Christian repentance

Introduction The Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus Christ is summed up in the words of Jesus, in Mark 1:15, when the Lord says, Repent and believe the Good News... This is a !all that is repeated in the other Gospels" #or people to see how that phrase sums up the Good News it is ne!essary for them to understand what the Lord was sayin$ when %e !alled on people to repent and, e&ually important, it is ne!essary to understand what it is that people are !alled to 'elie(e" The ne!essity for understandin$ !an 'e seen when it is realised that the word repent has well o(er )* different appli!ations, a!!ordin$ to +tron$,s -.hausti(e Con!ordan!e" These in!lude su!h di(erse meanin$s as to !ir!um!ise, to turn 'a!k, to per(ert, to slide 'a!k and to re/oi!e" 0ll these !ir!umstan!es, and a host of others, are all !o(ered 'y the use of the one word repent" The purpose of this study is to fo!us upon, and answer, the fundamental &uestion, 1hat did Jesus mean when %e !alled upon people to repent2 1hat does repentan!e, as Jesus tea!hes it, mean in terms of a person,s relationship with God2 The se!ond purpose of this !hapter is to !larify e.a!tly what it is that a Christian should 'elie(e" Old Testament repentance 3epentan!e is not a New Co(enant !on!ept" 4t is important to understand 5ld Testament, and therefore 5ld Co(enant, repentan!e in order to 'e a'le to !ontrast it with New Testament, New Co(enant repentan!e" 4n the 5ld Testament 65ld Co(enant7: The 3a''is tau$ht 4srael that repentance was something which man initiated and to whi!h God then $a(e a warm, lo(in$ response" 4n Jo' 8):88 the &uestion is asked, Should God reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? 4n other words, repentan!e was first !arried out 'y man 'efore the lo(in$ reward was $i(en 'y God" The ra''is tau$ht that repentance would restore communion with God" Jeremiah 15:19 says, This is what the Lord says, f you repent will restore you that you may serve !e." %ere is God %imself sayin$ that repentan!e will 'rin$ restoration into a relationship where'y a person may ser(e the Lord" 5n!e a$ain this puts the emphasis upon man" Man must first repent 'efore the Lord will restore the relationship" 4n the 5ld Testament, repentance was an often repeated event" 5(er and o(er a$ain, throu$hout the writin$s of the prophets, 4srael was !alled upon to repent 'e!ause she had strayed from the ways of the Lord" 4srael would 'e !alled to repent by renouncing sin and turning back to God. 0 lack of repentance often brought hard times, or punishment. 4n %osea 11:5, speakin$ of 4srael, the &uestion is put, #ill they not return to $%ypt and will not &ssyria rule over them be'ause they refuse to

Christian repentance
repent? 4f 4srael refused to repent, God was prepared to $o to the e.treme of allowin$ 4srael to 'e o(er!ome 'y her enemies" There are other elements to 5ld Testament, 5ld Co(enant, repentan!e" There is the element of feelin$ sorry for any sins !ommitted and the element of reparation : where any wron$ !ommitted had to 'e put ri$ht with the person a$ainst whom the wron$ had 'een !ommitted" These aspe!ts of repentan!e, and all the others, firmly put the emphasis upon man" ;nmistaka'ly, in the 5ld Testament, under the 5ld Co(enant, repentan!e was somethin$ whi!h man initiated and to whi!h God then responded or, as in the !ase of %osea, man failed to initiate and God then punished the unrepentant sinner or nation" Some modern, and incorrect, teachings on repentance Many <elie(ers are tau$ht, and hold onto, an 5ld Testament, 5ld Co(enant, understandin$ of repentan!e" #or many New Co(enant <elie(ers today, repentan!e is still somethin$ whi!h is man:initiated, somethin$ man does to draw a response from God, somethin$ repeatedly !arried out, a feelin$ of 'ein$ and=or sayin$ sorry, somethin$ whi!h in(ol(es a !ommitment to stri(e to ne(er !ommit a parti!ular sin a$ain and somethin$ whi!h in!ludes payin$ 'a!k or makin$ up for the wron$ done" Modern, and in!orre!t, tea!hin$ also in!ludes that the failure to repent may 'e responsi'le for some pro'lem or hard time 'ein$ en!ountered 'y a <elie(er" The Christian !hur!h is li(in$ with an, essentially man:!entred understandin$ and pra!tise of repentan!e" This wron$ tea!hin$ is one area where many a <elie(er has 'een ro''ed of the /oy of their sal(ation" This wron$ tea!hin$ results in repentan!e 'e!omin$ a 'urden to the <elie(er" 4t defle!ts the <elie(er,s $a>e from the !ross of Christ and re:fo!uses the <elie(er upon his or her own performan!e and, $enerally, his or her own inade&ua!ies" +u!h a tea!hin$ 'rin$s no $lory to Jesus 4 ha(e had someone say to me that he had done somethin$ wron$ and that he had 'een repentin$ furiously e(er sin!e" <y this the person meant that he had 'een tryin$ to !on(in!e God that he was truly sorry and that he would stri(e not to repeat that parti!ular sin" %e has, in !ommon with many, an idea of repentan!e whi!h fo!uses totally upon his effort and his, in some way, makin$ himself on!e a$ain a!!epta'le to God in order to ha(e !ommunion restored" The Good News of the Gospel is that it is 0LL a'out what God, in Jesus, has done for the 'elie(er and at no point should that emphasis e(er 'e re(ersed into what the <elie(er does for God" 5ne of the thin$s whi!h God has done for the <elie(er is to eternally re!on!ile the <elie(er, throu$h Jesus, to %imself" That re!on!iliation is throu$h Jesus and 'y Jesus : and nothin$ !an interrupt it" This is e.pressed in ? Corinthians 5:1@:19, &ll this (the doin% away with the old and the 'omin% of the new

Christian repentance
in the )eliever* is from God, who re'on'iled us to +imself throu%h ,hrist and has %iven us the ministry of re'on'iliation- that God was re'on'ilin% the world to +imself in ,hrist, not 'ountin% men"s sins a%ainst them" Salvation and repentance The Gospel affirms that sal(ation is 'y faith alone" 4n appro.imately 15* passa$es of the New Testament sal(ation is said to depend on 'elie(in$ or faith alone" There are, thou$h some passa$es whi!h appear to !ause !onfusion within the !hur!h, and within indi(idual <elie(ers, as to the sour!e and means of sal(ation" To faith is often added the need to !onfess sins" This is 'ased upon 1 John 1:9, f we 'onfess our sins, +e is faithful and .ust and will for%ive us our sins and purify us from all unri%hteousness. The emphasis is usually put on the word, f.. with the impli!ation that if the <elie(er does not !onfess his or her sins then those sins are not for$i(en" +al(ation !an 'e made dependent upon !onfession of Christ" 4n 3omans 1*:9 Aaul writes, That if you 'onfess with your mouth, /esus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised +im from the dead, you will be saved. That +!ripture is often mis:used to su$$est that if a Christian does not openly !onfess Christ with his mouth then that Christian will not 'e sa(ed" <aptism is another re&uirement whi!h has 'een added to faith" <ased upon the words of Aeter in 0!ts ?:8@ when, in response to the &uestion from the !on(i!ted Jews, )rothers, what shall we do? 0eter replied, 1Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of /esus ,hrist for the for%iveness of your sins. n !ar2 34-34 the words of /esus +imself are, 1#hoever believes and is baptised will be saved... +u!h +!riptures need to 'e read, and understood, in the li$ht of the !ross of Cal(ary" 0ny addition to faith alone, as the means of sal(ation, is to deny the suffi!ien!y of the !ross and, as su!h, is a messa$e whi!h strikes at the (ery heart of the Gospel" 1hether that addition to faith is !onfession of sin, !onfession of Christ, 'aptism or repentan!e : or indeed, anythin$ else : and whether that addition 0AA-03+ to ha(e +!riptural authority, the fundamental truth of the Christian Gospel is that faith in ChristBs a!hie(ement on the !ross for the <elie(er, and that alone, is all suffi!ient for sal(ation" 5or it is by %ra'e you have been saved, throu%h faith 6 and this not of yourselves, it is the %ift of God... -ph ?:@" Cespite this fundamental truth of sal(ation 'y $ra!e, throu$h faith, the Christian !annot deny that repentan!e is a 'asi! theme of the Gospels and that Jesus Christ !ommands %is followers to repent" This, then, raises a &uestion" 4s it a!tually ne!essary to add repentan!e to faith as the (ehi!le of sal(ation or, under the New Co(enant, is it possi'le that repentan!e is an inte$ral part of faith and not at all a separate issue2 4f the latter is true, if faith and repentan!e ine(ita'ly $o hand in hand under the New

