REPENTANCE AND THE CROSS

Transcription

1 REPENTANCE AND THE CROSS The cross shows the three dimensions of judgment. The first part is about how God let His creation judge Him and how they judge their God wrongfully. The cross shows how the people had rejected Jesus and crucified him, But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. John 19:15. The Lord was judged by His own creation, by His own people and killed him as if He is the One guilty of not giving them their true value. This picture shows the enormity of sin, that sin is about getting rid of the One who gives their breath and happiness. The second one is how God in turn judges them as sinners; it is about the judgment of God against sin that was poured out upon Christ in reciprocation to the judgment by man against Him. It fully reflects man s judgment against God which is in fact a judgment against to them who were created in God s image (See Matthew 7:1, 2). And, the third dimension is on how Christ had put himself between God and man to bring reconciliation and justification to both parties to make an end to sin and to demonstrate the love of God given through Christ to the sinners to bring repentance. Paul said, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. And also Peter had said about Jesus crucifixion and ascension, Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31. Repentance Repentance means a change of mind, a reversal of thinking, thinking differently ( - after, next, change and, which mean to think or understand; to reconsider), and a state of being sorry (nacham Hb.). 1 2 This reversal of mind which caused by something encountered that strongly influences the thought to think another way. The sinners trend of mind girds against 1 G3341 metanoia met-an'-oy-ah From G3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another s] decision): - repentance. 2 H5162 נחם n cham naw-kham' A primitive root; properly to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): - comfort (self), ease [one s self], repent (- er, -ing, self).

2 the true character of God. In their minds God is in the wrong side of the equation until convicted and accepted that God is being wrongfully accused. A conviction may lead to a change of mind but this is usually the most difficult part in life to take place but it is made possible only by the power and grace of God. True repentance was made possible by making available a new set of mind, a new heart, a new trend of thought being offered for the sinner to have. It is a gift of God through the cross of Christ that brings deep sorrow because of sin and leads them into the justification of God s character. A repentance such as this (as of the repentance of David in Psalm 51), is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up on high and has given gifts unto men. 3 Repentance is God s work in seeking man In the parable of the found lost sheep in the parable of the lost and found coin, and the parable of the lost and found child (Luke 15:4-32) illustrates that repentance is about being lost and found, and live again as Jesus said about the lost son, It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Luke 15:32. It was God through His Son seeks the lost mankind and brings back them home and be restored into the Father s favor. Repentance is for all men as expressed in the council of the early church, When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Acts 11:18. Repentance is a response to God s work of seeking and saving of man through Christ: Christ came to manifest the love of God to the world, to draw the hearts of all men to Himself. He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me." The first step toward salvation is to respond to the drawing of the love of Christ. God sends message after message to men, entreating them to repentance, that He may forgive, and write pardon against their names. Shall there be no repentance? Shall his appeals be unheeded, his overtures of mercy ignored, and his love utterly rejected? O, then man will cut himself off from the medium through which he may gain life eternal. By the manifestation of his love, by the entreaties of his Spirit, God woos men to repentance; for repentance is the gift of God and whom He pardons He first makes penitent. The sweetest joy comes to man through his sincere repentance toward God for the transgression of his law, and through faith in Christ as the sinner's Redeemer and Advocate. It is that men may understand the joy of forgiveness, the peace of God, that Christ draws them by the manifestation of his love. If they respond to his drawing, yielding their hearts to his grace, He will lead them on step by step to full knowledge of Himself, and this is life eternal. 4 Jesus said, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Mark 2:17. Repentance is man s acknowledgment that He needs the Saviour. God sent His Son to the world that those who will acknowledge that they need the Savior will be restored to the divine favor. God does not force 3 SC BEcho, March 15, 1893 par. 4

