We Need A "Saving Repentance"

"Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them."  - Matthew Henry

Jesus, after His resurrection, sent His disciplines out into the world as witnesses, to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His name (Luke 24:44-47). The Greek word for repentance appears fifty-seven times in the New Testament and is literally translated "change of mind."

John preached to God's ancient people of Israel that change of mind, necessary to the reception of their promised Messiah (Matthew 3:1-3). And though he had humbly arrived when they were expecting Him to come in power and glory, Jesus preached to them that "change of mind" which should accept Him as their Messiah and King, (Mark 1:14-15).

Peter, too, on the day of Pentecost, preached to them that change of mind which should accept Jesus, whom they had crucified and God had raised from the dead, as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36-38).

We, must take care, however, not to confuse repentance with remorse. Having remorse is to experience a change of concern after a change of emotion; usually implying "to regret" as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:8.

Sometimes this remorse can affect us very deeply as it did with Judas Iscariot, who hanged himself after his heinous deed was completed (Matthew 27:3-5). However, every sinner must keep in mind that "remorse for sin" is not "saving repentance."

2 Corinthians 7:9-10, was written to Christians who had been made sorrowful into repentance in that, grieved by Paul's letter, they had changed their mind toward the man in the church who had committed a grievous sin (1 Corinthians 5:1). In this repentance they were saved from being a continual disgrace to the name of Christ (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

So while "the sorrow of the world brings death," as in the case of Judas, it is equally necessary to point out that it is impossible for the unsaved sinner to exercise "godly sorrow." (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Thus, the unsaved sinner is himself ungodly; nothing "godly" can come out of ungodliness. Repentance is not something that can simply be worked out by the sinner himself before accepting salvation as the gift of God.

One only truly repents when he "changes his mind," and instead of continuing to reject Christ, accepts Him. Furthermore, it is the Gospel that leads him to repent, or in the language of Scripture: "God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth," (2 Timothy 2:25).

Therefore, one must ask the question, "What truth must I accept in order to be saved?" This is answered for us in the Gospel that asks every sinner to change his mind about himself and about God. "Saving repentance" is the sinner's forsaking his ways and surrendering his own thoughts, to turn to God and believe in Christ (Acts 17:30).

Scripture: Acts 3:19; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 4:17;  2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 13:3

Prayer: Dear God, have mercy on me; and in Your goodness and Your abundant compassion, blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt, and cleanse me of my sin, amen.

May God bless you,

Kaye