Repentance REPENTANCE IS A GIFT
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Cor. 7:10.
Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are. Repentance is not our work, not a condition for acceptance with Him. We are told that this is "a point on which many err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent."--Steps to Christ, p. 26. But repentance is a gift. We receive this gift when we come to Christ.
In Revelation 3:19, the Laodicean church is admonished to be zealous and repent. For those of us living during this time in earth's history who are at least potential Laodiceans, it is of utmost importance that we understand the nature of true repentance. It is not a matter of working hard, trying to make yourself sorry. Acts 5:31 tells us, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." "Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification, and it cannot be experienced except as it is given to the soul by Christ."--Selected Messages, book 1, p. 391. So if I want repentance for today, I can go to my knees and ask God for it, because it is a gift and He delights to give good gifts to His children. Notice all of 2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Where do you get godly sorrow? From God! You don't work it up yourself.
We need to understand what it is that Laodicea needs to repent of. It is not primarily immorality. Laodicea is quite moral. Laodicea is known for its external goodness. But in spite of that, the Saviour is standing on the outside, knocking, seeking admission. What Laodicea needs to repent of is its morality, its many good works apart from Jesus. Is it possible that Jesus can still stand outside the great churches and institutions we have built, still knocking for entrance?
We need to repent of living a life whose center and focus is anything other than Christ. Is Jesus the central focus of your home, your life, your relationships? Is He the theme of your thoughts, your conversations? Or do you need to come to Him for repentance for having kept Him knocking on the outside of your heart?
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Cor. 7:10.
Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are. Repentance is not our work, not a condition for acceptance with Him. We are told that this is "a point on which many err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent."--Steps to Christ, p. 26. But repentance is a gift. We receive this gift when we come to Christ.
In Revelation 3:19, the Laodicean church is admonished to be zealous and repent. For those of us living during this time in earth's history who are at least potential Laodiceans, it is of utmost importance that we understand the nature of true repentance. It is not a matter of working hard, trying to make yourself sorry. Acts 5:31 tells us, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." "Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification, and it cannot be experienced except as it is given to the soul by Christ."--Selected Messages, book 1, p. 391. So if I want repentance for today, I can go to my knees and ask God for it, because it is a gift and He delights to give good gifts to His children. Notice all of 2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Where do you get godly sorrow? From God! You don't work it up yourself.
We need to understand what it is that Laodicea needs to repent of. It is not primarily immorality. Laodicea is quite moral. Laodicea is known for its external goodness. But in spite of that, the Saviour is standing on the outside, knocking, seeking admission. What Laodicea needs to repent of is its morality, its many good works apart from Jesus. Is it possible that Jesus can still stand outside the great churches and institutions we have built, still knocking for entrance?
We need to repent of living a life whose center and focus is anything other than Christ. Is Jesus the central focus of your home, your life, your relationships? Is He the theme of your thoughts, your conversations? Or do you need to come to Him for repentance for having kept Him knocking on the outside of your heart?
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