This post focuses on a different aspect of Ezekiel 36:31, it aims to clarify what repentance is and is not. In the contemporary church, many don’t even believe in repentance or sin anymore, as though their modern mindset has somehow changed God’s laws.
The absolute truth of the Bible is timeless, as Jesus said: John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
Also consider: John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
God’s truth is timeless; the modern church is, according to Dr. John MacArthur, manifesting another form of unbelief via their doctrines of men that believe that truth is relative….
Even if the modern church does not believe in repentance, the Bible calls for it.
Please consider the following words about biblical repentance copied and pasted from Bible Hub:
Mistaken Notions About Repentance |
Ezekiel 36:31 Then shall you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good…
I. MISTAKEN IDEAS OF WHAT REPENTANCE IS. 1. They confound it with — (1) Morbid self-accusation, which is the fruit of dyspepsia, or melancholy, or insanity. This is an infirmity of mind, and not a grace of the Spirit. A physician may here do more than a divine. (2) Unbelief, despondency, despair: which are not even a help to repentance, but tend rather to harden the heart. (3) Dread of hell, and sense of wrath: which might occur even to devils, and yet would not cause them to repent. A measure of this may go with repentance, but it is no part of it. (4) Satanic temptations. These are by no means like to repentance, which is the fruit of the Spirit. (5) A complete knowledge of the guilt of sin; which even advanced saints have not yet obtained. (6) Entire abstinence from all sin, — a consummation devoutly to be wished, but by no means included in repentance. 2. It is — (1) A hatred of evil. (2) A sense of shame. (3) A longing to avoid sin. 3. It is all wrought by a sense of Divine love. II. MISTAKEN IDEAS OF THE PLACE WHICH REPENTANCE OCCUPIES. 1. It is looked upon by some as a procuring cause of grace, as if repentance merited remission: a grave error. 2. It is wrongly viewed by others as a preparation for grace; a human goodness laying the foundation for mercy, a meeting of God half way; this is a deadly error. 3. It is treated as a sort of qualification for believing, and even as the ground for believing: all which is legality, and contrary to pure Gospel truth. 4. Others treat it as the argument for peace of mind. They have repented so much, and it must be all right. This is to build our confidence upon a false foundation. III. MISTAKEN IDEAS OF THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS PRODUCED IN THE HEART. 1. It is not produced by a distinct and immediate attempt to repent. 2. Nor by strong excitement at revival meetings. 3. Nor by meditating upon sin, and death, and hell, etc. 4. But the God of all grace produces it — (1) By His free grace, which by its action renews the heart (ver. 26). (2) By bringing His great mercy to our mind. (3) By making us receive new mercy (vers. 28-30). (4) By revealing Himself and His methods of grace (ver. 32). 5. Every Gospel truth urges repentance upon the regenerate. Election, redemption, justification, adoption, eternal love, etc., are all arguments for loathing every evil way. 6. Every Gospel privilege makes us loathe sin: prayer, praise, the reading of Scripture, the fellowship of saints, the table of the Lord, etc. 7. Every Gospel hope purifies us from sin, whether it be a hope for more grace in this world, or for glory in the next. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) |