Word of the week: Repent

We don’t use the word “repent” very much. Of course we do at church, but it is one of those church words we pull out on Sunday - like this past Sunday. It’s not likely that the word “repent” will get pulled out at dinner at many households, or dusted off for the next social occasion. I realize I forgot to check and see if we really know what the word even means. I think the men who wrote the Westminster Confession of faith got it right:

WSC 87

Q. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.

(WSC 1:87 WCS)

I think many of us get that repentance is feeling sad about sin - and probably get that it’s sadness about a particular sin.  Not many of us get the “apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ” part of the definition.  We don’t feel very hopeful about repentance.  We feel sad about sin, and eventually perhaps, we feel better. The Bible offers greater hope about repentance:

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, (Acts 3:19-20 ESV)

Repenting brings refreshing. That could make a powerful sermon! Take some time thinking about repentance.  Pray about it. Dwell on it. Ask for the “grace of repentance” in your life.

In Him,

Don