Christian repentance
Co(enant, then it remo(es from the indi(idual Christian the 'urden of repentan!e : 'e!ause faith, and therefore repentan!e, is a $ift from God" 4f repentan!e is an inte$ral part of faith : in other words, if there !annot 'e faith without repentan!e and there !annot 'e repentan!e without faith : it puts the responsi'ility s&uarely 'a!k onto God, as -phesians ?:@ hi$hli$hts" 4f this is the !ase then it 'rin$s repentan!e 'a!k into line with the rest of the Good News of the Gospel in whi!h the entire emphasis is upon what God, in Jesus, has done for man" ew Testament repentance 5ne of the first +!riptures worth notin$ from the New Testament, !on!ernin$ repentan!e, is 0!ts 5:81" This says, God e7alted +im (/esus* to +is own ri%ht hand as 0rin'e and Saviour that He might give repentan'e and for%iveness of sins to srael. The first referen!e to repentan!e outside the Gospels does, indeed, speak of repentan!e 'ein$ a $ift from God to man" 4n this +!ripture it !learly shows that God is the initiator of New Co(enant repentan!e : in stark !ontrast to the repentan!e of the 5ld Testament, 5ld Co(enant" 0!ts 11:1@ emphasises the point that New Co(enant repentan!e is initiated 'y God when it says, #hen they heard this 6that the %oly +pirit had 'een $i(en to the Gentiles7, they had no further ob.e'tions and praised God sayin%, God has granted even the Gentiles repentan'e unto life." New Testament, New Co(enant, repentan!e is somethin$ $ranted 'y God" 4n the whole of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the emphasis is upon what God has done for man" The +!riptures show that this is true in this fundamental matter of repentan!e" 4n the 5ld Testament, 5ld Co(enant, repentan!e was somethin$ done 'y man to draw a response from God" 4n the New Testament, under the New Co(enant, the order is re(ersed" 4n 3omans ?: ) it says, 8r do you show 'ontempt for the ri'hes of +is 6God,s7 2indness, toleran'e and patien'e, not realisin% that Gods kindness leads you to repentance. Now the order is that God does somethin$ and man responds" 4t is God,s kindness that leads a person to respond to God, and that response is !alled repentan!e" 1hat was that kindness from God2 4t was that %e $a(e %is +on, Jesus Christ, for mankind : as it says in -phesians ?:D, 1...in the 'omin% a%es +e 6God7 mi%ht show the in'omparable ri'hes of +is %ra'e, e7pressed in +is 2indness to us in ,hrist /esus. The 0postle Aaul writes, in ? Tim ?:?5, of how repentan!e is somethin$ $ranted 'y God" %e writes, Those who oppose him 6the Lord,s ser(ant7 he must %ently instru't in the hope that God will grant them repentan'e leadin% to a 2nowled%e of the truth. The writer of the letter to the %e'rews 'rin$s out the point that 1...repentan'e from a'ts that lead to death,"" is a foundation of the

Christian repentance
Christian Gospel" The &uestion must 'e asked, 1hat is it that, in a Gospel rooted in God,s $ra!e to man, will lead to death : and from whi!h the Christian should, therefore, repent2 4t is not the Christian,s sins whi!h lead to death : althou$h that is how many would interpret that +!ripture" 4t !annot 'e the Christian,s sins 'e!ause they are paid for, the <i'le tea!hes, 'y the 'lood of Jesus" No, it is le$alism whi!h, under a Co(enant of Gra!e, leads to death" This is attested to in %e'rews 1*:?E: ?9, +ow mu'h more severely do you thin2 a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thin% the blood of the 'ovenant whi'h san'tified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of Gra'e. 4t is le$alism from whi!h Christians are, in %e'rews E:1, !ommanded to repent" 0 final +!ripture worth &uotin$ is in %e'rews E:),E where the writer says, t is impossible for those who have on'e been enli%htened....if they fall away, to be brou%ht ba'2 to repentan'e.. +o, !ontrary to the 5ld Co(enant !on!ept of repeated a!ts of repentan!e and, indeed, !ontrary to mu!h modern tea!hin$ alon$ the same lines, the <i'le says that, under the New Co(enant, it is impossi'le to repent a se!ond time ha(in$ on!e repented and then fallen away" +o, to summarise the ma/or tea!hin$s on repentan!e under the New Co(enant: it is a $ift from Jesus, it is $ranted 'y God, it is man,s response to God,s kindness, it is a foundation of the Christian