A DISCOURSE ON REPENTANCE Part #1
By Houston Dodd
In light of the situation in the world today, particularly here in our own country, we seem to have this desire for a dramatic change. We see crime such as rape, child molesting, robberies, murders, in our newspapers every day. And then there are social problems such as homosexuality, drugs, “shacking-up,” divorce, it seems that America has drifted far from its moors of safety and values. Who wouldn’t want things to be different from what we are experiencing today? With all this, and then you add in corporate greed, power hungry unions, and the melt down in the public education system, we hear a cry from many Evangelists for a return to the God who created all things. We hear them proclaim to the church the words of Jehovah God as spoken to the great king of Israel, Solomon, these words found in 2Chronicles chapter 7 and vs. 14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
It is accepted that if America just stops doing these terrible things then everything will be alright. This may be true, but how we stop doing these horrific things seems to be the big debate. Some think that social justice is the answer and others think that economic parity is the way to go. Still others believe that politics and secular humanism is the answer.
Most theologians would agree that America needs to repent. Other theologians say the churches need to repent. I couldn’t agree more with both. The point that we disagree about is what repentance means and how it is applied.
The common definitions and usages of the word repentance is a Godly sorrow for sin; turning from sin; forsaking sin and/or; turning to God. It is often used by many if not most preachers and teachers as in regard to salvation, such as "you must repent of your sins in order to be saved.”
Many of our great theologians both past and present hold this view.
Here is a quote: from one such nationally known preacher: "The preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is never complete without a call to true repentance (emphasis added). The Apostle Peter's first sermon, which Luke also recorded in the Book of Acts,placed a high priority on the necessity of repentance. ‘Repent, and each of you and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins’: (Acts 2:38). In his second sermon, Peter again preached powerfully on repentance. ‘Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord’ (Acts 3:19). Whenever I call men and women to make a decision to follow Christ as Savior and Lord, I am careful to remind them that genuine faith must be accompanied by genuine repentance from sin (emphasis mine).
One theologian defines repentance as ‘heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. Biblical repentance, the kind that results in forgiveness of sins, means that we have a change of mind and heart about sin and about God. We must under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, turn away from sin and turn in faith to Christ to receive the gift of salvation’. End of Unquote (emphasis mine).
This preacher goes on to say at the end of his article, quote: "In some circles, repentance may seem old fashioned, but it is always a vital part of true, biblical, saving faith. It is the work of God and our work at the same time, and preaching faith in Christ without repentance is only half the Gospel. Repentance from sin, along with trust in Christ's atoning work on the cross, is the Gospel that is the power of God for salvation." End of quote (Emphasis mine).
I looked for the scripture in a bible concordance that backed up that statement but found none.
In light of this statement how would this well known preacher explain Ephesians 2:8-9 where it clearly tells us that it is none of our works? How would he explain 1Cor. 15:1-4 where Paul clearly explains what the gospel of salvation is? It should be pointed out to this preacher, that Paul mentions nothing about “repentance from sins” in these very definitive verses.
What he says all sounds good and is often preached and taught in a lot of well meaning fundamental churches. But is it scriptural? It is my understanding that it is not.
Many other noted preachers and teachers have taken the same position.
It seems as though this is being taught in seminaries and repeated as gospel truth.
Another well known evangelist is a proponent of repentance of sins for salvation. In the same periodical that was mentioned, “Decision” May 2008 edition, I quote him as saying on page 5, “We need to be converted not only to find forgiveness of sin, but also for acceptance by God. There is a word used in the New Testament called justification (emphasis his). When you come to the cross by faith, repenting of your sins (emphasis mine), and you receive Christ into your heart, at that moment God acquits you. He forgives you. He also places you in the sight of all the universe as though you had never committed a sin. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:11) Unquote.
By adding the little words “repenting of your sins” he changes the whole basis for salvation.
I will use one more illustration of someone using the wrong meaning of the word repentance.