3 anyone s will for salvation; He cannot save those who reject it. He granted freedom of choice and opportunity for repentance to all. Only those were cut off who persisted in rebellion. 5 True repentance must come from the acknowledgment of God s goodness, His love. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4. It was the unmerited love of God toward sinners that brings repentance for without this demonstration of love; there would be no repentance; no change of heart, no true conviction of sin, no true sense of the love of God. Paul said, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. God s commendation of this love is for the purpose of saving us from His wrath, His condemnation against those who spurned His character. Paul continued, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. verse 9. The SOP said, Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification, and it cannot be experienced except as it is given to the soul by Christ. If we are drawn to Christ, it is through His power and virtue. The grace of contrition comes through Him, and from Him comes justification. 6 Repentance must bring fruits of humility and submission to God True repentance does not pride itself by attaching self to the righteous people without detaching self from their own wicked deeds. Many Jew who heard John the Baptist preaching of repentance but refused to accept the message for they thought their affiliation to Abraham is good enough to make them acceptable before God while their deeds does not corresponds to the deeds of Abraham. John said, Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Luke 3:8. The apostles worked in telling the people to surrender themselves in the favor of God. in their message, that a change of mind should bring a change in works to correspond it. The record says, But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:20 Repentance must have deep sorrow for sin and turns away from it Sorry for sin should have a true sorrow for sin. In Psalm 51 David expressed his sincerity in repentance: The prayer of David after his fall, illustrates the nature of true sorrow for sin. His repentance was sincere and deep. There was no effort to palliate his guilt; no desire to escape the judgment threatened, inspired his prayer. David saw the enormity of his transgression; he saw the defilement of his soul; he loathed his sin. It was not for pardon only that he prayed, but for purity of heart. He longed for the joy of holiness--to be restored to harmony and communion with 5 PP FLB 110.3

4 God 7 This sorrow comes from the message of correction and rebuke for sin and leads to a true reformation. Paul said, Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2Corinthians 7:9-11. The SOP stated it clearly this way: Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. 8 Repentance must have the sorrow due to the sinfulness of sin and not by its consequences. Consequence oriented repentance does not lead unto salvation but to a further rebellion and sin for there is no result in truly loving the righteousness that will lead to reconciliation with the righteous God. Repentance must comes from a realization that sin is an act of offending God s character and an act of obliterating Him in the soul in which He is unjustly condemned in the heart while He is doing all His power to love and share His life. A true realization of what sin truly is should be the reason of repentance with the true realization of God s everlasting love. The SOP continued: There are many who fail to understand the true nature of repentance. Multitudes sorrow that they have sinned and even make an outward reformation because they fear that their wrongdoing will bring suffering upon themselves. But this is not repentance in the Bible sense. They lament the suffering rather than the sin. Such was the grief of Esau when he saw that the birthright was lost to him forever. Balaam, terrified by the angel standing in his pathway with drawn sword, acknowledged his guilt lest he should lose his life; but there was no genuine repentance for sin, no conversion of purpose, no abhorrence of evil. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, exclaimed, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." Matthew 27:4. 9 Repentance must bring justice and the acceptance of mercy Repentance is an acceptance to justice; it is a conviction of sin as being guilty of condemning the character of God which caused the crucifixion of the Source of his life. The Scripture says in reference to going back to a sinful life the life of condemning Christ, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:6. A life of sin is a life which caused the death of the Son of God. Christ s death illustrates that the life of sin leads to death to the guilty, and it means that sin is the condemnation and rejection of Christ in the heart. Repentance is an acceptance to the penalty of sin through Christ s death at the cross by identifying ourselves with Him at the cross, What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye 7 SC SC SC 23.3

5 are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:21, 23. Since justice is to find righteousness in the balances, mercy is to restore the righteousness that was missing in the balances that in the judgment the justice is meet. The justice requires the death of the guilty party, but the innocent party, the party that was wrongfully condemned by the sinner or the guilty party gives mercy by diverting the condemnation of the law to him in order to make the balances in equity by meeting the requirement of justice. In this case Paul explained. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20. It is by the grace of Christ, the gift of His mercy that the repentant sinner accepts the death penalty by proxy. Jesus Christ has given Himself as a complete offering in behalf of every fallen son and daughter of Adam. O what humiliation He bore! How He descended, step after step, lower and lower in the path of humiliation, yet He never degraded His soul with one foul blot of sin! All this He suffered, that He might lift you up, cleanse, refine, and ennoble you, and place you as a joint heir with Himself upon His throne. How shall you make your calling and election sure? What is the way of salvation? Christ says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." However sinful, however guilty you may be, you are called, you are chosen. "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." Not one will be forced against his will to come to Jesus Christ. The Majesty of heaven, the only-begotten Son of the true and living God, opened the way for you to come to Him, by giving His life as a sacrifice on Calvary's cross. But while He suffered all this for you, He is too pure, He is too just, to behold iniquity. But even this need not keep you away from Him; for He says, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Let perishing souls come to Him just as they are, without one plea, and plead the atoning blood of Christ, and they will find acceptance with God, who dwelleth in glory between the cherubim above the mercy seat. The blood of Jesus is a never-failing passport, by which all your petitions may find access to the throne of God. 10 Repentance is the giving up of an old life to open the way for the new life from Christ Repentance is the giving up, the emptying of self, a stepping down from the throne of God that he usurped through sin restoring it back to God and a bowing down to Him in submission. This is the crucifixion of self, the death to self to open the way to Christ to live instead, as it says, But when self is crucified, Christ lives in us, and the power of the Spirit attends our efforts. 11 When self is crucified he will receive the new life offered by whom he offended and the victorious life; the character of Christ will take the place of the old self. The new life, the seed, the word of God, the gospel, the life of Christ through the Spirit will be implanted in the heart and will sprout and grow; it should take root as a start of a new life projecting toward the maturity for the purpose of bringing good fruits. It is an acceptance of a new birth, a rebirth. 10 FE (Christian Education (Supplement), 1893). 11 OHC 21.2

