Epheser 6:10 - 12 Der Krieg hinter den Kulissen

 

Die Aufmerksamkeit der Welt vom Krieg gegen das unsichtbare Covid-Virus hat sich verschoben auf den beunruhigend sichtbaren Krieg Russlands gegen seine Cousins - die Ukrainer - und natürlich auch auf den beunruhigenden Krieg im Nahen Osten.  Überhaupt  befindet sich  unsere Welt immer wieder in der einen oder anderen Form des Krieges. Seit dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs  hat es  mehr als 250 Kriege gegeben. Warum gibt es so viele Kriege? Die Antwort ist auf einer Ebene komplex, aber im Grunde ist die Antwort auf diese Frage eigentlich garnicht  schwierig. Wir  sind wir an das Wort Gottes gebunden. Dort  finden wir  unsere  Lӧsungen.  Im Brief an die Epheser 6:10-12  spricht der Apostel  Paulus dieses Dilemma  an.  Fangen wir mit dem Kontext an...

KONTEXT

In dem Brief an die Epheser geht es im Wesentlichen um Gottes wunderbare Lösung für das grundlegendste Problem des Menschen: die Sünde! Sünde ist grundsätzlich Rebellion gegen Gott. Die Sünde bringt den  Tod.  Denn der Lohn der Sünde ist der Tod (Röm.6:23). Epheser 2:1   „...auch euch, die ihr tot wart durch Übertretungen und Sünden, 2 in denen ihr einst gelebt habt nach dem Lauf dieser Welt.“

- Epheser 1-3 beschreibt  die Kraft des Evangeliums.

- In Epheser 4:1 - 6:9 appelliert Paulus an seine Leser   “...jetzt da  ihr Christen, geworden seid, lebt wie Christen!“ Es gibt zwei Aspekte, für die er besonders plädiert: die Einheit und die Reinheit der Gemeinde. Die Grundlage für die Einheit wird in Eph. 4:1-16 gelegt, und  die für die Reinheit in Eph. 4:17-5:21. Es folgt eine besondere Anwendung in Bezug auf drei Beziehungsbereiche  in denen Einheit und Reinheit deutlich zu sehen sein sollten:

(i) zwischen Ehefrauen und Ehemännern (5:22-33)

(ii) zwischen Eltern und Kindern (6:1-4)

(iii) zwischen Arbeitgebern und Arbeitnehmern (6:5-9)

 Dieses veranlasst ihn, das zu schreiben was er jetzt in 6:10-20 sagt.  Das größte Hinderniss für jeden geistlichen Fortschritt  sind   “die Machenschaften des Teufels“. Wir müssen uns darüber im Klaren sein,  dass der Teufel im Detail steckt. Wir aber  sollen ihm keine Gelegenheit  geben seine  Werkzeuge zu werden. Schließlich sind wir es, die ihm in die Hände spielen, wenn wir uns zum Beispiel im gedankenlosem Zorn verlieren (Eph. 4:27). Satan ist  ein Opportunist. Er nutzt unsere  vielen menschlichen Schwächen schnell aus. Er dringt schnell in unsere Systeme ein, genau so wie ein Virus in einen Computer oder in unsere Körper eindringt. Sobald wir ihm eine Tür öffnen  richtet er Chaos an.

Der Teufel is auch nicht wahllos. Er arbeitet methodisch. Wir müssen seine Methoden verstehen. Er arbeitet methodisch, kontinuierlich und subversiv gegen die von Gott geschaffenen Institutionen, nämlich (i) Ehe und Familie, (ii) die Kirche, (iii) den Staat. Wir müssen daher verstehen wie wir dem Teufel und seinen Handlangern (die Herrscher, die Gewalten, die kosmischen Mächte dieser gegenwärtigen Finsternis ... die geistigen Mächte des Bösen in den himmlischen Örtern) ... widerstehen und ihm standhalten  können... “ (6:12). Wir brauchen mehr als menschliche Kraft, um gegen einen solchen Feind zu bestehen. Wir brauchen die volle Waffenrüstung Gottes. Wir brauchen Ihn !

DER FEIND

- Er ist ein persönliches Wesen - nicht einfach eine abstrakte Kraft oder Macht. Seine Macht ist übermenschlich.

- Er ist ein Gott geschaffener, aber gefallener Engel, der gegen Gott rebelliert hat (wir wissen nicht,warum, wie und wann).

