Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. It seems obvious that the
Lord commands men to repent, and that he sent his disciples
out to preach that men should repent. In the same fashion,
he is pleased to inform us that without faith it is impossible
to please him. For he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. The natural man is often moved
by emotion or learning to attempt to act in both faith and repentance. After all, men believe that they
have it within their own power to connect with God and to obey
Him according to their own choice and ability. Therefore, it is
of little wonder that man has devised all manner of religious
activities and theories which are designed to satisfy his longings. That religion, which is widely
called Christianity, is really no different than any other religion
when practiced in the power of the flesh rather than the power
of God. Many men pay lip service to believing the Bible and subscribing
to the teachings concerning Christ. Nations boast of being Christian,
and whole societies and cultures have sprung up which imitate
to a greater or lesser extent the outward tenets of that which
is called the Christian faith. Multitudes of churches meet week
after week, quite self-assured of their obedience to that faith.
Yet all of this is but a work of the flesh apart from the application
of the grace of God. Repentance literally means a
change of mind or direction. The Greek words for repent and
repentance is the root word from which our English word metamorphosis
comes. Just as a caterpillar is changed
into a butterfly through metamorphosis, so the sons of God are transformed
by repentance. Yet this repentance is that which
acts upon them by the grace of God rather than some process
which they bring to pass by their own power. Paul says there is
a natural sorrowing which only brings or perpetuates death.
However, there is a true repentance which is unto salvation or manifest
deliverance. True repentance is more than
simply the regret of the flesh. Paul said, Now I rejoice, not
that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance,
for ye were made sorry after a godly manner. It is quite common
for men to regret their past actions, even to the point of
tears, but such sorrow is but the common activity of the flesh.
Esau regretted having given his birthright away, even with tears,
after he realized the blessing he missed, yet he was not sorrowing
in a godly fashion. Many a drunkard or murderer has
lamented his actions and the sorrow they have brought to themselves
and others. Yet this is not true repentance, but merely the distress
of the mind. True repentance is a heartfelt
recognition of the one against whom all sin is committed. David
demonstrated true repentance when he said against thee, thee
only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. The adulterer
or wife beater who sheds tears for the pain he has caused his
wife has stopped short of true repentance because he does not
see that his actions are primarily an offense to God. David sinned
against Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite, and the whole nation
of Israel just to name a few. Yet he was brought to see that
his sin against God was so great as to make all others fade from
view. True repentance is a work wrought by the power of God.
True repentance cannot be a work of the flesh, because in order
for it to occur, a man must be brought to the total end of himself
and his effort, even as the publican, who, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his
breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner. As long as a
man thinks that he can offer something to God or perform some
religious deed, he cannot be in a state of repentance. This
is totally an unnatural act performed in him by the Spirit of the living
God. This is the same Spirit which bestows the gift of faith. True repentance is an ongoing
condition in the born-again sons of God. Repentance is a condition
of the heart rather than an activity of the flesh, though true repentance
will be manifested in these earthly bodies in which we are inhabitants. For behold, this selfsame thing,
that ye saw it after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought
in you! Yea, what clearing of yourselves!
Yea, what indignation! Yea, what fear! Yea, what vehement
desire! Yea, what zeal! This state of
repentance always drives the sons of God clean to the righteousness
of Christ. without which they know themselves
to be blind, naked, and undone. Softly to thy garden lead us,
to behold thy bloody sweat. Though thou from the cursed hast
freed us, let us not the cost forget. Be thy groans and cries
rehearsed by the Spirit in our ears, till we view him whom we've
pierced melt in sympathetic tears. Have you been given this gift
of repentance? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.