Another well known preacher, and author as well as a writer of commentaries in this same edition page 9 writes: “There are a lot of people who are sorry for sin but who are not saved because they do not turn from sin” (emphasis mine). Also on page 10 I quote him as saying, “In Acts 3:19, after the word repent (emphasis his), is the Greek word epistrophe, which means “to turn back” or to be converted.” In the New Testament it is used for a sinner who turns back to God, but notice it is passive: “Be converted.” You can’t convert yourself. That’s an act of God. You turn from sin and exercise faith in Jesus Christ (emphasis mine), God changes you into His child. Both repentance and faith in Christ make up conversion.
So Peter made a simple appeal, “Turn around, Turn from your sin (emphasis mine), turn to God, and He will change you.” Be converted---completely reborn. But Peter doesn’t just end at the word converted. He said that if you change your mind about Jesus and turn around toward God, your sins will be blotted out. Oh, what a promise!” End of quote.
It needs to be pointed out that the unsaved sinner does not, indeed cannot, “turn back to God.” He has never been with God. He is separated from God. How can a person return to a place he has never been?
We must take note that in the passage of Acts 3:19-20 it says “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord: And He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you.” The problem arises when this author adds to the scripture and I quote again “So Peter made a simple appeal ‘Turn around, Turn from your sin, turn to God, and He will change you, (end of quote) then he is adding something to that portion of scripture. When it, the scripture, is taken in proper context, it, the addition, does not belong there.
Among other notable preachers and biblical scholars as Charles H. Spurgeon, William Booth, A.W. Tozer, Benjamin Warfield, J.I. Packer and Kittel holds to this understanding and teaching. It is very difficult to disagree with such notables as Bible Scholars and preachers, teachers, and great people of faith as those quoted, and I don’t take it lightly, but one must stay true to the word of God.
In his book “Things Which Become Sound Doctrine” by J.Dwight Pentecost, we find in chapter 6 titled “Repentance” pg. 61, I quote him as writing, “The Gospel is characterized by its simplicity. When the Apostle Paul declared the terms of salvation to the Philippian jailer, he said ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved….’ (Acts 16:3)]. The Apostle Peter, speaking concerning salvation, declared, ‘….there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12)— none other but the name of Jesus. Sinners, confronted with their need of salvation, frequently stumble over the very simplicity of the salvation which God offers. Since Satan cannot take away anything from the conditions of salvation or the plan of salvation—for God has already reduced it to an irreducible minimum,-- if Satan is to confound the minds of the sinners he must do it by addition, not subtraction. If conditions were placed by God to salvation, Satan might take away those conditions so that men would not be saved. But since there are no conditions, and salvation is a simple fact to be believed, Satan’s method of deceiving men has been to add to the simplicity of the gospel. That is why some will teach that salvation is by faith plus baptism; or, salvation is by faith plus church membership; or, salvation is by faith plus repentance. These are all attempts to darken the mind of the man who needs to be saved concerning the central issue and the basic plan of redemption.” (End of quote and emphasis mine).
Mr. Pentecost, in my opinion or way of thinking, has it right. It is a very simple message of salvation and Satan is in the business of confusing it. And since he cannot take anything away from it he adds something to it, and for this study it is the addition of repentance.
The problem is not the necessity of repentance for salvation and turning from sin, but correctly defining these terms and putting them in their proper place. Please notice that I used the plural "them." It is because "repentance" and "turning from sin" when correctly understood are separate and different issues.
What repentance is not.
First let’s see what repentance is not. It is not sorrow for sin, as quoted earlier of someone else. 2Cor. 7:9-10 “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.”