- Sein häufigster Name - Satan wird 52 Mal erwähnt. 35 Mal wird er Teufel- Gr. Diabolos – (wörtlich: Verleumder) genannt. Andere Namen, die für ihn verwendet werden, sind Fürst dieser Welt (Joh. 16:11); Fürst der Macht der Luft (Eph. 2:2), gott dieses Zeitalters (2 Kor. 4:4), Beelzebub, der Fürst der Dämonen (Lk. 11:15).

- Er ist der Vater und die Quelle allen Übels.

- Er führt die weltweite Rebellion gegen Gott an. Die Beweise des Bösen sind überall zu finden. In jedem Zeitalter manipulieren Satan und seine Diener die Gott gegebenen  Institute: die Ehe, die Kirche, den Staat. Er stifftet Unruhe. Jeder Krieg lenkt  die Aufmerksamkeit der Menschen von Gott und seinen Heilsabsichten in der Welt ab. Er schürt den Hass, vertieft die Bitterkeit, verursacht Spaltungen und konzentriert  die  Gedanken der Menschen auf  nutzlose politische Lösungen. Diese gefallene Welt ist ein Schlachtfeld und kein Spielplatz.

- Er hat ein Reich/Dynastie (2:2). Er hat Diener und Gefolgsleute (6:12) Diese Wesen bestehen nicht aus Fleisch und Blut (d. h. nicht aus menschlicher Substanz). Man kann sie nicht mit bloßem Auge sehen, und doch existieren sie genauso sicher wie Elektrizität und Gammastrahlen.

- Das Hauptanliegen des Teufels ist es, die Kirche auszulöschen. Er hasst sie, weil er Christus  ihren Erlӧser hasst!

Weil es einen persӧnlichen Teufel gibt,  der in dieser Welt  so einen starken Einfluss hat  ist unsere Welt ein unruhiger Ort. Das sehen wir  kurz nach dem Sündenfall (1. Mose 3:14-19).  Der Mensch, der ursprünglich für ein Leben in Frieden und Harmonie unter Gottes Herrschaft geschaffen wurde, hat nun von der Erkenntnis des Guten und Bösen gekostet. Konflikte und Meinungsverschiedenheiten sind   nun an der Tagesordnung. In Genesis 4 finden wir schon  Kain, der seinen Bruder Abel tötet. Kain verlässt die Gegenwart des Herrn (1. Mose 4:16). Konflikte, Mord und Krieg beherrschen nun die Geschichte des Alten und Neuen Testaments. Sie dominieren die Geschichte aller Zivilisationen bis zum heutigen Tag.

Es beginnt alles  mit diesen geschaffenen Wesen. Es beginnt im Himmel. In Hiob 1 &2 erscheint er noch vor Gott. Der Herr Jesus aber sieht ihn durch seinen  Kreuzestod auf  die Erde fallen (Luk. 10:17 cf. Off. 12:9ff). Dort setzt er jetzt  seinen letzten Kampf fort in dem er unsere gefallenen Herzen  zu seinen steten Werkzeugen macht. Somit sagt  Jakobus 4:1-2:

Was ist die Ursache des Zankes und des Streites unter euch? Ist es nicht so, dass eure Leidenschaften in euch Krieg führen? Ihr begehrt und habt nicht, also mordet ihr. Ihr begehrt und bekommt nichts, deshalb streitet ihr und zankt.

Dann geht Jakobus direkt zur Wurzel und sagt, dass diese Mentalität aus einer bestimmten  Haltung geboren wird. Er nennt sie Feindschaft mit Gott (Jak. 4:4). Diese Feindschaft begann mit der Rebellion Satans gegen Gott in 1. Mose 3. Er hat die Herzen aller Menschen gefangen bis das Jesus sie freimacht

Der wahre Grund für alle Kriege sind also nicht einfache Meinungsverschiedenheiten zwischen Menschen, Herrschern und Nationen.  Mehr als Verlust von Leben steht auf dem Spiel. Der eigentliche Grund für jeden Krieg ist teuflisch  im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes.  Jeder  Krieg  bedroht den Frieden der Seele. Wir sollen die größtmögliche Möglichkeit zu haben, ein heiliges und gottgefälliges Leben zu führen und uns im Glauben zu erbauen. Aber Satan will das verhinderen.

