Repentence
April 29, 2016
Devotions:
One of the major words that is misunderstood in the Christian world is the word repentence. Many think it means to feel bad about what you have done, to plead for mercy from God, to grovel and the feet of Jesus until He forgives you. People who hold this conviction still see themselves as sinners saved by grace. But the Greek word that translates repentence is to change ones mind. God is not primarily concerned about one's actions as He is concerned about what one believes. One can and does put on a good show on the outside but inside they are ungodly. If one believes correctly then your action will fall in line with what you believe. The transformation of our mind is all about changing our beliefs about ourselves and about God.
I once heard a speaker say that if our view of God is a meek shepherd gently holding a little lamb, then (according to the speaker) our view of God was all wrong. He went on to state that his God was an angry God. This view makes for a very distant, unsure relationship with God. This is an Old Testament though inaccurate view of God. In the New Testament the anger of God has been forever appeased in Jesus. God's judgement will come at the end of the age on those who have never accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus died for all our sins and even for the sins of the whole world. God is not holding their trespasses against them. Repentence then is learning to walk in the light of His love and forgiveness. Repentence is recognizing who God has made us, holy, righteous, pure just like Jesus, and walking in who we are. We are not sinners saved by grace but holy and righteous new creations.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23 KJV
Our new nature is unchangeable. So even when we miss it and sin it does not change our born again nature. Repentence is becoming who you are in Christ Jesus by faith and not by what you see and experience.