Repentance
February 27, 2017Repentance as a way of life
The topic of repentance occupies considerable bandwidth in some spheres of evangelicalism. The tension is most palpable in the works v. faith argument. If repentance is something I can gin up, then it serves towards my salvific end and must be considered a work (a thought that Ephesians 2:8-9 repudiates). But if I have no “skin in the game”, why bother to worry about the behaviors of my life.
The usual definition of repentance requires a “turning from something and going the other way.” The given in this working definition is the expectation of continuation on the new path. True repentance requires a continuing pursuit towards a new end. The core of repentance must be questioned when there is not a continuing aspect to it. When done properly, the change of purpose will be noted for a while.
A quote attributed to Bob Dylan says, “People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.” How often does this describe you? Sometimes the wrong we do stems from a lack of knowledge. Other times it’s just caused by distraction or laziness. One problem with not getting “repentance as a lifestyle’’ nailed down is the tendency we have to use the Grace of Forgiveness as a license to sin. In his letter to the Romans, Paul forcefully decries this mentality with “Certainly not!” (Romans 6:1-2, NKJV). Work today on making repentance your way of life. Let it change your mind, change your purpose, and change your life.
Pastor Dave
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