Das Vergießen von viel Blut hat schreckliche Folgen für den Verlust des geistlichen Friedens einer Nation. Denkt nur an die furchtbare Kollektivschuld, die die deutsche Seele nach dem 2.Weltkrieg auf sich geladen hat. Denkt daran, welche Schuld die russische  Kollektivseele jetzt für diesen sinnlosen Krieg gegen ihre ukrainischen Vettern tragen muss. Das wird nicht so einfach verschwinden. Satan und seine Helfershelfer werden alles tun, damit wir nicht in Frieden leben kӧnnen  aund damit wir nicht an das Evangelium denken können. Krieg ist eines seiner besten Werkzeuge, und  ihr werdet alle  ermahnt, den guten Kampf zu kämpfen (1 Tim 1:18; 6:12);  nicht müde zu werden und nicht den Mut zu verlieren (Hebr. 12:3); dem Teufel zu widerstehen... und er wird vor euch fliehen (Jak. 4,7; 1 Petr 5,8.9).

Das Gebet und die Arbeit  für den Frieden ist  unsere große Aufgabe. Deshalb schreibt Paulus Vor allem aber fordere ich dazu auf, dass man für alle Menschen Bitten, Gebete, Fürbitten und Danksagungen vorbringt, für Könige und alle, die in hohen Positionen sind, damit wir ein friedliches und ruhiges Leben führen, gottgefällig und würdig in jeder Hinsicht. (1. Tim. 2:1-2)

ERKENNT DEN KRIEG HINTER DEN KULISSEN!

Ein Teil des Dienstes der Kirche ist es um ihre Mitglieder ständig davor zu warnen, im Garten des Teufels zu spielen; warnen das Unachtsamkeit und Sünde Beziehungen zerstören ; warnen  das auch Christen  manchmal unwissentlich Werkzeuge des Teufels werden kӧnnen (Matt 16:23). Ermahnungen  das  wir dem Teufel  widerstehen sollen (Jak. 4:7; 1. Petr. 5:9); Ermahnungen das  wir dem Teufel keine Gelegenheit geben sollen  (Eph. 4.27).  Erkennt the  Krieg hinter den Kulissen.

SCHAUE FEST AUF JESUS

Der Aufruf, Satan und seinen feindlichen Kräften zu widerstehen, beginnt nicht mit einem Blick nach innen. Lege den Gedanken beiseite, dass du  in irgendeiner Weise in der Lage bist   dem Teufel in eigener  eigener Kraft zu widerstehen.

Denke auch nicht das du Satan widerstehen kannst  mit dem Blick nach außen. Vielleicht denkst du,  Nun, solange die Menschen um mich herum stark im Herrn sind und solange unsere Ältesten für uns beten und unsere geistlichen Kämpfe führen, den Teufel in Schach halten und die Gemeinde in Frieden halten, wird es mir gut gehen.... Lasse dich nicht täuschen! Verlasse dich auch nicht nur auf die Kirchen Ältesten, wenn es darumgeht die  Gemeinde vor den Angriffen Satans zu bewahren.  Wir schaffen das nicht.

Den  Auffruf  Satan zu widerstehen, beginnt mit dem Blick nach oben. Achtet auf diese Worte:  Seid stark in dem Herrn und in der Kraft seiner Macht. Zieht die ganze Waffenrüstung GOTTES an, ... damit ihr bestehen könnt. (6:10,11).

Wir sind aufgerufen, uns auf den HERRN  zu verlassen. ER muss uns ständig mit dieser Kraft versorgen. Wie zur Zeit Josuas und Joschafats muss der Herr  uns in diesen  Kampf gegen einen überlegenen  Feind führen. Die einzige Art und Weise, wie wir den Krieg gegen die Methoden des Teufels erfolgreich führen können, ist  durch die Anwendung der Methoden Gottes. Wir können den Kampf gegen Goliath nicht in der Rüstung von Saul führen. Wir brauchen einen glatten, von Gott gut geführten Stein, der die Stirn des Teufels trifft. Das ist die einzige Möglichkeit, mit Satan fertig zu werden!  Mit diesem Grundsatz  kann sogar der kleinste,unbedeutendste Christenjunge einen Goliath mit einer Steinschleuder erschlagen. William Cowper [6] schrieb in diesem Zusammenhang:

Wenn wir das Gebet zurückhalten, hören wir auf zu kämpfen;

Das Gebet macht die Rüstung des Christen hell;

Und Satan zittert, wenn er sieht, den schwächsten Heiligen auf seinen Knien.

