The Work of Repentance

I have been examining the concept of repentance. Since it has often been defined as agreeing with God about our sinfulness and need to change, what would this agreement look like? To what standard must I hold myself if I want to be in agreement with God about my life style, my behavioral choices, my thought life?

In nearly every book of the Bible, we are told to be obedient to God and what His requirements are. He has clearly set the standard. The commandments were given by God Himself to Moses. Those same commands were summarized by Jesus when He said, "... love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind and spirit and love your neighbor as yourself". These are the warnings we must heed in order to be obedient and truly repentant. "By them (the commands of God) is your servant warned and in keeping them there is great reward." Psalm 19:11

So did God understand how difficult obeying would be and how often we would have to confess our failures? Of course He did! The laws teach us what sin is and the Holy Spirit helps us understand our need to repent. I see repentance then as an ongoing process. I am no theologian or Biblical scholar, but I read so many scriptures which point out as Paul did that "What I want to do, I don't do and the evil I don't want to do, I keep doing." (My paraphrase of Romans 7:19.)

The absolutely terrific news is the conclusion Paul came to; the same answer that is our answer. "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" This is what Paul asked as he lamented over his sin. The answer is still the same - Christ Jesus our LORD! Repentance leads us to the cross. The cross leads us to the empty tomb and the ultimate victory over both sin and death which is ours in Jesus. He is God's perfect answer and our answer to the sin problem.

Can we change? Can we turn away from sinful habits and agree with God that He is right about us, that we desperately need Him? Yes, we can do that, through faith in Christ whose kindness leads us to repentance every day, every hour until we see Him face to face. Doma