I wonder how many of us have ever made the connection between faith and repentance. Charles Spurgeon certainly did.
Says Spurgeon,
“When we are sure that we are forgiven, then we abhor iniquity; and I suppose that when faith grows into full assurance, so that we are certain beyond a doubt that the blood of Jesus has washed us whiter than snow, it is then that repentance reaches to its greatest height. Repentance grows as faith grows. Do not make any mistake about it; repentance is not a thing of days and weeks, a temporary penance to be over as fast as possible! No; it is the grace of a lifetime, like faith itself.”
In the same way that faith is not a one-time decision, neither is repentance a one-time act. Both faith and repentance are defining traits of those who not only believe in Jesus Christ but who have also been born again by His Spirit.
May we never grow feeble in faith, and may never lose the fervor of contrition.
I recognize the role motive plays in the relationship between faith and repentance. If I repent so I can avoid the consequences of judgment, sin is still appealing and something to be desired. If I repent because I recognize what I abhor in my actions and character, I repent that God may remove it. The role of motive translates into everything we do, say and are. If a person goes on a diet so they can lose weight look better, they will fail. Unhealthy food will still be appealing and probably irresistible or their success will be soiled by fleeting pleasure of narcissism. Either way, since the motive is wrong from the beginning, the outcome will be failure. If that person wants to glorify God in all they do, including eating and drinking, unhealthy foods will be eaten in moderation and enjoyed while healthy foods will also be eaten with pleasure in the knowledge of the goodness it provides to the physical body to which they have been entrusted. The result will not only be a physical manifestation of success, but a spiritual one as well. No matter what we do, if we are motivated by glorifying God, we will be satisfied and he will be glorified in us, manifested outwardly and inwardly. God is good and is the only reference by which good can be evaluated. Therefore, when sin is rejected because it is not good and God is pursued because he and all he provides for us is amazingly good, repentance will be properly motivated. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” (John Piper)
It is nice to once and for all find a site where the blogger knows really well about his subject.
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