 

Wenn wir unsere Stärke im Herrn und in der Kraft seiner Macht finden, können wir wahrhaftig mit Paulus sagen: Wenn Gott für uns ist, wer kann gegen uns sein (Röm.8:31), und ... in allem sind wir mehr als Sieger durch ihn, der uns geliebt hat. 38 Denn ich bin überzeugt, dass weder Tod noch Leben, weder Engel noch Dämonen, weder Gegenwärtiges noch Zukünftiges, noch irgendwelche Mächte, 39 weder Höhe noch Tiefe noch irgendetwas anderes in der ganzen Schöpfung uns scheiden kann von der Liebe Gottes, die in Christus Jesus ist, unserem Herrn. (Röm. 8:37-39:37)

SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG

Thomas Brooks schreibt in seinem ausgezeichneten Buch,  Precious Remedies Against Satan‘s Devices (Kostbare Mittel gegen Satans Machenschaften):  Christus, die Heilige Schrift, eure eigenen Herzen und Satans Machenschaften sind die vier wichtigsten Dinge, die zuerst und am meisten studiert und erforscht werden sollten. Es ist meine Aufgabe als Christ, mein Bestes zu tun, um die Fülle Christi, die Leere der Kreatur und die Fallen des großen Verführers zu entdecken“.

Schaut  fest auf  das  wirksame Werk Christi am Kreuz, dass alle Machenschaften des Teufels beseitigt.  Steht  und besteht auf Sein vollendendetes Werk. Füchtet euch nicht vor der Angstmacherei der Politiker und der populären Presse. Schaut  fest auf Euren Gott. Schaut fest in Sein Wort. Betet und ruht weiterhin in Christus im  Sinne  des 46ten Psalm.  Er ist und bleibt unsere allgegenwärtige Hilfe und unsere Zuflucht. Amen.

EVANGELICAL REPENTANCE #4 : REPENTANCE IS A SPIRITUAL MEDICINE MADE UP OF SIX INGREDIENTS

 

OUTLINE

1.  The Heart of Biblical Repentance

2. True and False Repentance

3. Repentance -  A New Testament Overview

4. Biblical  Repentance is a  Spiritual Medicine

 

4. BIBLICAL REPENTANCE IS A SPIRITUAL MEDICINE 

Psalm 51

I (and I suspect, most preachers) find preaching on repentance difficult. It is a subject that easily comes across as harsh and heavy – and those preaching the subject often seem to come across as angry. A note to all preachers: this is not about us. This is about God. And we are one of them which are called sinners.   There is no doubt that there has been a reaction against such preaching in which the preacher sees himself as apart from his hearers. On the other hand, we find that preaching that urges repentance upon our hearers is hardly heard.  If we consider what we have said previously, then we cannot ignore this subject, lest we deprive our people of a necessary remedy for their healing. Jim Packer says that “repentance is the drainage routine on the highway of holiness on which God calls us to travel.”[1] 

Life in this sinful world demands continues cleansing. We need preaching that reminds us of this necessary spiritual discipline. George Whitefield (1714-1770) once heard the American Presbyterian Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) preaching. Whitefield responded, "I never before heard such a searching sermon.[2]" By this he meant that the hearers were brought to conviction and repentance. Under Whitefield’s own ministry he saw much evidence of people responding to the gospel, repenting of their sin, frequently crying out as they were convicted of their sin. In a letter dated July 1739, addressed to the Bishop of Gloucester, George Whitefield complains that Anglican ministers generally do not mention this subject. He refers specifically to Dr. Stebbington, a noted Anglican minister of his day: “he does not speak a word of original sin or the dreadful consequences of our fall in Adam upon which the doctrine of the new birth is entirely founded.”[3]

Little is said about the spiritual discipline of regular repentance in modern pulpits. This is a serious omission, because we have seen that the call to repentance was so central in the ministries of Jesus, John the Baptist and the apostles.  Note, that repentance was often also accompanied by physical healing. We suspect that there may be greater benefits to repentance than we may think.

Thomas Watson says that “Repentance is a spiritual medicine made up of six special ingredients”[4]. We shall find that repentance is a medicine that kills the sin virus. John Owen is famously attributed with the saying, Be killing sin before it kills you. 

He warns against[5]

(i)                  Being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebr.3:12-13)

(ii)                Coming under God’s chastisement  (Psalm 89:30-32)

(iii)              Loss of peace 

(iv)              The danger of eternal destruction

(v)                Grieving the Holy Spirit 

(vi)              Wounding the Lord Jesus (who died for sin) afresh.

(vii)            Taking away a man’s usefulness in his generation.

I will generally follow the outline of Thomas Watson’s   chapter on the nature of true repentance. 

