____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 10, 1991 ____________________________________________________ Bible Repentance by Tom Edwards ``Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent'' (Acts 17:30). Repentance is not an option, but rather a must! It is so necessary that Jesus taught, ''...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish'' (Luke 13:5); and this urgency is also seen in the first word of the first sentence of the first recorded sermon of Jesus, in which He preaches, ``Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'' (Matt. 4:17). In view of these passages, it would do us well to consider what true Bible repentance really is. As we consider this topic, one observation easily inferred is that repentance implies the free will of man and an individual responsibility. It is not some inexplicable power that overwhelms certain individuals and causes them to reform their ways; but, rather, it is by their own volition that they have determined to change their course because of their love for God, their hope of everlasting life, and their aversion towards eternal punishment. The phrase ``God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life'' (Acts 11:18) does not denote a miraculous operation, rather it signifies God's open door for even those who were non-Jewish people. That God was also extending His mercy to the Gentiles was an issue difficult to accept by many Jewish people, and in this particular context, the Lord had to even convince Peter and the six Jewish people whom he took with him to the house of Cornelius by pouring out upon the Gentiles the Holy Spirit and giving them the ability to speak with the spiritual gift of tongues. It wasn't until after then that the Jews accompanying Peter fully understood that the way of salvation is just as much for the Gentile as for the Jew. It is not an uncommon persuasion today that one automatically and simultaneously repents at the moment of belief, but this is not what the Bible teaches. In John 12:42,43, ''...many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.'' These particular individuals ``believed'' in Jesus, but had their faith caused them to also repent? According to the text, they were not even willing to confess Christ; and the reason for this was because they were afraid of being ostracized from the synagogue, and they were, therefore, more concerned with having men's favor rather than God's. In true Bible repentance, one is not only turning from sin, but he is also turning in a new direction towards the Lord, and the reason why he does this is because he wants to be forgiven of his sins and obtain God's favor. These rulers of John 12, however, had not been concerned with obtaining the favor of God; and they were, therefore, subsequently rejecting the Lord, and their faith was obviously useless. As James writes, ''...faith without works is dead'' (James 2:26), and Jesus warns, ''...whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven'' (Matt. 10:33). Isaiah shows of the two things required in repentance in 55:6,7. The passage states: ``Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked FORSAKE HIS WAY, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: AND let him RETURN UNTO THE LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'' Here we note the exhortation for the wicked to 1) turn FROM sin, and 2) turn TO God. This is also seen demonstrated in the lives of the Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 1:9: ``For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.'' What had they done? They TURNED FROM idolatry and TURNED TO the Lord. Many an atheist or agnostic has probably turned from various wicked practices, but this repenting remains incomplete because there is no turning to God on their part. Actually, there are two different Greek words translated as ``repent'' in the King James Version (Metamelomai and Metanoeo). The first means a feeling of care, concern, or regret. It expresses the emotional aspect. Such is the case with Judas Iscariot after betraying the Lord for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 27:3-5). In the King James Version, it is rendered that he had ``repented himself'' of what he had done. The New American Standard uses the phrase ``he felt remorse'' instead, which means he experienced deep and painful regret or compunction for his wrongdoing. It does not mean, however, that he repented in the way which a sinner must. Bible repentance is more than merely feeling sorry. The second Greek word that is translated as ``repent'' means ``to change or turn, to go in a new direction.'' It is a word of action. This term we find in such passages as Matthew 3:2, in which Jesus taught the need for people to ``Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'' Also in Acts 2:38 and Luke 13:5 this same Greek word is used, and these verses show repentance as being one of the necessary steps towards salvation -- mere belief is not enough. Even godly sorrow is not repentance, according to 2 Cor. 7:8-11. Rather, it is that which can ``lead to'' or ``produce'' repentance. Similarly, repentance is not the same as conviction or even a knowledge of sin, for one could be convicted or know he's in the wrong, but yet not turn from that iniquity. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, this young wastrel is portrayed as one who had taken his share of his father's estate and gone into a far place. Here he foolishly squandered his livelihood with riotous living. When his destitute condition was followed by a severe famine, he went in great need to work for a citizen in the country. His responsibility was to feed the swine -- animals that were viewed as being unclean to the Jewish people. Yet, his intense hunger had almost driven him to share with the swine the pods that they had been feeding upon. Coming to his senses, he realized how much better it would be to be back in his father's house, even if it were as one of the hired men. He then realized what he must do. Getting up, he headed for home in deep humility and planned to acknowledge to his father how wrongly he had lived. From a great distance, the father saw his son coming. He felt compassion for his lost son whom he had viewed as being dead, but was now alive again. Running out to meet him, he was soon able to reach his arms around him and gladly welcome him home with an embrace and a kiss. The son confessed to his wrongs, and the father rewarded him with the best robe, a ring, and sandals. He also ordered for the fattened calf to be killed and prepared for a joyous occasion. In this parable, the son had wandered away and lived carelessly in sin. The Bible shows that all who have reached an age of accountability have become guilty of not measuring up to God's standard: ``for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...there is none righteous, not even one'' (Rom. 3:23, 10). Fortunately, the son realized his condition; and sinners today must do likewise. Jesus states in Luke 5:32 that ``I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'' Man must, therefore, realize that he is a transgressor in God's sight and has need for the saving grace and tender mercy of the Lord. Just realizing his need and knowing where to turn would not have been profitable for the son, however, unless he put some action into those thoughts: he had to arise and return to his father. As we have seen in today's lesson, this is part of repentance: a returning to the Father. Lastly, we note how graciously the son was received: the robe, the ring, and the sandals were given him to replace what was probably not much more than rags that he had been wearing. In like manner, God will provide those who come to Him with the ``robes of righteousness'' and in heaven with glorified bodies. The father did not berate his son because of his prodigal life. Rather he accepted his repentance and showed his forgiveness with great blessings. It was a joyous occasion. In similitude, ``there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance...there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents'' (Luke 15:7,10). Will you be one whom the angels will rejoice over? Have you repented of your sins in the Bible sense of the term by turning from transgressions and turning to the Lord? If we can help you in any way concerning this, feel free to contact us at the address shown on this bulletin. Thank you. ___________________________________________ "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4) "if...My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgiven their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:13,14). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________