As I've come to see, repentance is indeed a turning, a changing of one's mind. However, this is more to do with how I see Christ, and less about how sorry I am.
Yes, of course I am truly sorry, and indeed purpose to better behavior in the future.
But I repent when I see that my works, be they sinful or selfless, have in fact no bearing on my status as a child of God, wholly forgiven and cleansed. Prior to this, I was always looking at my walk - oh today I was pretty good, well, better than yesterday. Of this I repent.
I repent of ever seeing myself loom large, and Christ's work as all in all, well it's there too.
Thanks for the comment! I guess I've never heard it put in those terms before. I think that any thoughts that are out of alignment with what God says need to be changed whether they have to do with sin or our identity and acceptance in Christ.
I guess when I think of repentance in the Christian life, at least as I wrote about it today, it kind of is the human side or expression of Philippians 2:13, if maybe this is helpful?
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
There's a command to the Christian to continue to work out, or evidence their salvation with fear and trembling, but the only way this can be done is because God is the One who is at work in us. He's the One that shows us when our walk is out of alignment, or our thoughts about Him aren't right, or even that we're looking too much at what we bring to the table versus what Christ has done for us.
God is the source, He's the One who began the work and promises to finish it (Phil. 1:6) and He's the One who is presently at work in us. He begins it, carries us through, and finishes it. The human side, is that as He is working on us and shaping our desires that we come to God's terms on our condition/sin/thoughts/whatever so that we desire what He desires. Yet, ultimately it's His work in us.
There has just been perhaps a bit too much (not from what you’ve written) on what amounts to turning repentance into a work. How sorry? Really, really sorry? Well why do you keep sinning? IDK!
Anyhow, keep up the great posts and God bless your efforts.
Yeah I understand that and the concern there. Appreciate the encouragement!
In my 2.5 years of pastoring I've only had one person who has totally left the church and this guy has left a number of local churches because anytime you mention repentance he claims you're preaching a works-based gospel.
I understand how it could get there if misunderstood or miscommunicated, at least in the extreme, but I felt I was pretty clear. Oh well.
Can I push back a little?
As I've come to see, repentance is indeed a turning, a changing of one's mind. However, this is more to do with how I see Christ, and less about how sorry I am.
Yes, of course I am truly sorry, and indeed purpose to better behavior in the future.
But I repent when I see that my works, be they sinful or selfless, have in fact no bearing on my status as a child of God, wholly forgiven and cleansed. Prior to this, I was always looking at my walk - oh today I was pretty good, well, better than yesterday. Of this I repent.
I repent of ever seeing myself loom large, and Christ's work as all in all, well it's there too.
Thanks for the comment! I guess I've never heard it put in those terms before. I think that any thoughts that are out of alignment with what God says need to be changed whether they have to do with sin or our identity and acceptance in Christ.
I guess when I think of repentance in the Christian life, at least as I wrote about it today, it kind of is the human side or expression of Philippians 2:13, if maybe this is helpful?
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
There's a command to the Christian to continue to work out, or evidence their salvation with fear and trembling, but the only way this can be done is because God is the One who is at work in us. He's the One that shows us when our walk is out of alignment, or our thoughts about Him aren't right, or even that we're looking too much at what we bring to the table versus what Christ has done for us.
God is the source, He's the One who began the work and promises to finish it (Phil. 1:6) and He's the One who is presently at work in us. He begins it, carries us through, and finishes it. The human side, is that as He is working on us and shaping our desires that we come to God's terms on our condition/sin/thoughts/whatever so that we desire what He desires. Yet, ultimately it's His work in us.
Does that make any sense or clarify at all?
Yes, and thank you.
There has just been perhaps a bit too much (not from what you’ve written) on what amounts to turning repentance into a work. How sorry? Really, really sorry? Well why do you keep sinning? IDK!
Anyhow, keep up the great posts and God bless your efforts.
Yeah I understand that and the concern there. Appreciate the encouragement!
In my 2.5 years of pastoring I've only had one person who has totally left the church and this guy has left a number of local churches because anytime you mention repentance he claims you're preaching a works-based gospel.
I understand how it could get there if misunderstood or miscommunicated, at least in the extreme, but I felt I was pretty clear. Oh well.
Thanks for the dialogue.