1. Seeing sin for what it is

2. Sorrow for sin

3. Confession of sin 

4. Shame for sin 

5. Hatred for sin

6. Turning from sin  

I want to however add a 7th aspect from the 51^st Psalm.  If you have discovered a good remedy for your soul’s healing, PLEASE HELP OTHERS by teaching others to turn from sin (Psalm 51:13)

1. First Ingredient: Seeing sin for what it really is.  We see this from the experience of David. When he was shown his sin by the prophet Nathan, he immediately owned it.  One further illustration from Scripture illustrates this point - The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.  This younger son who left his father’s house defiantly …“he came to himself” (Lk. 15:17). He saw himself for what he was, a sinner (15:18), and he confesses: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.“ Note: not only against the earthly father but also the Father who is in heaven!

Before a person can be converted, they must firstly be helped to come to themselves.  Someone must put on the light. Thomas Watson very helpfully says, “The first creation God made was light. So the first thing in a penitent sinner needs is illumination“.  This is, as we have previously said, the work of the Holy Spirit. He works by the agency of God’s Word. The Word of God is a mirror for our soul, showing us the nature of our sin and also the remedy for that sin.  

2. Second Ingredient:  Sorrow for sin:  4 important aspects

(i) Brokenness. David was broken by the revelation of his sin. There must be real pain in the soul. Thomas Watson says, “A woman may as well expect to have a child without pain as one can have repentance without sorrow.”[6] David ‘s language in Psalm 51 makes it clear that here is a broken man who shows heartfelt sorrow for his sin: “Have mercy on me … wash me … I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me … against you and you only have I sinned … my bones are broken …“. David here speaks of a brokenness of soul that may have well also led to physical manifestations. The Hebrew word “to be sorrowful’ is closely aligned with the thought of being crushed. So, he speaks of his bones being crushed/broken (51:8). That same word is also used in 51:17, where it is said that,  “a broken / crushed  and contrite heart, God will not despise”. What do we learn from such language? We learn that repentance is not a superficial emotion.  Thomas Watson says, “This sorrow for sin is not superficial: it is a holy agony. It is called in scripture ‘a breaking of the heart’…”  (Ps. 51.17). It is a hard, unpleasant experience.

(ii) Godly sorrow: Paul speaks about such godly sorrow in 2 Cor. 7:9. Godly sorrow is a sorrow of the heart. It goes deep. The people listening to Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost received these words deep into their hearts: “they were cut to the heart“ (Acts 2:37).  Paul continuously grieved for the fact that he saw sin in himself (Rom. 7:23).  We have seen that shallow repentance is mostly sorry that it has been caught out. Godly sorrow by contrast deeply grieves over the fact grieves that it has offended God. The essence of all sin begins with a rebellious heart against God.

(iii)  Restitution where necessary. (See Numbers 5:7). It is upon this principle that Zacchaeus the tax collector proved his repentance (See Luke 19: 1-10) “… if I have defrauded anyone, I restore it fourfold.” In David’s case the restitution is not explicitly stated, but following his repentance he took responsibility and did take care of Bathsheba.  He wept over the child that was conceived and died, with exceeding sorrow. God was His prime focus in that sorrow.

(iv) Consistent or habitual:  In Hosea 6:4 God through his prophet speaks to the insincere repentance of his people (see 6:1-3).  He says, “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.”  Their repentance is not consistent. It is not habitual. To the woman caught in adultery (Jn.8:1-11) Jesus says – “Go and sin no more”. Be consistent in your repentance! Judging by David’s life as seen in the prayers of the Psalms we see this consistent habit in him. He was a repentant repenter.

3. Third Ingredient: Sorrow must have an outward expression. That expression we call confession. David confessed to God in the presence of the prophet Nathan, “I have sinned!“ (2 Sam.12:13). Achan confessed his sin in Joshua 7 against God and against the people. This is an admittance that sin is never private. Many had died as a result of Achan’s unfaithfulness.  How do we confess our sin? 

(i)      It must be voluntary and not forced. Confession must come as water out of a spring, freely.

(ii)    It must be felt.

(iii)  It must be sincere.

(iv)  It must be named. 

(v)    It must be owned. (This sin that possesses us is so deep that it begins at our conception (see Ps. 51:5).  While Satan is the tempter and incites us to sin, we cannot blame him for our sin.  We are sinful! We must take responsibility for our sin.