Therefore godly sorrow is not repentance but leads to repentance. Godly sorrow in this verse is contrasted with the sorrow of the world. “Sorrow of this world” may come in several different forms such as sorrow that you got caught; sorrow as a result of the consequence of your sin which could mean the cost, the shame, the hurt you caused someone else. I am sure there are others, but you get the picture. According to the scripture just quoted, this type of sorrow does not lead to life, or salvation, but to spiritual death. Godly sorrow that leads to repentance is that sorrow that comes from the conviction by the Holy Spirit. The difference between conviction and conscience being that conscience is that knowledge that you have wronged society in some way. It may include disobedience of some law of the land, disobedience to something that you have learned as a child is wrong, or a moral wrong that society has deemed wrong. Or it could result from the knowledge that one has been disobedient to one’s parents in the instance of children.
Conviction on the other hand is the Holy Spirit showing you that you have committed a sin against a Holy God. Psalm 51is a great example of conviction.
Verse 4 says this in part: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight.” It is true that David had sinned with Bathsheba. He had caused her to commit adultery against her husband. And then David went even further in his sin, he had Uriah, her husband killed and took her for his wife (see 2 Sam.11:2-17]). Yet David said that “against thee, thee only have I sinned and done this evil.” We have to understand that it was God’s law that David broke. The sixth commandment is “Thou shalt not kill.” The seventh is “thou shalt not commit adultery”. The 10th, is “thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife…..” It was God that would bring charges against David. We see the same principle in our government today. The law says that if we commit murder, it will be the State that brings the charges against us, not the family that was the victim. Bathsheba and Uriah were the victims of David’s sin. This conviction, or godly sorrow which was brought to him by the prophet Nathan when he said, “thou art the man” led David to repent. He had a change of mind about what he had done. “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me” (vs.3). So, godly sorrow, Holy Spirit conviction, leads us to, or worketh repentance.
Many pastors and teachers have this backward
According to many authors and preachers repentance leads one to Godly sorrow and then to a change of behavior. According to 2Cor. 7:9-10 they have it backwards.
Does it really matter? Yes! As I will point out, the Greek word for sorrow is “lupe.” According to “The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament” by Wm. Mounce, it is defined as “pain, distress, grief, sorrow, trouble, or affliction.” On the other hand repentance is made up of two Greek. words, “meta” and “nous”. “Meta is used in the context of “change” and “after”. The word “nous” is the word for “mind” or “thought”. The correct definition of repentance is a change of mind or an afterthought. So, then Godly sorrow, (pain, distress, grief, sorrow, trouble, affliction), or conviction instigated by the Holy Spirit, leads or works, to an afterthought or a change of mind (such as David). So it is easily seen that they are two different words that mean two different things. So sorrow could not be repentance.
Repentance is not penance. Penance is an act on the part of the guilty to render payment for sin. It is to make an effort in some way to atone for wrongs done against God or man. God calls all men to repentance, not to do penance. Often times God will direct a person to go back and when possible to make amends for some wrong done to another. This, however, is never a condition for salvation, but a result of it. God does tell us to repent for salvation, but never to do penance to receive it.
Repentance is not reformation. Reformation is a change brought about by the efforts of man for self-glory. It is a turning away from some known sin, or giving up a bad habit, or trying to overhaul the old nature, or turning over a new leaf, or making restitution. I heard one old saint say that before he was saved by the grace of God, he had turned over more leaves than a newly raked lawn in October. Reformation can include the many “New Years Eve resolutions” that we make on New Year Day and break on Jan. 2nd.
Truly, a new creature in Christ is formed at the new birth, but we cannot hope that the old Adamic nature, the fallen spirit of man, can reform anything.
Any idea of reformation, or penance for the purpose of salvation is not regarded in God’s plan. It has become a works that God has rejected. It is an effort by man to make ones-self acceptable to God. It cannot work, it will not work. Here again we see that reformation, like penance is the result of salvation not a cause.
How do I know this? The inspired word of God, the Bible tells me plainly of this utter folly.
To make it plain let’s look at some scriptures:
Eph.2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Rom.3:23-24, 4:3-5, 11:6, 5:6-10; Is.64:6; 2Tim.1:9; These will be sufficient to show that it is not by our works that we are saved. There are many more that could have been used but these will get the point across.
