the basic message #E4
Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
Ask any Christian what it takes to become a Christian, and you’ll usually get the following: Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and repent of your sins and you will be saved. Believing in Jesus may be the easiest part for many- it’s the repentance that’s tough. I think many people confuse repentance with confession. Nearly everyone will confess their sins, but repentance is another matter indeed. In the passage above, Paul suggests that we should prove our repentance by our deeds. Another fellow said pretty much the same thing:
Matthew 3:8
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
John the Baptist, whose ministry was dominated by his urging of repentance, says the same basic thing Paul said many years later. When I was a kid in school many years ago, my buddies and I would boast about what we could do. “Prove it!” was the immediate phrase heard after our bragging ended.
I’ve noticed that many Christians have very different views about proving repentance. Some folks accuse others of trying to “work their way to Heaven” if they actively try to clean-up their lives. “Saved by grace” is the foundation of their faith. They certainly won’t get an argument from me on that statement, but consider for a moment what a foundation is. Chances are, your house or apartment is on a concrete slab, also called a foundation. While a foundation is crucial in a structure, what is built on the foundation is also important. Do you want to live in a house, or on a slab?
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
I suppose some will question the intentions of Paul, John the Baptist or Peter. Let’s listen to the Master’s words:
John 14:23-24
“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own: they belong to the Father who sent me.”
“My teaching”. What might that be? I believe that the teachings of the Master are opposite of our natural human tendencies. To rid ourselves of those tendencies we need to…..repent. My study bible defines repentance: “Repentance is more than a change of mind or feeling sorry for one’s sins. It is a radical and deliberate turning or returning to God that results in moral and ethical change and action.” I like that definition- it’s simple, yet specific. What does repentance mean for you? Is it an active turning away from sins? Or is it simply a daily crutch that says, “Oops, God, I messed up again, and I’ll probably do the same thing tomorrow and the next day.”?