the parable of the "prodigal son." It would be more accurate to call it
the parable of the "repentant son," or, even better, the parable of the forgiving
father." Nowhere in the Bible are repentance and the promise of God's forgiveness
made more vivid. Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. The younger
son told his father, `I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until
you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. "A few
days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant
land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. About the time his money
ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded
a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. The boy became so hungry that even
the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
"When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, `At home even the
hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go
home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired
man."' "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance
away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his
son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned
against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'
"But his father said to the servants, `Quick! Bring the finest robe in the
house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.
And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a
feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost,
but now he is found.' So the party began." Luke 15:11-23
The Book of God's Promises -- Copyright, 1999 by J.
Stephen Lang. All rights reserved, used with permission.
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