What is True Christian Repentance?

What is True Christian Repentance? This is a topic which sometimes weighs heavily on my mind over the years. It’s something Christians should think about on a regular basis on the road to sanctification (not justification).

Is it particularly important now?

Is the subject particularly important today? Well it has always been (and ought to be) an essential Christian discussion. Yet I feel that there have been worrying movements within the modern church in latter years.

Holiness is not a thing today. Repentance has been re-imagined. God’s Word has taken a back seat to the culture.

There is a drift to antinomianism (legalism isn’t better) these days. Certain sins have been re-packaged (read sanitized) for the sake of cultural appeasement. In fact, pointing out the very sins which the culture is foisting on everyone is often labeled as “unloving” by some professing Christians.

Repentance and changing one’s mind

I’ve also seen statements arise from normally solid people. For example, someone recently wrote that: “the conclusion is clear that the requirement for everlasting life is a single moment of faith in Jesus Christ rather than continual belief.”

The challenge (at least for me) is to see what the Bible has to say about those who permanently fall away, as opposed to relapses. Elsewhere I’ve noted the following comment,

No act of obedience, preceding or following faith in Jesus Christ, such as a promise to obey, repentance of sin, pledge of obedience or surrendering to the Lordship of Christ, may be added to, or considered part of, faith as a condition for receiving eternal life. (Emphasis mine)

What generally follows in these conversations is the biblical meaning of repentance centering on the word “metanoia”, the changing of one’s mind, and it’s contextual application to salvation. Do we change out minds about sin or Christ? Is there a connection?

When I think of repentance, I think of the Thief on the cross next to Christ.

Some will note – quite rightly – that his works didn’t save him. After all, he died the same day. But the question to be considered is what his life might have looked like had he survived the cross. Remembering that works cannot save, would his “change of mind about Christ” lead to a change in general conduct (while still being a sinner)?

Would the Thief continue stealing without reservation? More importantly, what does the Bible say (read 1 John)?

It shouldn’t be that hard…

I’ve seen what I deem to be some convoluted excuses in attempts to make repentance mean something other than grievance over sins when applied to salvation. It shouldn’t be that hard. Watch a short video of J. I. Packer discussing repentance HERE.

Pastor Tom Drion of Grace Life London….