faith and it is impossi'le to return to it" That totally separates New Co(enant repentan!e from 5ld Co(enant repentan!e" The Christian must make sure that he or she is li(in$ under New Co(enant repentan!e" !esus" teachings on repentance 1hen Jesus !ame %e !alled upon people to repent and %e tau$ht a'out repentan!e" 1hen Jesus sent out %is dis!iples, %e told them to $o and prea!h that people should repent" 3epentan!e is a ma/or theme of the Gospel and in fa!t, as the writer to the %e'rews says, it is a foundation of the Christian faith" ;nless there are ma/or differen!es 'etween what Jesus tau$ht as repentan!e and what the 3a''is tau$ht under the 5ld Co(enant then, essentially, Jesus would ha(e 'een only reinfor!in$ Judaism" 4n %is tea!hin$s Jesus $i(es %is definition of repentan!e" The #ost Sheep 4n Luke 15 there are three separate stories all re(ol(in$ around the issues of repentan!e" 4n the first story Jesus tells of some sheep, one of whi!h 'e!omes lost and ninety nine whi!h do not 'e!ome lost" The shepherd sear!hes for, and finds, the lost sheep" The shepherd then !arries the lost sheep 'a!k home and, finally, in(ites his nei$h'ours to$ether to share his /oy o(er the sheep 'ein$ found" Jesus then says, in (erse D, tell you that in the same way there will be more re.oi'in% in heaven over one

Christian repentance
sinner who repents than over ninety6nine ri%hteous persons who do not need to repent. Jesus draws a !lear !omparison 'etween the one lost sheep and the one repentant sinner and 'etween the ninety nine sheep who did not $et lost and the ninety nine persons who did not need to repent" Jesus says that the se&uen!e of e(ents whi!h the lost sheep went throu$h is in the same way the path of a repentant sinner" 4n order, then, to understand Jesus, definition of repentan!e, the &uestion must 'e asked, 1hat did the lost sheep do that allows Jesus to liken it to a repentant sinner2 The +!riptures show that in the se&uen!e of e(ents in the openin$ story in Luke 15, the only a!ti(e part played 'y the sheep was that it $ot lost" 0ll other e(ents affe!tin$ that sheep were initiated and !arried throu$h 'y the shepherd" The shepherd did the sear!hin$, the shepherd did the findin$, the shepherd did the liftin$ and the !arryin$ and, finally, the shepherd $athered his nei$h'ours to share his /oy" Throu$hout that se&uen!e of e(ents, Jesus says that lost sheep is like a repentant sinner" The sheep !ontri'utes two thin$s to the se&uen!e of e(ents whi!h lead to it 'ein$ restored to its home" 4nitially, the sheep $ets lostF su'se&uently, the sheep a!!epts 'ein$ found" 4t allows the shepherd to !arry it home on his shoulders" 1ithout the sheepBs !onsent, the shepherd would not ha(e 'een a'le to lift and !arry a full $rown sheep" +o the sheep $ot lost, and a!!epted 'ein$ found" That, Jesus says, is repentan!e under the New Co(enant" The Christian a!!epts that he is lost : that is why the Christian turned to Jesus and a!!epted %im as Lord and +a(iour" New Co(enant repentan!e re&uires one other thin$ : that the lost one should a!!ept that he has 'een found and that it is the responsi'ility, and /oy, of the +hepherd to !arry him safe home, all the way to Glory" There is no room in Jesus, story, and definition, for any !on!ept of the repentant sinner !ontri'utin$ anythin$ towards his sal(ation or his restoration" There is no su$$estion of stri(in$ not to $et lost a$ain, no su$$estion of !ontrition or sorrow, no su$$estion of any 'urden or responsi'ility 'ein$ pla!ed upon, or a!!epted 'y, the repentant one at any point" %ow different from the 5ld Co(enant where the 'urden was s&uarely upon the sinner to $et ri$ht with God" Now it is God who makes man ri$ht with %imself" 4t should 'e noted that it is the shepherd,s /oy to !arry the 'urden of the lost sheep until it is safe 'a!k home- 1...he .oyfully puts it on his shoulders and %oes home. 4t is Jesus, /oy to !arry the responsi'ility for not only the sal(ation of the lost sinner 'ut, also, for the restoration of that lost sinner into the family of God and, e(entually, ri$ht into Glory" The #ost Coin

Christian repentance
