The gift of repentance
The time of lent is full of the idea of repentance. Sometimes we have talked about repentance as being a complete change of life, or as a change of direction or as improving your aim. But, have you ever considered that repentance is a gift from God?
When it comes to thinking about things in a new way let me pose a kind of silly riddle. Imagine you are in a room with no door or window, the walls are high, smooth and circular. In the middle of the room is a table, on the table is a hand mirror. How do you get out? First, look into the mirror and see what you saw. Take the saw and cut the table in half, two halves make a whole, take the hole and put it in the wall to escape.
OK, now that our minds are loosened up let’s talk about gifts. Everyone likes to receive a gift. Getting a gift can be broken into steps. The initial step is the offer of the gift from the gift giver; then, receiving the gift, and then, opening the gift and finally, enjoying the gift.
Repentance, as a gift, has been offered by the Lord to all.
2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The gift is there for whoever will take it up. Let us then, receive it.
(All together)
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
Have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
(response)
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, Strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.
Now that we have received it, let’s unwrap this gift. Wrapping paper is a curious thing in that it does two opposite things. First it conceals, but then it reveals. Our gift is wrapped up in the pages of the Scriptures. Which at first conceal as in, Isaiah 6:9-10, “He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” and
2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
But with God’s help let’s unwrap this gift and reveal it.
Psalm 98:2 “The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.”
2 Timothy 1:9-10, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
If the gift we opened was a jewel we would admire its facets, if it was an iphone we would explore its functions. Let’s think about the facets and functions of repentance.
The idea of repentance features prominently in both the Old and the New Testaments. In Hebrew the idea is like someone who has gone down a wrong path and must turn around to get back to the right way. C.S. Lewis said, “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” In the Greek repentance is simply to change your mind, to stop believing one thing and begin believing a new thing. This is what Paul meant in Romans12:2, ” Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Rowland Hill was a preacher in England 1744-1833. When he was nearing death, he said that he had one regret and that was that a dear friend of his who had lived with him for sixty years would have to leave him at the gate of heaven. That dear friend said he, was repentance. “Repentance has been with me all my life and I think that I shall drop a tear”, said the good man, “as I go through the gates to think that I can repent no more.” – quote from Charles Spurgeon sermon Faith and Repentance Inseparable.
Do we think of repentance as a good companion? It is surely a good friend who leads us on to faith and trust in the Lord.
What else does repentance do? Repentance restores relationships. If a friend offends you, you would never be so callous as to snub them when they come begging forgiveness. No, but their repentance mends the tear in the relationship. Consider then that God is much more willing and able to forgive than we are. He is the father of all us prodigals. He comes running to meet us as soon as we turn our face toward home and determine to make right our wrongs. He kills the fatted calf, he clothes us in righteousness, He rejoices over every single repentant heart.
Some gifts are used only once or are only for certain occasions but repentance is the best kind of gift that is good to use often and on any occasion.
Have you discovered that God is immeasurably great and second-guessing Providence is sheer cheek? Do like Job, repent. Have you been caught indulging when you ought to have been fighting? Follow David in repentance. Have you been knocked off your high horse? Repent as the apostle Paul did. Are you near to death? We are all one heartbeat from eternity. Remember the thief on the cross and repent.
Luke 23:39-43,”One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
That thief who looked to Jesus for salvation of his soul and the other who would not are two standards that every person who ever lived line up behind. On Calvary is Christ and we are there also bearing death borne of sin that we willfully wrought. Will you curse God and die or call out for mercy and be saved?
And ultimately, what is the gain from all this?
John 11:25-26, ” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Revelation 21:2-5, ” I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
For those of us who like Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress have felt the burden and felt it relieved at the cross what else do we have to do with repentance? The Lord told Peter in John 13:10, “ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean…” We walk in newness of life but our walk is still in this world. It can be a bit mucky. What a relief and a joy to have the privilege of coming before Jesus and presenting our mucky feet that he might cleanse us once more.
brotherpayne 