More About Repentance

Tozier, in one of his books dealt with a thought that centers on an assumption that people have. He said that many merely assume that they have experienced relationships, but the truth of the matter is that they never experienced a thing. People agree with Paul and the things he said that he had experienced. Then they assume that they too have had the same experiences just because they agree with Paul. We see this happen often concerning being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are many that assume they have been filled but most people that are around them know otherwise. It must be that many take things for granted without ever checking them out. A Scriptural check-up would help us to see the truth of what we have experienced.

Let's carry this thought over into the preaching on the doctrine of repentance. I think most of us agree that it is a Bible doctrine and that it is essential to salvation. (Luke 13:3-5) Now this is where I want to direct a thought to you about what we do often while preaching. After sounding the trumpet about the need to repent we go about to undo all that we've said a sinner must do to receive forgiveness. At invitation time the standard appeal to sinners goes something like this: "Come to Jesus just as you are - there is nothing you can do to be saved, it is all of God - salvation is of the Lord, not of works. Just come and trust Jesus as your Saviour." Oh? What happened to the repentance that was preached a few moments ago? Is it no longer necessary or required? Could be we assume we've preached repentance, but in reality our people receive another message altogether, believing there is nothing for them to do? Acts 20:21 is still in the Bible. I remember as a boy when the invitation was given, ever once in a while you'd see a pack of cigarettes, or some other item lying on the altar when a new convert went back to his seat. Reckon the message was getting through better, or have we confused the issue today? I might be wrong, but I thought repentance meant you stopped, quit a sin, or forsook the sin you repented of. Preachers used to say you hadn't repented if you continued in sin. Seems to me that we agree to a salvation experience that allows a person to continue in the very sins they were committing before they were saved. Could it be that a whole lot of our repenting is nothing more than Catholic confession? Wonder who is at fault?

Let me venture a little farther in this thought. I still maintain in many ways we assume we're getting the message across, but they're hearing it different from what we preached it. How about the daily walk of the believer? We preach separation from the world and that they are to be holy unto the Lord. We say they must put off the old man and put on the new man - after the likeness of Christ. I still believe, like many of you, that God's people ought to be holy and blameless. I'm not implying sinless perfection, which is the common accusation against anyone who preaches holiness, but it is a great goal to press toward, I believe. What level of Christianity do you think we should press for? After warning the people of the chastisement of God and impending judgment for sins they fail to deal with we go into this standard jargon about how impossible it is to live holy since you're in this flesh and have this Adamic nature. We shoot down any thoughts of ever living a holy, blameless life and in fact, accept it as normal to live in habitual sin. Now where did repentance go this time? Must be it's still in the confession stage, never reached the 2 Cor 7:10 stage of repentance not to be repented of.

I'm a little thick and slow to learn, but pray tell me if people repent of their sins, why are they still committing the same ones over and over again? Every revival the evangelist can hit the same sins - failure to read your Bible, not praying, not loving your brother, separation from the world, etc. And sure enough, people will come forward and repent for the same sins. Wonder if they received mercy each time? Could be this is why drunks never lay down their bottles and still claim they have mercy, and fornicators are still in their sin.

Do you believe we're impressing the minds of people that they must repent or they will perish? You be the judge. If I'm wrong, get a pen and paper and tell me what you think.

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