The story whi!h follows, the Aara'le of The Lost Coin, illustrates the same points" 4t is the !oin whi!h is lost" The woman does the !leanin$ and the sear!hin$ until the !oin is found and restored" 0$ain, Jesus likens that lost !oin to a repentant sinner" +o, a$ain, the &uestion must 'e asked, 1hat does the !oin do that allows Jesus to liken it to a repentant sinner2 0s with the lost sheep, the answer to that &uestion is that the !oin 'e!ame lost and then was found" The !oin !ontri'uted nothin$ else to the se&uen!e of e(ents" The initiati(e and responsi'ility for lo!atin$ and restorin$ the !oin lay entirely with the woman" Just as with the Christian, the initiati(e and responsi'ility for his or her sal(ation and restoration lies entirely with God : a!!eptin$ that truth is, a!!ordin$ to the tea!hin$s of Christ, New Co(enant repentan!e" The pro'lem for the Christian is not in a!!eptin$ his lostness" -(ery <elie(er did that 'efore a!!eptin$ Jesus as +a(iour : indeed, it is the re!o$ni>in$ of his need for a sa(iour that leads a Christian to a!!ept the +a(iour The pro'lem for the Christian is in a!!eptin$ that he has 'een found and a!!eptin$ that it is God,s responsi'ility to restore him, 'oth to the family of God and, e(entually, into Glory" The Christian is tempted to 'elie(e that he or she has to make some !ontri'ution to the pro!ess, on!e they are found" 4n the fa!e of su!h temptation the Christian should remem'er the lost sheep and the lost !oin" 0 Christian !an feel that their lifestyle is su!h that, after 'ein$ sa(ed, they are still a 'urden to Jesus" The Christian should remem'er, at su!h times, how Jesus tau$ht of the /oy with whi!h the shepherd pla!ed the sheep on his shoulders and !arried it all the way home and then, still re/oi!in$, !alled to$ether his nei$h'ours to !ele'rate" The Christian should allow Jesus to 'e the 'urden 'earer : that is Christ,s /oy, to safe$uard %is flo!k ri$ht into Glory" 3epentan!e as tau$ht to the Jews re&uired them to !ontri'ute to the pro!ess of their sal(ationF repentan!e as tau$ht 'e Jesus makes no su!h demand of the Christian" The #ost Son The third story in Luke 15 is the well known Aara'le of The Lost +on : often referred to as the Aara'le of The Arodi$al +on" This para'le is dealt with in $reater detail in another !hapterF here it is suffi!ient to look at what it tea!hes a'out repentan!e" The son lea(es home, s&uanders his inheritan!e, !omes upon hard times, thinks of a way of sa(in$ himself and sets off 'a!k to his father,s house" 4n (erses 1@:19 of this !hapter the son is turnin$ homeward and plans to say to his father, 5ather, have sinned a%ainst heaven and a%ainst you. am no lon%er worthy to be 'alled your son9 ma2e me li2e one of your hired men. +adly, many Christians understand this as repentan!e" This turnin$ 'a!k to the father is a!tually tau$ht as repentan!e" 4n fa!t, the youn$ man is far from repentan!e at this point" %e is $oin$ home with a plan whi!h will allow

Christian repentance
him to 'e the author of his own sal(ation" %e is to 'e!ome like a hired man" 4n other words, he will work for his father and, that way, he will 'e a'le to pay 'a!k his father the money he has had and s&uandered" There is, at this point, no re!o$nition 'y the son of his need for $ra!e" There is, at this point, no understandin$ 'y the son that the father is 'othered not 'y the s&uanderin$ of the money 'ut 'y the 'roken relationship 'etween himself and his son" +o the son sets off home" The ne.t se&uen!e of e(ents is initiated 'y the father" The son !ontri'utes nothin$" The father sees the son !omin$, rushes out to meet him, throws his arms around the son and kisses him" This is not the wel!ome the son was e.pe!tin$" The father asks no &uestions a'out the inheritan!e" %e makes no demands for repayment" %e awaits no e.pression of sorrow from the son" The father simply e.tends, un!onditionally and (ery pu'li!ly, a father,s lo(e to his son" 4n (erse ?1 the son speaks to the father, and there is a marked differen!e 'etween what he planned to say 6in (erse 197 and what he a!tually says" The son says, 5ather have sinned a%ainst heaven and a%ainst you. am no lon%er worthy to be 'alled your son" The son, in the fa!e of o(erwhelmin$ly lo(e, drops any idea of workin$ for his father" %e now understands that it is the 'roken relationship whi!h is the issue 'etween him and his father : it is not the s&uandered inheritan!e" %e