6 Meaning, it has to past death and burial from sin. The Bible said, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4. Without this in process, it is not a true repentance. The crucifixion of Christ is our crucifixion; it represents condemnation if we reject Him or salvation and righteousness if we accept Him. The repentant sinner accepts his wrong doing and its penalty and as well as the offered forgiveness. God offered His Son that you may die not just by yourself and perish but to die with His Son that you may not perish forever. By faith you accept your crucifixion with Christ that you may have His life and your life His and been crucified at the cross. Paul said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:20, 21. Repentance must result in leading others to repentance Apostle Paul s preaching he shared his own experience of repentance and ask others to have the same experience, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21. He urged Timothy to preach and teach the gospel that people may lead to repentance. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2Timothy 2:24-26 Repentance must be made in the right time before it is too late Apostle Peter emphasized about the Lord s patience toward the sinners but they have to take the opportunity before it is too late. He said, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9. Paul said, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.). 2Corinthians 6:2. It is not now too late for wrongs to be righted. Show your repentance for past wrongs by redeeming the time. Where you have wronged anyone, make restitution as it comes to your mind. This is your only hope of the pardoning love of God. It will be like taking out the right eye or cutting off the right arm, but there is no other way for you. You have made efforts repeatedly, but have failed because you have loved money, some of which has not been very honestly gained. You would not try to redeem the past by restitution. When you begin to do this, there will be hope for you. If during the few remaining days of your life you choose to go on as you have done, your case will be hopeless; you will lose both worlds; you will see the saints of God glorified in the heavenly city and yourself thrust out; you will have no part in that precious life which was purchased for

7 you at an infinite cost, but which you valued so little as to sell it for earthly riches. {3T 549.5} But the voice of entreaty is still heard. Mercy lingers; it is not yet too late for wrongs to be repented of and righted. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Now is the time to receive the word of truth and life and salvation. Now is the time for those who know the truth to say to those who are in darkness, "Come." In the place of calling the messenger of God to your aid, to labor for you, for the sake of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who came to our world to call sinners to repentance, let all who claim to be Christians say by precept and example to those who are out of the fold, "Come; for all things are now ready." {RH, December 15, 1896 par. 15} Again I appeal to you: will you now be zealous and repent? You have shown your zeal in strong words and oppressive measures toward your brethren. Now I beseech you to give evidence of earnest repentance before it shall be forever too late.--manuscript 18, ("Danger of Self-Sufficiency in God's Work," May 30, 1895.) It is not now the work of the sinner to make peace with God, but to accept Christ as his peace and righteousness. Thus man becomes one with Christ and one with God. There is no way by which the heart may be made holy, save through faith in Christ. Yet many think that repentance is a kind of preparation which men must originate themselves before they can come to Christ. They must take steps themselves in order to find Christ a mediator in their behalf. It is true that there must be repentance before there is pardon, but the sinner must come to Christ before he can find repentance. It is the virtue of Christ that strengthens and enlightens the soul, so that repentance may be godly and acceptable.... Repentance is as certainly a gift of Jesus Christ as is forgiveness of sins. Repentance cannot be experienced without Christ, for it is the repentance of which He is the author that is the ground upon which we may apply for pardon. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that men are led to repentance. It is from Christ that the grace of contrition comes, as well as the gift of pardon, and repentance as well as forgiveness of sins is procured only through the atoning blood of Christ. Those whom God pardons He first makes penitent. {TMK 109.3} Repentance is not the obstacle to the Saviour but our response to come to Him Repentance is not our savior; it is our response to the Lord s call by turning toward him. Without accepting his salvation, the offer of forgiveness and without coming to him in full submission there will be no true repentance. Repentance is not an obstacle that we have to accomplish first before coming to the Savior. It is our positive response to the need of the Savior by coming to Him: Just here is a point on which many may err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they

