The importance of Repentance (Part 7 of 7)

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By Charles E. Wigg

Repentance is often repeated: Salvation is never repeated, and it never needs to be, because it is God's work. Yet because of what we are, repentance often needs to be repeated, because we often sin, or offend. Jas. 3:2. (J.N.D trans.) Thus we are faced with the constant, sometimes the daily need to repent, and to confess our sins and shortcomings to the Lord Jesus who is able and righteous to forgive us our sins, (1John 1:9). We also sin against each other, and we are faced with the constant need to confess our faults to one another, and to pray for each other's healing (James, 5:16). If we have never truly repented before coming to Christ, we may find it very difficult to do so later on in life.

This is why often such difficulties arise amongst Christians, they have never truly repented to begin with, and they find it very difficult to repent later, or to forgive others, even in trivial matters. I have heard believers say, "I will forgive, but I will not forget". This is not forgiveness at all. Such people have a very shallow sense of what they have been forgiven, and by refusing to forgive others, they get into bondage, and lose their own enjoyment of forgiveness. ( Read the story in Matt. 18:22-35.) So we learn that a faulty beginning often results in greater difficulties later along the way.

Collective repentance: Before I close let me deal with this aspect of our subject, though it will not be popular with many. The Church at Ephesus had a very bright and wonderful beginning. Some that had dabbled in witchcraft and black magic were truly saved. They did not have a half hearted approach towards those things which had been such a snare to them, (though doubtless it had brought them much financial gain). They did not sell their books of charms to others, though probably they would have found many ready buyers for them. They publicly burned those books that were worth a huge sum in those days. They wished all to know that they were finished with Satan's trickery and deceit.

However as time went on, they began to listen to others that visited them, and they turned away from the beloved Apostle Paul (2Tim.1:15). Once they wept copiously when he was parting from them. They were especially pained by his word that they would see him no more. However when he visited their city later, they did not receive him, but one of their number clung to his spiritual father (Paul), and that was Onesiphorus. When he heard that Paul was in prison in Rome, he took the long and dangerous journey to Rome to visit him. He was prepared to suffer shame, and was not too proud to associate with a prisoner of the Romans.

But what was worse, the blazing fire of their 'first love' for Christ had waned, until it was just an ember, smoldering in their hearts. They had left their first love (Rev. 2:1-7). They were still very active in 'serving the Lord'. They did much, they suffered much for Christ, but not with the same pure affection that marked them in the beginning. Though the Lord Jesus gave them credit for everything that was right that they were doing, yet His faithfulness compelled Him to draw attention to their great lack. Thus He asked them to "Remember whence they had fallen". All of this activity was of little value, when the motive was not one of pure love to Christ. He urged them to REPENT, to get back to what they had left. To "do the first works", to get back to the same warmth of affection and zeal; the same willingness to unashamedly reject publicly what the world regarded as precious, but was hateful to God.

My dear brothers and sisters, do we not need that word just now? Is your love for Christ just as warm, as bright, as strong as it was when you first came to Christ? Then let us REPENT, and let us go back to our former zeal and love for Christ!

Conclusion: As I conclude, let me encourage all my brothers and sisters in Christ to come back to the practice of what is clearly taught in the word of God. It is so easy to be drawn away by plausible arguments. It is easier than we think to allow ourselves to be robbed of so much, without even realizing what we have lost. It is so easy to cater for the crowd, and to tell them what they wish to hear. The practice of what the word of God teaches will yield lasting and positive results. May God bless you all, and may His Holy Name be glorified! [Concluded]