therefore, and &uite ri$htly, !onfesses his unworthiness to sonshipF 'ut he then truly repents : that is, he a!!epts that he has 'een lost and has now 'een found : and a!!epts the freely offered $ift of un!onditional restoration to sonship" That a!!eptan!e is demonstrated in the su'se&uent (erses in the passa$e" The Greek word often used for repentan!e in the New Testament is metanoia, whi!h means to !han$e !ourse after further insi$ht" The son in this story perfe!tly illustrates this" %e !ame home with one !ourse of a!tion planned" %e re!ei(ed further insi$ht into the real issue throu$h his father,s demonstration of lo(e" %e then !han$ed !ourse, away from self: effort and towards total dependen!e upon an undeser(ed, and un!onditional, free offer of sal(ation and restoration to sonship" That is the same undeser(ed, un!onditional, offer that God makes to ea!h human 'ein$ : restoration, throu$h Jesus, into full sonship" Many Christians are still rooted in (erse 19 : that is, re!o$ni>in$ their lostness 'ut still relyin$ on self effort" They are, essentially, ser(ants and not sons" The $lory of understandin$ God,s $ra!e, and understandin$ repentan!e, is that it mo(es the Christians from (erse 19 to (erse ?1 : from ser(anthood to sonship" The Christian, to determine his or her understandin$ of repentan!e, should ask of themsel(es the &uestion, 0m 4 in some way workin$ for God 6(erse 197 as thou$h 4 !an pay %im 'a!k for the wron$ 4

Christian repentance
ha(e done, or am 4 simply re!ei(in$ from God 6(erse ?17 what %e is freely offerin$ : e(en thou$h 4 re!o$ni>e 4 do not deser(e su!h a $ift2 The sheep, the !oin, the son : none of them did any of the thin$s re&uired under 5ld Testament, 5ld Co(enant, repentan!e" Jesus tea!hes a new understandin$ of repentan!e" The Christian must make !ertain that he or she is li(in$ under New Testament, New Co(enant repentan!e" The repentan!e Jesus tea!hes !annot happen without faith in Christ and, e&ually, there !annot 'e faith in Christ, as God,s pro(ision for the lost, without there 'ein$ New Co(enant repentan!e" +o, in the New Co(enant, faith and repentan!e 'e!ome a sin$le issue" #aith in God,s offer of undeser(ed sonship 'rin$s an a!!eptan!e of, and dependen!e upon, that freely $i(en offer" That is New Co(enant faith and New Co(enant repentan!e" $hy the difference between Old Covenant and ew Covenant repentance% The 5ld Co(enant, that instituted throu$h Moses, was a !o(enant of Law, a !o(enant of works, a !o(enant of o'edien!e" The New Co(enant is a !o(enant of $ra!e and faith" The fo!us has !han$ed from what man had to do for God onto what God has done for man" 4n the 5ld Co(enant God 'lessed %is people as a result of o'edien!e 6Ceut ?@7F in the New Co(enant, God 'lesses %is people throu$h %is $ra!e 6Jn 1:1E7" 4n the New Co(enant the one issue 'etween God and man is faith" 4n John 8:1@, and elsewhere, the +!riptures make it !lear that people will 'e !ondemned solely 'e!ause they ha(e not 'elie(ed in God,s +on" 0s, under the New Co(enant : and a!!ordin$ to the tea!hin$s of Christ %imself : faith and repentan!e are insepara'le, any !ontinuation of the 5ld Co(enant !on!ept of repentan!e is not only unne!essary 'ut it is +!ripturally impossi'le" %en!e, the word for repentan!e is no lon$er to turn 'a!k : that is, away from sin and 'a!k to the thin$s of GodF the word is now to !han$e !ourse after further insi$ht" That is, to !han$e !ourse from stri(in$ to keep ri$ht with God to ha(in$ a sa(in$ faith that Jesus has made the Christian totally, and eternally, ri$ht with God" !esus" teachings demonstrated 1hen !onsiderin$ the followin$ illustrations of JesusB tea!hin$s on repentan!e, it is important to remem'er that for$i(eness of sins, /ustifi!ation, or whate(er other words are used to show a ri$ht relationship with God, !annot !ome without repentan!e" +o if the New Testament +!riptures talk of sins 'ein$ for$i(en, or /ustifi!ation takin$ pla!e, then repentan!e must also ha(e taken pla!e" &atthew '()'*+,' The two sons

Christian repentance
