| 2. Fundamentals vs. New Age -> Repentance vs New Age Repentance -> Fundamental Definition |
Fundamental Definition of
Repentance
Repentance is the sine qua non
(without which it cannot be) of regeneration and a Christian life. Without
repentance within our hearts God cannot commit Himself to us in any way.
His Nature or Character cannot permit it. John 2:24. He exclusively knows the
intentions of our hearts. Acts 1:24 and 15:8.
Repentance is the pivot
upon which all relationships of God to man rest. Indeed, repentance is
the essence (essential quality) of man's understanding and relationship of
God.
Fundamental (that which makes it what it
is) Repentance -- the word means a change of mind. It is a
REJECTION OF SELF AND TURNING TO
GOD, turning to God from your perceived lost condition in sin.
It is a change of intention, not just a change in knowledge or an action
in itself. When a person's mind is God illuminated as to his condition of
sin (not acts only) before Almighty Holy God, and his heart cries
IN REJECTION OF SELF to God
PLEADING for forgiveness and an acceptable condition, this is
repentance.
By a change of mind or intention toward God, the Bible
means a very specific change of intention toward God. Esau "was
rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully
with tears" (Heb 12:17). Truly Esau was dreadfully sorry that he had
forsaken his birthright and very likely the blessing that went with
it. But he didn't regard his birthright being from God,
neither did he have it all to do over. The scriptures say, "He found no
place of repentance." He had no sorrow for the God he offended,
nor had any rejection of himself in any way.
Shall you or all
mankind today, like Esau, not regard the Birthright provided to all mankind
today, in just such a manner?
What scripture means by repentance
is NOT ANY SORROW OR CHANGE OF MIND.
It is a specific sorrow and a specific change of mind. It is one
thing to be sorry and have a "change of mind" because of the consequences or
punishment of one's actions, it is quite another to feel a sorrow for offending the person at the other
end of your behavior, Lord Christ Himself suffering even for
you in His Love, This latter sorrow is the
repentance sought by God. It is NOT a change of mind or
what YOU believe, trust, and accept. It is a heart felt, Holy
Spirit revealed, understanding never before experienced. What is
your experience? And is it your continuous heart felt experience toward
God your Father and Son each and every moment of every second of every 24 hour
day.
The command given, and the Gospel provided in 1 Cor 15, 2-4, by
our Lord, and instructed to receive in Mark 1:15 is to repent and commit,
both (present active imperative), to continuously by your choice by
command. This is not a one time command. It MUST be continuous,
never ending, by command.
Any worldly person may be sorry for being caught or
receiving punishment, but it is a truly a different mind that feels the great
sorrow and pain that the Person on the other end of his actions must have felt
and is truly sorrowful for that consequence.. This is what scriptural
repentance is "toward God" (Acts 20:21).
Scriptural Repentance Involves Three Spiritual
Perceptions by the Repentant Person
The person is not just sorry for his just punishment and
wishes to escape just punishment; he has
(1) a
"total change of mind, (sorrow and intention)" toward the feelings of
God grieved by our own selfish natures, so clearly perceived to be
in existence. This is true repentance. Also, obviously, a person with such a change of mind
must also, necessarily, have for the first time a sense of the grief and sorrow
for this. Pleading to God for forgiveness, with promising his
own life to serve Him for Eternity. He perceives for the first time in
such reality, the,
(2) Love of God intended toward
him. His Love is "how" God reacted with
such sorrow and grief Himself. Also,
obviously, a person with such a change of mind must also, necessarily,
have for the first time a sense of the,
(3) Holiness of
God intended toward him, which is "why" God is offended in the
first place. Without at least an intention of Holiness within our hearts
our preeminently Holy Creator cannot deal with us.
True repentance is perceiving the sensitivites and
Attributes (Love, Truth, Holiness, and Wisdom) of God; how God is hurt by
our sin, how God's Love as been hurt by you, and how
God is not only hurt but offended that you would be the way you have
been.
So when we say "repentance is a change of
sorrow and intention toward God," all of this change of mind is included.
It is not (1) a worldly sorrow of consequences, nor an effort to compensate to
escape the consequences. This will save no one. That is a natural, sorrow
of the "flesh" selfish nature of man, and falsely taught by so-called teachers
of God. Also, it is not (2) a change in beliefs about
historical facts or teachings concerning Christ and the Bible. This is
nothing more than an intellectual affirmatiion. This will save no
one.
Repentance is the first heart change within man that is not
self-oriented, self-centered. It is God oriented, toward God
Himself being hurt and offended. It is the first self-less mental
change of a man, a "total change of sorrow and intention toward God being
offended and hurt."
"Oh, I'm sorry I hurt and offended you, Oh, dear God,
forgive me, please forgive me. I didn't know. I didn't
know. Please, please forgive me. I didn't know I was
hurting you. I didn't know. I want to be pleasing to you the
rest of my life............I promise I will serve you for
Eternity."
This conscious change of a person's intentions toward God
is such an existential change in his previously self-centered existence that few
people fail to remember this event in their life. God Himself seems to
be revealed to them, the first time. It is an epochal event to them
and they indelibly remember this the rest of their lives.
Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for the affect the behavior had, having
hurt God, having offended God Himself, as we spiritually perceive God's Love and
Holiness for the first time. This is repentance, a change of sorrow and
intention, toward God (Acts 20:21).
We are commanded to act
upon the spiritual enlightenment given to every person by the Holy
Spirit , by changing for the first time in our lives
by:
(1) our deliberate sorrow, grief, and changed
intention directed toward God, and
(2) by
our deliberate "committing to Him" also directed toward God. "Be
repenting (present active imperative--a command for the person to act
upon) ye, and be believing
("committing," to commit, present active imperative--a
command for the person to act upon) in
(ev) the gospel (1 Cor
15:2-4)" (Mark
1:15).
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