Repenting Too Late?

The infamous Judas Iscariot sold the Son of God for a bag of money and then betrayed his friend with a kiss, after enjoying a meal with him! Can anyone think of a more heinous sin? In fact, Jesus actually said "it would have been better for that man if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24, ESV). Better for Judas if he had not been born, but not better for God's people who are redeemed by Jesus' blood; for Judas' great sin was ordained and used by God to bring about the events of our reconciliation to God (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28).

But after Judas had done the deed, he had second thoughts:

"...he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' They said, 'What is that to us? See to it yourself.' And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself." Matthew 27:3-5, ESV

He changed his mind. This is the Greek word metamelomai. The ESV Study Bible notes point out that "Judas experienced feelings of regret and remorse, but this is less than 'repentance' (Greek metanoia), which means a change of heart." So close to repentance! But so far away. Judas did not experience true repentance, with faith, being born again, and living for Christ. By contrast, the apostle Peter denied Jesus and repented. The rest of Peter's life evidenced the truth of his repentance and the genuineness of his faith in Jesus. Judas, however, went and "hanged himself."

The Bible describes a false sorrow that can look like repentance, but is not:

As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, ESV

There is a godly grief, or sorrow, that comes with true repentance. It leads to salvation - life! But just being sorry for your 'mistakes' does not equal this godly grief. Judas had "worldly grief" which "produces death."

Perhaps we also see a glimpse of this worldly grief in Esau. Scripture calls Esau "unholy," pointing out that he sold his birthright "for a single meal." Then we are told, "For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears" (Hebrews 12:16-17, ESV). Esau wanted the blessing from his father, but could not produce in himself true repentance.

We must repent; we must humble ourselves before God. But we also must be warned that there is a false repentance - a worldly grief that only produces death. Feeling sorry, changing our minds about what we have done, disliking the consequences of our foolish choices and sins against God - all these things are not enough. We must repent of our sins and turn to Jesus Christ in faith, before it is too late.

The good news is that Jesus will receive all who come to him in faith and true repentance. Even after Peter fell, Jesus lovingly restored him and used him greatly. Peter received grace to finish well. No matter how you've blown it, God's grace can restore, heal, forgive. Will you humble yourself before Christ and repent of your sins, trusting in Jesus' death and resurrection? Don't wait till it's too late!

Oh, the great love of God in Christ!

Growing In Repentance and Faith

Repentance and Faith are not one-time events at conversion. We must continue and grow and be stretched through continual repentance of sin and faith in Christ as God shapes us to look like Christ (Romans 8:29).

I think it's easier for us to relate to the repentance part of this. We understand that we are continually being shown one layer of sin at a time by the Lord; we repent and are cleansed, and then another layer is revealed to us. 1 John 1:9 - we confess our sin, he is merciful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.

Perhaps it is more difficult to see that we also must grow in faith. Hebrews 10 shows us the difference between 'drawing near' to God in faith, and 'shrinking back' or drifting from God through lack of faith.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”                Hebrews 10:19-25

BECAUSE of Jesus and his work for us on the cross, the shedding of his blood for our sins, and his resurrection, exaltation and continued high priestly ministry for us in heaven - we should have CONFIDENCE (not self-confiedence but Christ-confidence), DRAWING NEAR to God through him, HOLDING FAST the confession (speak it) of our hope WITHOUT WAVERING. why? "for he who promised is faithful." As we ourselves stand firm in faith we stir up the brothers. This describes a life of drawing near in faith. GROWTH in faith. Stretching in faith.

Then Hebrews 10 takes this up again a few verses later:

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:35-39

We are admonished not to throw away our confidence. We are reminded of the reward and told that we have need of endurance (of faith). Then the author quotes Habakkuk's call to live by faith (not a one-time action but a lifestyle that perseveres in believig God even in the midst of severe trials, according to the context of Habakkuk). This is all contrasted with shrinking back. God has no pleasure in those who shrink back (give up, do not persevere in faith), as Hebrews 11 also points out that without faith it is impossible to please God (v6).

Abraham is an example of one who grew in his faith rather than shrinking back. In Romans 4, Paul sets Abraham forth as THE example of faith. Here is the description:

“In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21

Application

1. Is there an area in your life right now were God wants to grow your repentance?
2. Is there an area in your life where God wants to grow your faith? Step out, stretch, learn to trust God in new areas.