8 first repent, and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins. It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sins; for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the need of a Saviour. But must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour? 12 When we come and accept Christ in this moment repentance takes effect in the soul. As it is said, When the sinner accepts Christ and lives in Him, Jesus takes his sins and weaknesses and then grafts the repentant soul into Himself, so that he sustains the relation to Christ that the branch does to the vine. We have nothing, we are nothing, unless we receive virtue from Jesus Christ. 13 The joy, the happiness of being forgiven will come to the soul when the repentant sinner come to the cross and accepts the offer of forgiveness: When the sinner reaches the cross, and looks up to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy; for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ; and the words of pardon are spoken: Live, O ye guilty sinners, live. Your repentance is accepted; for I have found a ransom. 14 Repentance is a response to the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to lead sinners to repentance by convicting them of their sins and by showing them the true character of God that they have wronged, and offers them the gift of forgiveness. If they open their heart to this work and accept God s offer of forgiveness then they will receive the grace unto salvation: Repentance as well as forgiveness is the gift of God through Christ. It is through the influence of the Holy Spirit that we are convinced of sin, and feel our need of pardon. None but the contrite are forgiven; but it is the grace of the Lord that makes the heart penitent. He is acquainted with all our weaknesses and infirmities, and He will help us. He will hear the prayer of faith; but the sincerity of prayer can be proved only by our efforts to bring ourselves into harmony with the great moral standard which will test every man s character. We need to open our hearts to the influence of the Spirit, and to experience its transforming power. 15 The work of the Holy Spirit is the medium that God had appointed to bring the gift of God, the sacrificed life of His Son. By despising this work will receive no forgiveness. The work of the Holy Spirit is also through God s appointed agencies, through the messengers God sent to deliver His message of repentance. If they spoke against the message and messengers and rejected them after being convicted by the Spirit then there will be no more hope for them. The Scripture said, Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And 12 SC TMK OHC Pr 242.1(Review and Herald, June 24, 1884.)

9 whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:31, 32. The SOP says: Oh, then sinners will cut themselves off from the medium through which they may gain life eternal; for God only pardons the penitent. By the manifestation of His love, by the entreating of His Spirit, He woos them to repentance; for repentance is the gift of God, and whom He pardons He first makes penitent. The sweetest joy comes through sincere repentance toward God for the transgression of His law, and through faith in Christ as the sinner s Redeemer and Advocate. 16 "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11). Repentance as well as forgiveness is the gift of God through Christ. It is through the influence of the Holy Spirit that we are convinced of sin, and feel our need of pardon. None but the contrite are forgiven; but it is the grace of the Lord that makes the heart penitent. He is acquainted with all our weaknesses and infirmities, and He will help us. He will hear the prayer of faith; but the sincerity of prayer can be proved only by our efforts to bring ourselves into harmony with the great moral standard which will test every man's character. 17 The perishing sinner may say: "I am a lost sinner; but Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. He says, `I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' I am a sinner, and He died upon Calvary's cross to save me. I need not remain a moment longer unsaved. He died and rose again for my justification, and He will save me now. I accept the forgiveness He has promised." Repentance justifies God When John the Baptist preached about repentance, it resulted in leading the way to accept the righteousness of God. The account of Luke says, And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29. Those who were baptized were the repentant sinners as mentioned by the Apostle Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts 19:4. Those who did not accept the message rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30. Those who rejected the testimony of John were unwilling to receive the testimony of him of whom John declared, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The scribes, Pharisees, and rulers were determined that they would not see the evidences of truth, and they evaded the most manifest conclusions. To justify their course of stubborn unbelief, they lost no possible opportunity of seizing upon anything in the teaching of Jesus that they could misconstrue, misapply, or falsify. When there was no possibility of misapplying the truth of Christ's words, these men who rejected the counsel of God against themselves, 16 BLJ YRP FLB 112.3

10 started questions that had no reference to the matter in hand, so as to attract the attention of the people away from the lesson that Jesus sought to teach, and adroitly evade the truth. The Pharisees were not blindly opposing the doctrines of Christ; for the truth made deep impressions upon their minds; but they resisted truth, and went contrary to their convictions, closing their eyes lest they should see, hardening the heart, lest they should perceive, and be converted, and Christ should heal them. In their self-righteousness they were too proud to accept the help that Christ came to bring to them. 19 Repentance and the balances The work of the Holy Spirit through the word of God shows to the sinner in the scale of moral worth that they are off balance with God. When the sinner realizes that he had rejected the value God and was deceived by the Satan and if he accepted the gift of forgiveness, the new value God invested for his soul then he will be made righteous before God. The value God offers brings mercy, the equity in the scale to satisfy justice that the sinner might not be found wanting again. Then the word of God declared, My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. Malachi 2:5, RH, October 18, 1892 par. 3