On my mind

Biblical Repentance

(August 13, 2009)

Throughout my entire Christian life, I have repeatedly heard the admonition that the Church must repent and claim the

promise from 2 Chronicles 7:14 "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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Without any discussion

on the relevance of that verse to the Church, I do wish to point out an issue on the topic of repentance.

In the New Testament, repentance is discussed from two different standpoints. The first is for someone who needs to enter

the Kingdom of God, and the second is for those within the Kingdom. Although these two are no different in their manner, they

differ according to the time and intensity of the repentance.

For example, when a person first turns to Christ, the issue of repentance involves his need to turn his entire life in a different

direction and live according to a new value system. For the believer, repentance is also a change of value system, but not one

that requires turning to Christ.

All repentance in the Bible involves changing one’s current value system to God’s value system. However, many often

struggle with an accurate assessment of God’s value system. Without a clear idea of the nature and goal of repentance we will

always be seeking to please God without a correct understanding of what he desires.

(August 18, 2009)

With the Church, God chose to operate differently than he did during the times of the Old Testament. Two important

descriptions of God’s people, the Church, are listed in 1 Peter 2:9. There we are called a chosen race and a holy nation.

Obviously, these descriptions are intended to demonstrate that the Church is the new people of God. In order to fully

understand who we are, we must understand first what the words "race" and "nation" imply.

A race is a group of people with a common ancestor. We are all part of the human race and share Adam as a common

ancestor. Yet those who are part of the Church have experienced a new birth and now call God their Father, since he has

begotten us.

A nation is a group of people who share a common set of laws. Laws are an attempt to codify a value system. All those who

are in the Kingdom of God must live by the law of God’s Kingdom and practice his value system. The law of the Kingdom of

God is sacrificial love for the benefit of others and most looks like Jesus dying on the cross.

Being part of the people of God requires new birth as well as an adoption of God’s value system.

(August 26, 2009)

One of the most difficult decisions we can face is whether or not we truly will adopt God's value system. His value system is

sacrificial love for the benefit of others. If we are honest about the cost involved in becoming like him, we will tremble at the

thought of adopting his value system.

After all, consider what it cost Jesus. He died on the cross as the direct result of his value system. If we adopt that same value

system, we will have to live that same costly love throughout the course of our lives.

In order to become like Christ we need to pray and ask God to transform us. But his Spirit only works this in those who truly

desire a change of value system. If we ask God to make us like him, but have reservations in our hearts about becoming

sacrificial lovers, we are only mouthing words. We will not experience transformation—we will remain selfish.