As I continue, I will use other scriptures to show the correct place that repentance from sins and repentance for salvation are separate and different issues altogether. So let’s begin by looking at these scriptures. They are all very well known among regular Bible readers and church attendees, but let’s review them again for the sake of this study.
All scriptures are from K.J.V. unless otherwise noted and emphasis mine.
Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
These two verses are quoted by many good preachers to show that it is not by any works that we are saved, it is only by grace through faith. Then they negate the very scriptures that they profess to believe by adding turning from sins as a condition for salvation. Please note that you cannot make it a term for salvation without placing it prior to salvation. If repentance from sins is a requirement for salvation then by its very nature, comes before salvation and therefore of ourselves.” It is something that we must do and it becomes a “work”.
The very next verse, 10, puts “works” in its proper place: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained that we should walk in them.” We are His workmanship after we are saved by His grace, not before. Before we were saved we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, (the devil), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. (Eph.2:2). That is far from the “workmanship created in Christ Jesus”.
Titus : 3:4-7 “But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;”
Here it is clearly shown and easily understood that it is only by the mercy of God that He saved us and it was not by “works of righteousness,” not by any good acts that we might have done. Notice that repentance of sins is not shown to be a part of God’s mercy. Also note that Paul in this epistle acknowledges that “works of righteousness” had been done but rejected for salvation.
Romans 4:3-5: “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Here we can plainly see that it is our faith that is the reason why we have righteousness accounted to us. To work for something demands a reward or payment, it is not a gift. We have seen in Ephesians. 2:8-9 that salvation is a gift. This gift is by grace, not as a payment. Anyone can see that if it is a gift it cannot be earned, it does not need payment. And contra-wise if it is something that we work for and earn, it is no longer a gift, it is payment.
Romans 3:23 tells us "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." I like what Dr. Norman Geisler says in his book "Chosen but free."
On page 211-212 he says this: Quote. "It is wrong to imply that God's justice could have condemned all to hell without His love doing anything about it. God is more than just; He is also all-loving. It is true that all men are justly condemned because of their sin. But it is wrong to assume that one attribute of God (justice) operates in isolation from another (love). There was nothing in sinful man that necessitated any attempt to save him, but there was something in a sinless God that did (namely, His infinite love).” Unquote.
The next verse, 24 reads “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” These verses clearly show that every human being from Adam to the present time is under God’s judgment and excludes no one except Jesus Christ. Repentance from sins is not mentioned for receiving grace or the justification.
Isaiah.64:6 says this: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away."
Notice that Isaiah says there are two aspects of God’s rejection of mankind; our iniquities and our self- righteousness. And it is our self- righteousness as much as our sins that is as filthy rags, not only our gross sins.
All those good things that we attempt to do to make ourselves acceptable to God are as filthy rags in God's estimation. We might view them differently but it is God's view that really matters in the long run.
We again must note that this “self- righteousness” is acknowledged, but also rejected, so this is not the righteousness that meets God’s standard, it is self-righteousness. Does this righteousness equate to the iniquities that are like the wind that takes us away? Perhaps this is true. In my opinion anyway, this is what repentance of sins for salvation would amount to.
Rom.5:6-10. “For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Emphasis mine).
Take note that God did not say “previous sinners before repentance,” nor did He commend His love toward us when we were previous enemies. It was while we were sinners and enemies, before repentance of sins.
If in fact we “repented of our sins” before salvation, then we could hardly be called or referred to as “ungodly.” We would rather be called “saints.” Here we see in these verses that it was while we were sinners, lost in sin, ungodly, before we repented and turned from our sins, that “God commended (proved, approved, shown forth) His love toward us. It is easy to see from these verses that God approved His love prior to our repentance from sins.
