Article #8 - Repentance Series

May God add His blessing to the reading of His word.

Saul , the persecutor of the Church, turned into a great missionary. That is true repentance. That is a complete change in heart, mind, and soul…working itself out in a change in behavior. That’s what the Grace of God can do, if we respond to His grace calling out to us. That is a “one-eighty”—a complete turn-around.

Jesus speaks of this sort of drastic change when He says to Paul : “I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” To turn from darkness to light—from Satan to God. It’s a complete change in perspective, a new outlook on life. Not only did Paul experience this change, but he went on to preach it to others. In his own words, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Repentance is more than feeling sorry—but Godly sorrow does lead to Repentance, which leads to forgiveness. That is the Gift of God—His Grace at work in our lives. Our repentance is made evident in the change in our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. The truth of the Gospel is that we are transformed (changed) more and more into the Image of God.

So, Melody and I are not the only ones who have troubles with rodents eating the birdseed. My father really felt that the chipmunks at his house were not only eating the birdseed, but sitting on the railing, looking in the window and mocking him as they did so. He got so fed up with the pests that he went out and bought an air powered pellet gun to take care of his chipmunk problem. Now, my father is a very patient man (he must have been…having raised four sons), but he appears to have no patience left when it comes to chipmunks eating his birdseed. Now, the difference between a squirt-gun and a pellet gun is this…the pellet gun leaves no room for repentance. There is no opportunity for a chipmunk to change his behavior after having been hit in the head with a pellet.

I’m grateful that God doesn’t use pellet guns to discipline his children, but is very patient with us. Second Peter 3:9 tells us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

And yet, we are not to take advantage of God’s patience, for there is coming a day when Jesus shall return to judge the living and the dead. Acts 17:30 tells us that “30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

God’s patience is not simply that we should continue to live in sin. His grace is not given simply to allow us to carry on the way we always have. No, God’s grace and patience are leading us to repentance and righteousness. Romans 2 verse 4 cautions us against taking God’s grace for granted: “4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”