Encouraging Repentance

A man tells of losing a small challenge with one member of a class of young students. His loss meant he owed that youngster a can of pop. He had an idea and went to the store and bought a case of cold pop and treated the whole class. They were excited and thankful. He later said that it seldom takes very much to make someone’s day.

Weeks ago, I was in a store with electronic checkout machines that talked. One live human stood behind a till off to the side. I opted to her and said, “I’d rather talk to you than one of those machines.” She nearly cried and said, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me all week.” 

I agree… it doesn’t take much. A smile. A kind word. Even a short note or a text with a photo, or some fresh lettuce from the garden, or a loaf of homemade bread, or even a can of soda. Yet I hear the sermons and read the books that tell me to say profound words or do weighty things to have an impact on the lives of others. However, a thoughtful word can warm someone’s heart.

My hubby was in a large airport last week in the USA and thanked one of the government employees for serving even though he was not getting paid that week. The man was profoundly thankful. Hubby often thanks clerks or waiters in the same way. Another man tells us that when he prays before meals in a restaurant, he asks the servers if there are things he can pray for on their behalf. These examples affect me. I watch those who struggle in this messed up and greed-filled world with exorbitant prices, much unkindness, and very little encouragement. Their faces give away their need for kindness. And God says to me: “Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, 14). 

Some assume that being nice to others will have little affect on unconverted sinners, or it might even make them think their lifestyle is acceptable, but at least one person says, “Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.” Kindness is not manipulation though. It is more like opening doors for God to enter. These verses are what He does with our obedience to be kind. . . . 

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
Correct his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:25)

Repentance is not about being sorry I was caught, but about turning from sin to God. He forgives that sin and is able to change lives; so much so that what I once thought was my right to do, or was okay, or didn’t hurt anyone, is gone because of God's kindness. I am also glad when others repent . . . .  

As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:9–10)

And lest I think my indignation at their sin, or my harsh rebukes will have a positive effect, in the end time when God visits the world with plagues and terrible things, these will not change anyone. He says:

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20–21)

They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:9–11)

PRAY: Sometimes the sinfulness in the world makes me want to string perps up by the thumbs or worse, but Your kindness is intended to lead people to repentance — and only when that no longer works will they suffer the results of their choices. Instead of expressing how I feel about sin, grant me the grace to be kind, Your kind of being kind, so that they might know that You want the very best for them. Help me also remember that Your ways are far above my ways. Instead of human responses to needy people, may Your will be done in me.

Two kinds of repentance?

 Most evangelicals believe “turn or burn” is not the right way to preach the gospel even though there is truth in these unfortunate choice of words. Burn is a crude way of describing the fate of those who reject God, and turn is another way to define repentance, another word that confuses many.

The OT describes repentance as changing one’s course of action. The NT suggests a change of mind, specifically to turn from sin and put faith in Jesus Christ. However, the definition is further clarified by what follows godly repentance. The contrast is a mere emotional regret that does not produce anything much more than sorrow that I got caught and further separation from God.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. (2 Corinthians 7:10–11)

Today’s devotional says that all temporary repentance is false repentance and quotes a verse that indicates true repentance is not humanly produced but is a gift from God:

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)

Another verse adds that I should never take for granted God’s forgiveness for my sin, because that would be presuming “on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) In other words, when He kindly forgives, He also intends that I should change my ways and turn from the sin that He forgave.

A few weeks ago, I confessed a bad attitude and action to a few of my Christian friends. One of them made a remark that I’d likely do it again. She was describing false repentance without realizing that was not why I’d confessed the sin, nor was it the result. God cleansed that attitude and action — and it has not plagued me since God also granted a change of heart.

Another passage describes the will of God concerning how I’m to live:

Each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, (1 Thessalonians 4:4–10)

The Holy Spirit does this, just as Jesus said in John 16:8-14 and just as 1 Thessalonians 1:9 describes one result of genuine repentance. Other verses say that when my “turn from sin” is a true desire, it will result in a deeper commitment to Christ that continues. If the sin returns, this indicates to me that I’d not fully recognized it or not confessed the root of it. That is, it is possible to confess only the actions and retain the selfish attitude that produced them. Once the Spirit gets me to the bottom of what I am guilty of and I see it and agree with Him, He sets me free of it and grants perseverance to move forward in seeking and trusting Christ.

PRAY: Jesus, it is good to be reminded not to take lightly the need of confession and repentance. You have made 1 John 1:9 a strong life-changing verse in my life. I’m so grateful for the gift and the power of repentance.