Grow in repentance and faith and give glory to God!

Lives Restructured By the Gospel

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you,and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way..." 2 Cor 5:18 – 6:4, ESV

Have you lost the AWE of the gospel? Are you enraptured with its beauty, blinded by its glory, soaking in its wonder? The gospel is not just to “get in” the family of God; the gospel is how we live each day. It’s our hope and our theme, a delight and treasure, to the praise of God’s grace. The gospel captivates us and kills us; thrills our soul and restructures our life.
In the above text we see key points of the gospel.
Today is your day for the gospel: revisited.

1. From God. (5:18a). The very first thing we see is that the gospel is from God, not
man! It is God's gospel. Isn't it wonderful that God initiates this gospel? It doesn't
depend on us trying to get to God! When Adam and Eve sinned in Genesis 3, they
didn't go looking for a way to get back to God; they HID themselves from God. No one
seeks God (Rom 3:11), but praise God he seeks us!
"...redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood." Rom 3:24b-25a

2. Through Christ. (5:18b) The next thing we see in our text about the gospel is that it is in Christ! There is no other way! (Jn 14:6)
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

3. Reconciliation. (5:18-21). Over and over again we see the word ‘reconciled’ or a form of it. The gospel is about being reconciled to God! (Not getting wealthy, time management, 41 easy steps to a successful life)
"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith" Col 1:21-23a

4. Forgiveness of Sins. (5:19b) Good news: in Christ the believer's sins are forgiven! When we consider the holiness and greatness and eternal worth of God, and how that just one sin is treacherous rebellion, an attempt to dethrone a holy and infinite God (and therefore worthy of infinite punishment in hell), how glorious is the truth of forgiveness of sins!!
"for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Mat 26:28

5. Substitutionary Atonement. (5:21) He took our place! God treated Christ as if he had committed our sins. Think of the weight of this; the eternally existing, holy and sinless Christ at the cross felt the weight of our abominations, and the condemnation and wrath of God!
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'" Gal 3:13

6. Justification. (5:21b). The other side of substitutionary atonement. We not only had our sins placed on Christ, but God placed Christ’s righteousness on us!!! Martin Luther called this the Wonderful Exchange.
"...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom 3:22-24

Caught up in the glory of the gospel yet? What an awesome thing to chew on the depths of God's grace in the gospel! But the gospel not only captivates us; it commands us! The gospel brings change to us.

Our Mission in the Gospel (18b, 19b, 20a, 6:1a).
Those who SEE this glorious gospel are recruited by it! We are even called Ambassadors for Christ. What an honor: working with Christ, joining him in his mission. Have you received as your life purpose and one great goal the joining with Christ in his mission in the earth?

The Urgency of the Gospel (20b, 6:1b-2). Our text says that now is the day of salvation. The Gospel demands immediate obedience.

Restructuring Our Lives For the Gospel (6:3-10).
Christ comes in to be in charge. He comes in to make changes! Paul suffered all things for the elect; many professing Christians today won’t suffer the smallest hindrance, but will give up on Christ and his beloved church for any reason ("someone at church offended me").

In Chapter 6 of our text (verses 3-10) Paul gives a long list of how he shows his restructured life for the gospel’s sake. Afflictions. Beatings. Imprisonments.
Have you restructured EVERYTHING around the gospel of Christ? Are you so smitten by the beauty and majesty of the gospel that you will live in obedience to Christ, no matter what the cost?
When I talk about restructuring our lives around the gospel, I'm not giving a "higher" calling for those who want to be a super-saint. I'm really just talking about repentance - which God commands all men everywhere to do (Acts 17:30). Restructuring our lives around the gospel is the call of Jesus; it is what he demands of the world!
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." Mark 8:35
" But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24
"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" 2 Tim 2:10

The Test of the Gospel (1b). “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”
If we claim to believe the gospel and to have been saved by the gospel, but we won’t restructure our lives around the gospel or suffer for the gospel, we have received “the grace of God in vain” (prove ourselves false converts, not real). In chapter 13, verse 5 Paul tells us to “examine” ourselves.

Behold the glory of the gospel! Let Christ crucified be your supreme delight and treasure! Worship him for his death, burial and resurrection, and surrender all to JOIN HIM in believing the gospel, living the gospel, proclaiming the gospel. The gospel has come to us from God. Now everything must change. Restructure everything around it, for his glory!!