0 man has two sons" %e asks one to $o and work in the (ineyard and the son replies that he will not" Later he !han$es his mind and $oes" The father asks the se!ond son to work in the (ineyard" The se!ond son says he will $o, 'ut then he fails to do so, 1hi!h son, Jesus asked %is listeners, did what the father wanted" The !hief priests and the elders answered that the first son did the father,s will" Many Christians would a$ree with that answer" 4f it is !orre!t then Jesus is !learly tea!hin$ sal(ation 'y works and that it is only 'y doin$ what God asks that Christians !arry out the #ather,s will" 5ld Co(enant repentan!e was !han$in$ one,s mind, or 'eha(iour, and 'e!omin$ o'edient to God" That is what is illustrated 'y the first son" There is no $ra!e in the relationship 'etween the son and his father, the relationship is 'ased upon works" 1ith the se!ond son, one !an truly see the Christian" %ere is a youn$ man whose immediate response is to say Ges to his fatherF 'ut who su'se&uently fails to li(e out his initial intent" 4s not that the position of e(ery 'orn a$ain <elie(er2 Coes not the Christian,s heart !ry Ges when he hear the #ather,s (oi!e : and does not that Christian,s sinful flesh often a!t as a 'arrier and so stop him fulfillin$ his hearts desire to ser(e God2 The relationship 'etween the se!ond son and his father must depend upon $ra!eF the relationship 'etween the Christian and God must e&ually depend upon $ra!e" Contrary to mu!h modern tea!hin$, it is the se!ond son who does the father,s will : al'eit only in his initial heart response" The 'attle 'etween the flesh and the spirit $oes onF 'ut the immediate response of the Christian to his #ather,s (oi!e should ne(er 'e, as it was with the first son, No, 4 will not do what you ask" The Christian says Ges and then fails" This story shows that New Co(enant repentan!e is a'out heart intent not, as with 5ld Co(enant repentan!e, a series of works and outward a!ts" &ark ')(+(' The paralytic 0 paralyti! is 'rou$ht to Jesus" The friends of the paralyti! are so determined to $et their friend to Jesus that they lower him throu$h the roof" The passa$e says, 1hen Jesus saw their faith, %e said to the paralyti!, H+on, your sins are for$i(en" +omethin$ whi!h has already o!!urred in the passa$e !onstitutes repentan!e : 'e!ause without repentan!e there !an 'e no for$i(eness of sins" 1hat did the paralyti! do that Jesus a!!epted as repentan!e2 Jesus %imself answers that &uestion" The +!riptures say %e responded to their faith" The paralyti!, and his friends, saw the hopelessness of his situation : a!!epted his lostness : and !ame to the only one who !ould do anythin$ to !han$e the situation" #aith in Jesus, that %e !an do for the <elie(er what he !annot do for himself, is under the New Co(enant : as !learly illustrated in this story : repentan!e" There are no promises from the paralyti!, there are no &uestions or

Christian repentance
!onditions from JesusF %e simply saw the paralyti!,s faith, whi!h demonstrated his repentan!e, and for$a(e him" #uke (,)(+, The murdered worshippers 4n this short passa$e a $roup of Galileans are murdered 'y 3oman soldiers whilst they are in the Temple offerin$ sa!rifi!es to God" Coes not what Christians do for God demonstrate repentan!e2 0pparently not, for Jesus warns the people to whom %e is talkin$, :nless you repent you too will all perish. Those who 'elie(e that a $ood life, with modern day sa!rifi!es, represent repentan!e are mistaken" 3epentan!e is faith in God and %is pro(ision for us in Jesus" 4t is faith, not lifestyle, that !ounts in the New Co(enant" #uke (-) ,+. Self+effort of heart intent% Jesus here instru!ts %is followers that if anyone sins a$ainst them, e(en se(en times a day 6a term meanin$ many times, not literally limited to se(en7 and on ea!h o!!asion says, 4 repent, then the sinner is to 'e for$i(en" +u!h a tea!hin$ su$$ests that repentan!e !annot in(ol(es any kind of effort on the part of man" Jesus tea!hes that if a man repeatedly sins ea!h day it does not affe!t his entitlement to for$i(eness if he says, 4 repent" %ow many people would a!!ept that another has repented when the sinnin$ !arried on una'ated" Mu!h modern tea!hin$ states that repentan!e in(ol(es a turnin$ away from sin2 1here is that in this tea!hin$ from Christ2 Mu!h modern tea!hin$ has Christians 'elie(in$ that repentan!e in(ol(es stri(in$ ne(er to repeat a sin2 1here is that in this tea!hin$2 <oth ideas are a'sent from the tea!hin$s of Christ 'e!ause they represent 