It is equally easy to see that when faced with the biblical truth of the gospel of salvation, we see that we are condemned by a Holy, Just, and All Righteous God, that we need something that we don’t possess. We are faced with our sin and its judgment, condemnation, and an eternity in hell. This knowledge breaks our hearts as it did David’s. This knowledge is conviction, and that is the Godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
Titus 3:4-7. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” In these verses we find that it is not by the works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that He saved us (emphasis mine).
Certainly, turning from sins is works of righteousness! Surely if there is any works of righteousness, this would qualify. But it is not by these works that we are saved. It is purely God’s mercy. And mercy certainly implies judgment deserved and judgment not imputed. Here again we find well-meaning preachers expounding on these verses in their correct contexts only to confuse people by adding “repentance from sins” in some later message. The confusion comes when people question whether they have (a) truly repented of all their sins, (maybe they left some unnamed).
(b) If they did repent (turn from, abandon, forsake) of all their sins, why do they still commit sins.
(c) If turning from all our sins is essential to our salvation, then if I still yet commit sin(s) does it mean that I have lost my salvation as some teach or perhaps I wasn’t really saved to begin with? (Some preachers would tell us that either we weren’t saved to begin with or that we should question if we were really saved). (d) Then again the thought comes up,” how long does my repentance require? If I have gone a week, month, six months, a year, does that show genuine repentance and am I now really saved? What if I backslide into some previous sin, does it mean I didn’t really repent of it? Was I really saved, am I still saved? All good and relevant questions if repentance of sins as defined as forsaking, turning from or abandoning sins.
I know that this goes on in the minds of many, because I once had the same questions brought on by well meaning pastors and teachers. I have talked to others that had the same fears and doubts. The problem is brought on by well meaning preachers that want to see Spiritual growth among their flocks. There is nothing wrong with that, but to put these doubts in their minds is not going to accomplish that purpose. It often produces quite the opposite. Christians walking in fear never produce the growth that is desired. Just imagine a child that is always in fear that they are not a true child of their parents. Or perhaps that their parents are going to abandon them. What about the parents that tell their children that if they do anything wrong the “boogie man will get them.” These children cannot enjoy a normal childhood, nor grow emotionally stable, nor can Christians when told essentially the same.
Sometimes preachers have a desire to see the altar full of “repentant parishioners”. That seems to be the focus of their messages. If the altar is full then it validates not only the message but the messenger as well. But has it really accomplished the purpose? Or has it reinforced the messenger’s ego, and gave him something to boast about?
Let me state here and now, I believe in an old fashioned altar and altar call, but to put doubt in some minds by making them question their salvation just to see a full altar is not right.
I want to end this portion of this study by making a couple of points then moving on.Let’s just suppose that a person could repent of all their sins and forsake them for the rest of their lives. This of course would mean that they would never sin in thought, word, and deed
(sins of commission). This would also mean that they would always do the will of God “to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin; sins of omission.
This of course would be great, but it is only half of the problem. What about the sins of the past? Repentance only deals with the future (I have repented, turned away, forsaken my sins, and will no longer hereafter indulge in them). The intention is to live a life acceptable to God from that moment on. However we need forgiveness for past sins. Repentance does nothing for them, only if we believe that God accepts and He grants you forgiveness for all your past sins.
Let me illustrate it this way. Suppose I was a thief. I had snatched a purse from an elderly lady. I spent the money and then perhaps I broke into a home and ransacked it. I was successful and got away with it. At some later time I realized what I had done was wrong and I had committed a crime and repented of being a thief. I truly did not want to steal again, and didn’t. Did that repentance and commitment absolve what I had done to an innocent elderly lady, or to a family that I had victimized just because I promised I would never again do it? Does it satisfy the law of the land against robbery and theft? Of course not! There needed to be payment for my crime.
In the same way, just repenting of my sins did nothing to absolve my past sins against a Holy God. That is what Jesus came to do. He provided the payment for my sins past, present and future.
The common thinking of those that believe that turning and/or forsaking of sins is what repentance means is that by forsaking sins will bring forgiveness of those past sins. However, Hebrews chapter 9:11-22 tells us what it takes for forgiveness of sins. I am going to include the whole 12 verses because it needs to be taken in its entire context:
“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (emphasis mine.)
