WHY GOD MUST DEMAND REPENTANCE (Part Two)

By Steve Tidwell

urely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

The natural desire of one who believes the above would be to please God. He will want to show God that he is determined to forsake sin. To repent means that sin will no longer be one’s way of life.

“For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).

Justice requires that the practice of sin come to a halt in the lives of any whom God would justify. As faith puts an end to the love of sin, repentance puts an end to the practice of sin.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:16-18)

We then continue to search our lives to discover whether sin is there. We pray as David did, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:33-34)

To expect God, who hates sin, to save us without our turning away from sin and toward Him is absurd. Because of this aspect of His character, He demands repentance, as the following clearly shows.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30)

Man does not deserve the opportunity to repent. Because he sinned against God, man forfeited the right to the tree of life and deserves nothing but eternal separation from God. And this is exactly what will happen to all those who do not come to God for forgiveness in His appointed way. But God has graciously granted him the privilege of repenting.

“And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them” (Acts 11:1-3). Peter informed them of the conversion of Cornelius and his household; and “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (verse 18).

The process of repentance is explained, from its inception to its culmination, by the apostle to the Gentiles.

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed 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, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Cor. 7:10-11).

While the context is dealing with the repentance of those who have already entered a covenant relationship with God, the process is the same as for the alien sinner. Paul was now rejoicing over the fact that they had repented. He did not rejoice in their sorrow, but in their turning from sin back to God. Godly sorrow is not repentance, but produces repentance. This involves a sorrow for sin as (1) an offence against God, (2) a manifestation of ingratitude, and (3) a forfeiture of God's favor and blessings. Judas Iscariot is said to have repented of betraying Jesus (Matt. 27:3). He returned the 30 pieces of silver. The word for "repented," however, reflects regret and sorrow but not the godly sorrow that turns one back to God. It is not the word in Acts 2:38, where Peter told the multitude to "repent and be baptized." Peter also turned against his Lord and Saviour. But he eventually went out and wept bitterly. He then became a mighty preacher of the gospel and eventually died for that faith, according to tradition. Judas, however, did not turn to a godly life that would lead to salvation. Rather, he went out and hanged himself.

Thus, a mere sorrow or regret for sin does not constitute repentance. One must have a burning desire to please God by forsaking sin. Peter's heart was changed. When a person has a true change of heart the life and actions will change, as well! Consider the change in the Corinthians. The church had been riddled with serious, spiritual problems. But their repentance brought them a carefulness to watch for their souls and to be on guard against sin. It gave them a clearing because they had put away the sin. It gave them indignation toward sin, a fear of sin and a fear of displeasing God. It gave them a desire to do what was right and it gave them zeal - a mixture of love and anger; love for souls and an anger toward sin and Satan. It gave them revenge, not against their enemies but against their own folly. And what was the result? "In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter," Paul told them. When a person repents he says that sin is no longer the way of life for him. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2) &

Why I Became an “Anti” (Part Two)

By Hubert C. Wilson [Deceased]

n the great Providence of God two men came to my house on Thursday night January 5, 1973 to visit. They were Brother B. J. Thomas and Brother Bob Hall of the Bossier Church of Christ, Bossier City, LA. Brother Bob Hall just a few months earlier had left the "Liberal" Creswell Street Church in Shreveport, LA. That night we talked about some of the differences between the Bossier Church and the Liberal churches. Brother Hall and I had worshipped at the same liberal churches in time gone by (even though at different times), and we discussed the things that both of us knew to be scripturally wrong in them. That weekend, January 7 and 8, we had a severe ice storm and I decided that rather than to cross the river bridges, I would just worship with the “Antis" one time. To my surprise the worship was almost identical to what I was accustomed to. In the next few weeks I would still worship with the “liberal" church on Sunday morning and with the "Antis" on Sunday night and Wednesday night. I spent many hours studying the issues, never under pressure by Brother Thomas. In fact, I studied both sides of the issues for the first time in my life. I devoted over 80 hours of studying tracts by Brother V. E. Howard, Guy N. Woods and others, and found to my surprise they have twisted and misused passages of scripture to justify their positions. I also read complete books on debates (Woods-Cogdill debate for one) and tried to digest them with an open mind. As a result of my studies and many prayers, my wife and I placed our membership with the Bossier Church of Christ on March 18, 1973. To this date we have yet to have even one member of the Liberal Churches call or express concern that we have left them. I am sure many do not know it yet, but I am also sure many will think "good riddance." &

[To be continued]