ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Wednesday March 29, 2017

“that the whole of the life of believers should be repentance”

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" - Psalms 130:3

True Repentance

The Nature of Repentance

Elements in repentance

Signs of repentance

7)  Punishment. At the sight of this, we naturally draw back. The word means vengeance. It is the spirit of Zacchaeus who, recognizing his past sin, wishes to make reparation and restoration for it whenever possible (Luke 19:8). Repentance is not only a new way of life build on the promise of forgiveness, but one which reaches into the past in order that what can be repaired may be by God’s grace.

This analysis of repentance impresses on us what a radical thing it always is. It affects our emotions, but it’s influence extends to every aspect of our being and challenges us in our relationships with others as well as with God. It is a mistake to think that we repent only once, at the beginning of the Christian life. Repentance means the whole of life returning to the purposes of God. Therefore, continues throughout our entire life.

But this continuing repentance will also have a beginning which is related to it as the seed is to the fruit. That seed is planted in us regeneration when Christ death to sin begins to find a grip upon our hearts. The paradox of spiritual growth is that as faith deepens and brings with it new levels of joy and assurance, so also repentance deepens, bringing ever more profound, and awareness of our need of Christ. The purpose of God is clear. The more we sense our need, the more we shall find our need met in Christ. The more we find our need met in Christ, the nearer we will come to him. The nearer we come to him, the more we will discover our hearts saying: “if you should mark my sins, Lord, I could not stand. But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared.”

Wisely did Martin Luther, as he nailed his 99 thesis to the door of the Wittenberg church, choose as the first:

Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying “repent ye” etc.…, Intended that the whole of the life of believers should be repentance.

What, however, we should never lose sight of, is that the first springs of this repentance bring us into the privilege of being justified before a holy God. Both faith and repentance may grow and deepen. But the glory of justification, is that it is perfect, complete and final from the beginning.

Challenge:

As we close out this topic of repentance, let us pray that we DO NOT CLOSE OUT ourselves from living out our Christian walk as one of REPENTANCE! Repentance means the whole of life returning to the purposes of God.

Memory Verse:

"He ko e mamahi ‘oku faka‘otua hono fai, ‘oku ne langa‘i ha fakatomala ‘oku iku ki ha fakamo‘ui, ‘a ia ‘e ‘ikai tālakitu‘a ai ha taha: ka ko e mamahi ‘oku fakaemāmani ‘oku ne fakatupu mate." – 2 Kolinitō 7:10

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 13 – Joshua 5-8; Psalm 14; Luke 15