When you hear the word repent, what comes to mind? Do you think it means to stop sinning and improve behavior? Perhaps you've been told it means to be sorry for your sins and seek a renewed forgiveness from God. You may assume it involves changing what you do. Did you notice all of the above puts the responsibility on you and depends on your ability? Our response to God should not be based on our ability to perform in a way that is "moral" enough to gain acceptance from Him. Repentance is to have a change of mind. In what way should our thinking be changed? That's our discussion this week.
Continuing from last week's discussion about 2 Chronicles 7:14, a passage that was directed at Israelites who were under the law... In that first covenant, they repeatedly found themselves in a position of needing to turn from sin whenever a command was broken. They were continuously seeking the face of God, praying, and offering sacrifices so they could be forgiven again and again, over and over. Contrast that with Christ, who obtained a ministry that is much more excellent than the old way that came through Moses. In this new ministry, forgiveness, justification and sanctification came through what He did by the shedding of His blood, once and for all.
Are you busy working to try to establish or maintain acceptance from God? Is your idea of repentance tied into reducing your sin count so your good works will outweigh the bad? Do you find yourself feeling the need to ask God for forgiveness over and over again? Are you in a constant state of wondering where you stand with God? Our conversation this week will be a reminder that the gospel was never meant to be about us and our performance, but is entirely contained in the Person of Jesus Christ.