So, by these verses we can readily see that it takes shedding of blood to obtain forgiveness of sins. In the Old Testament as we have seen it was the blood of animals and in the New Testament it was the “precious blood of Christ as a Lamb without spot or blemish.” It took the shedding of the precious blood of Christ to redeem us, and it takes the same blood sacrifice to continually cleanse us of our daily sins. This is something “repenting (turning, forsaking) of sin” cannot do.
It seems to me that the teaching that repentance means forsaking of sins and that such repentance brings forgiveness and salvation, is nothing less than a bloodless sacrifice and leaves out the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, or as stated in 1Cor. 15:1-3 the gospel of salvation.
The second point I want to make is from something I read in an excellent booklet tract from Good News Publishers titled “God’s Plan for You.” On page 4 I found something very profound and meaningful to this study. It says and I quote:
Second, we need power to change our lives. Our sin reveals the spiritual bankruptcy “of our heart- the selfishness, lust, greed, pride, and anger that are so destructive. ‘The heart,’ says God, ‘is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick’ (Jeremiah 17:9).” If we are going to be changed something must be done in our hearts to turn our lives around. Jesus taught that “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Only Jesus can take away the guilt of our sin, and only the Holy Spirit can come into our hearts and make us new people (unquote and emphasis mine).
It says that the Holy Spirit must come into our hearts to make us new people; in other words we cannot really repent of our sins, if repentance means turning from them, until we receive the Holy Spirit and He begins His work in our hearts.
Does God hate sin? Of course He does. He stated it in the Old Testament in many places. He still hates sin!
Does God still judge sin? Yes, of course!
Does God want us all to turn from sin, forsake sin? Yes!
But they in the Old Testament couldn’t and wouldn’t as we find when reading it. Why? Because sin was and still is inborn. It was just as much of their make-up as their nationality, or race, the color of their eyes or how tall they became. It happened to everyone. We all have this innate desire, this pre-disposition to rebel against our Holy God. We call it the fallen man, the flesh nature, the Adamic man in us. We need to remember that Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees the most. Their problem was their heart, and their heart was the source of their sins.
One more thing, to fully repent of all our sins would mean to completely repudiate and turn away from our entire sin nature, a noble undertaking indeed. Is it possible, or probable, or even likely? Our answer to that reveals our level of pride and shows an independence from God. We may for instance, refuse to engage in fornication of any kind. We would be indignant at the charge of adultery, but Jesus said that to just look upon a woman with lust is committing adultery in heart. We have already broken the commandment. We might never allow ourselves to commit murder, but again Jesus said that to hate someone is the same as murder. You have broken the commandment.
You might never steal a dime but if you covet, you have done the same thing.
We might indeed “repent of our sins” in such matters as those sins that we consider the more gross sins as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drinking, drugs, thefts, fighting, wild partying etc., but God sees all forms of rebellion as sins. We might consider some of our personal sins as “small”, but how does God consider them? Well, let’s look at what He says: In 1st. Peter 4:15 Peter puts being a “busy-body” in the same category as murderers. Ephesians 4:24-31 anger, corrupt communications, bitterness, and wrath, are listed with some of the so-called more gross sins. Rev. 21:8 places liars in the same category and doom as the unbeliever, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers and idolaters. Prov. 6:16 lists seven things that the Lord hates and considers an abomination; a proud look, a lying tongue, a murderer, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, a person that runs about to make mischief, a false witness, and one that sows discord among brothers. God Judges the heart and mind. You might say, “Well none of us can pass a test like that”. Of course you can’t! That is the point. They couldn’t pass it in the Old Testament and we can’t either. There is just one solution. The true meaning of repentance for salvation: John 3:14-18, 36; Rom. 4:1-5,16,24-25; 10:8-13; Gal.3:22, 26.