The Nature of Repentance

WaywardNowHome · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 04:29 PM

For the past few months, the Holy Spirit has been convicting me of a lot in my life. While I've heard a lot of sermons concerning repentance from the preachers of this day (Piper, Washer, MacArthur...), I still have yet to fully grasp the nature of genuine repentance (assuming it's possible to fully grasp it).

Suppose that there is a sin (among many other sins!) that has been plaguing me for a while. By the grace of God and His work of sanctification, I am able to repent of it and have victory over it. This freedom from this sin may last a week, a month, a year or even longer. However, at some point in the near or far future, suppose I fall back into this sin. What are the implications of this?

Does this mean that my repentance was not genuine? In other words, can you fall back into a sin that you've genuinely repented of? Do I really have victory over sin if I fall back into it at a later time? Along similar lines, how can you tell if repentance is genuine? I realize that repentance is much more than a recognition of sin and an apology for that sin but I have many doubts about my own repentance because I'm not 100% sure what it should look like biblically.

Note: While references to books would great for the future, I am a poor college student and currently unable to purchase any right now.

jambo · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 04:56 PM

'Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted' does not just apply to the bereaved but for those who mourn for their own sin which can still entangle them and trip them up. In fact one of the marks of genuine repentance is lamenting the struggle with ongoing sin.

Be sure that we all have our struggles with sin until the day we die. None of us are perfect and the Weslyen idea of sinless perfection in this life is erroneous. It is true that as Christians we are saved from the penalty of sin through Christ our penal substitute paying that penalty on the cross. With the help of the Holy Spirit we are freed from the power and grip sin had over us. However it is only in glory will we be free from the presence of sin. Until then it is part of the Christian struggle and the reality of Christian experience. So don't beat yourself down with all this 'Victorious Christian Living' nonesense thatfills some of our Christian bookshops.

Having said all that, this does not excuse sin nor to treat it lightly nor to brush it under the carpet either. There is the obligation to put to death the misdeeds of the body. But as we grow in sanctification we become increasingly aware of sinful attitudes, habits etc.

We also need to be aware of taking care. Even older experienced Christians can, and do, still sin. We need to constantly be on the alert, to be watching out and to be depending upon the Lord to lead us.

If there is a particular sin that troubles you then don't put yourself in a position to fall into it.

If you can imagine sin to be a big hole in the street that we keep falling into. Keep away from the hole don't even look into it nor think we can walk around the edge. For it is guaranteed that we will fall into it. Walk down the other side of the sreet or better still, walk down another street.

Scott1 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 05:48 PM

Continual faith and repentance are evidence of God's grace working in your life.

Quote:

Chapter XIII
Of Sanctification

I. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection,[1] by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them:[2] the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,[3] and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified;[4] and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,[5] to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.[6]

II. This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man;[7] yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part;[8] whence arises a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.[9]

III. In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail;[10] yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome;[11] and so, the saints grow in grace,[12] perfecting holiness in the fear of God.[13]

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Quote:

[1] 1CO 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. ACT 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. PHI 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ROM 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

[2] JOH 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. EPH 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. 2TH 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

[3] ROM 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

[4] GAL 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ROM 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

[5] COL 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. EPH 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

[6] 2CO 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. HEB 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

[7] 1TH 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[8] 1JO 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ROM 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. PHI 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

[9] GAL 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 1PE 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

[10] ROM 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

[11] ROM 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 1JO 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. EPH 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

[12] 2PE 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2CO 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

[13] 2CO 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

**armourbearer** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaywardNowHome

Does this mean that my repentance was not genuine?

No, it just means that it is not perfect. This is one of the reasons why we are not justified on account of repentance, because even our repentance is mixed with sinful imperfection. As Augustus Toplady wrote, "Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone." Hence, when we repent of known sin, we must also flee to Christ alone as providing the only sufficient and effective atonement for sin. As the Shorter Catechism teaches, Repentance unto life includes an apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ.

DTK · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 11:45 PM

I knew Pastor Winzer could find a good use for an uninspired hymn.

DTK

**armourbearer** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTK

I knew Pastor Winzer could find a good use for an uninspired hymn.

You can't beat those old hymns for devotional expressions of biblical truth.

Wannabee · #7 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 12:41 AM

Repentance involves many things, which have been dealt with well here. Matthew's quote of Toplady is wonderful. If I can add more:

To repent is
to agree with God that sin is sin.
to see your sin as sin.
to grieve over your sin and its implication in your relationship with God.
to turn away (a literal meaning) from your sin.
to turn to the only One who can restore your relationship.
It is characterized by a heart that habitually strives to recognize sin, turn from it and flee to God. This doesn't mean that the habit isn't occasionally broken. It means that your walk is characterized by repentance from sin, rather than attempting to cover your own sin. A heart of repentance rejoices when sin is exposed because such illumination provides an opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness.

WaywardNowHome · #8 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 04:34 AM

The responses in this thread have been phenomenally helpful for me. Thanks to everyone who gave their input. God bless you all.

Jimmy the Greek · #9 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 11:42 AM

A struggle with sin is in itself a sign of life. It is those who do not struggle with sin that have reason to worry.