5ld Co(enant repentan!e" %owe(er, with the understandin$ that New Co(enant repentan!e means a!!eptin$ one,s lostness and a!!eptin$ 'ein$ found : that is, the re!ei(in$ of the undeser(ed $ift of for$i(eness and re!on!iliation : then this tea!hin$ of Christ makes sense" 4t should 'e noted that this tea!hin$ relates to repentan!e and for$i(eness 'etween two people and, as su!h, should not 'e !onfused with the repentan!e and for$i(eness whi!h o!!urs 'etween an indi(idual and God" #uke (*)/+(. The 0harisee and the ta1 collector 4n this story told 'y Jesus, the Aharisee is (ery sure of his ri$hteousness" 4t is 'ased upon all that he has done : he is not a ro''er, an e(ildoer or an adulterer" %e fasts and tithes" %e $i(es thanks to God that he is su!h a man" The ta. !olle!tor, thou$h, will not e(en look up to pray" %e simply !onfesses the hopelessness of his sinful self" Jesus tea!hes that it is the ta. !olle!tor who $oes home /ustified" 0s there !an 'e no /ustifi!ation without repentan!e, what the ta. !olle!tor did and=or said must !onstitute New Co(enant repentan!e" 1hat the ta. !olle!tor did is entirely in

Christian repentance
keepin$ with the rest of Christ,s tea!hin$ on repentan!e" The ta. !olle!tor a!!epted his lostness and a!!epted that God was the only one who !ould !han$e that situation" That is New Co(enant repentan!e : to a!!ept one,s lostness and to re!ei(e mer!y from the only 5ne who !an, throu$h that mer!y, !han$e the situation" #uke (*)(*+'/ The rich ruler %ere is a man who has made $reat efforts to keep ri$ht with God" %e has kept the Commandments sin!e he was a 'oy : yet still has no assuran!e of his sal(ation" #ar from en!oura$in$ him, Jesus puts to the ri!h youn$ ruler a demand whi!h !ultural e.pe!tations make it impossi'le to meet" The ruler $oes away unhappy" %e is still not ri$ht with God : and God has set him a standard whi!h he simply !annot meet" 0 ri!h man will $i(e to the poor, will 'uild syna$o$ues, tithe his possessions and meet many re&uirements of the Law" The poor people hearin$ this thou$ht 6(s 1E7, 4f the ri!h, with all their opportunities to please God !annot $et into hea(en, then who !an 'e sa(ed2 Jesus is pointin$ out to the people the utter hopelessness of their situation" %e is pointin$ them to total dependen!e upon a +a(iour" %e is pointin$ them away from their lifestyle and towards a God of $ra!e" %e is !allin$ them to repent" #uke ',).'+., The dying thief The thief, dyin$ on the !ross alon$side Jesus, offers Christ nothin$ 'ut his faith" Jesus assures the thief that, on that (ery day, he will enter Aaradise with Christ" 4f repentan!e is not an inte$ral, and insepara'le, part of faith then upon what 'asis did Jesus $i(e %is assuran!e to the thief : for without repentan!e there !an 'e no for$i(eness of sin2 4n these !losin$ s!enes of Jesus, !ru!ifi.ion, %e is demonstratin$ the prin!iple of New Co(enant repentan!e whi!h %e had repeatedly tau$ht" That is that, under the New Co(enant, the repentant sinner is one who !omes empty: handed to God, re!o$ni>in$ his lostness, re!o$ni>in$ he !an ne(er !han$e that lostness and ready to a!!ept God,s freely offered, un!onditional sal(ation and restoration : to a!!ept 'ein$ found" Summary 3epentan!e as somethin$ whi!h man does as a !ontri'ution, in addition to faith, towards the $ainin$ or keepin$ of his sal(ation has no +!riptural 'asis under the New Co(enant" 3epentan!e as somethin$ whi!h man does for God is an 5ld Testament, 5ld Co(enant !on!ept : whi!h has no pla!e in the life of a Christian" +u!h a tea!hin$ makes repentan!e a 'urden, espe!ially for the stru$$lin$ Christian and, 'rin$in$ no $lory to Jesus, it should 'e stron$ly resisted" Jesus tea!hes, and demonstrates, that faith and repentan!e are inte$ral and insepara'le parts of the same a!t" 0 person !annot repent without first

Christian repentance
ha(in$ faith and, !on(ersely, a person !annot ha(e faith without repentin$" The two $o hand in hand" They are not separate issues" Jesus tea!hes, and demonstrates, that New Co(enant repentan!e is the a!!eptan!e of 'ein$ lost and, e&ually, the a!!eptan!e of 'ein$ found : in other words the a!!eptan!e of God,s freely offered $ra!e" 3epentan!e in the New Co(enant has 'e!ome total dependen!e upon God and what %e has done for man"