Confession, says Thomas Watson, “is like pumping at the leak; it lets out that sin which would otherwise drown. Confession is the sponge that wipes the spots from off the soul.”  Though it is primarily against God, there are cases when we need to make our confession before men. [7]Can you see that a life of confession and repentance is biblically therapeutic? Keep short accounts with sin. Keep your soul unclogged. This will bring true freedom. 

4. Fourth Ingredient: Shame for sin. Shame underlies the whole of Psalm 51.  Every sin makes us guilty, and guilt usually breeds shame. Adam never needed to feel ashamed while he was in the state of innocence.  Gen. 2:25 says “And the man and the woman were both naked and were not ashamed.”  As soon as they sinned and knew they were naked, they were ashamed, for they sewed fig leaves for themselves (Gen. 3:7).

Zephaniah 3:5 says that “the unjust knows no shame…”.  Have you noticed that the more callous and sinful a nation becomes, the less shame it has? In fact, it appears that the more ungodly people become, the more they glory in their shamelessness (Phil. 3.19). In such societies people usually boast in their sexual exploits. They boast how drunk they were over the weekend. They are not ashamed of their sin. 

A sense of shame is good for individuals as well as a nation. The more we are aware of sin, the healthier the individual or nation will be.

5. Fifth Ingredient: Hatred for sin. As soon as his sin was out in the open,  David hated what he had done. A true repenter will hate his own sin and the sin that he sees in others.   He knows that it comes straight from the devil (1 Jn. 3:8) and it makes people into devils. Through sin the image of God in man has become severely distorted.   It has ruined our purity and innocence before God. It has separated us from God and from one another, so that we do not know God as we ought to. We do not love and respect one another as we ought to.  But most of all, sin dishonours God (Rom. 2:23), and despises God. Sin is the reason why Christ was killed by crucifixion.    If this is what sin has done for us, we should truly hate it. Our repentance should be a reflection of this. 

6. Sixth Ingredient: Turn from sin. David firmly resolved to turn from sin. Dying to sin is the life of repentance. This starts on the very day on which you become a Christian. Watch what your eyes see. Watch what your ears hear - do not lend your ears out to slander. Watch what you say. Do not use your tongue to distribute gossip and lies. Let your feet stay on paths that are firm.  This turning from sin implies a notable change!  It is so visible that others see it.  Therefore, it is called a change from darkness to light (Eph. 5:8). This gives the devil no opportunity, no foothold to trip us up.  

These are the vital ingredients found in the medicine of repentance.  And now one more aspect:

7. Teaching others to turn from sin: David not only turned from sin, but he was now resolved to help others to turn from sin (see 51:13).  True Repentance is strengthened when we resolve not only to sin no longer, but when we have a desire to help others to do the same. Our society will improve under the application of this gospel medicine, as we help one another, graciously, one sinner patiently teaching another sinner to find spiritual remedies for our sin-stained souls.

We do ourselves no favour, and we do others no favour by ignoring this greatly important doctrine. In fact, it is the absence of preaching and teaching this doctrine with pastoral love and care that hurts our church and society. It is the chief reason why the church and society stagnates and regresses.  I repeat what Jim Packer wrote, 

“Repentance is the drainage system on the highway of holiness on which God calls us all to travel. It is the way we get beyond what has proved to be dirt, rubbish and stagnant floodwater in our lives. This routine is a vital need, for where real repentance fails, real spiritual   advance ceases and real spiritual growth stops short.”

---

[1] Jim Packer: A Passion for Holiness, p.

[2] George Whitefield’s Journals, p. 347

[3] ibid, p.300

[4]  Thomas Watson: The Doctrine of Repentance, Puritan Paperbacks, p.18

[5] John Owen: The Mortification of sin, Puritan Paperbacks, pp 65-75

[6] Thomas Watson: The Doctrine of Repentance, Puritan Paperbacks  p.  19

[7] See Watson , p.37

EVANGELICAL REPENTANCE # 3 : THE DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE: A NEW TESTAMENT OVERVIEW

 

OUTLINE

1.   The Heart of Biblical Repentance

2.   True and False Repentance

3.  Repentance -  A New Testament Overview

4.  Biblical  Repentance is a  Spiritual Medicine 

We have been considering Psalm 51 which is the reflection of a broken and contrite man, who when overwhelmed by His sin and guilt, turns to God with a broken and contrite heart and he finds his peace with God once more.  The doctrine of repentance is not well understood nor well applied in our Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deistic age. The preoccupation with user friendliness, pandering to people’s felt needs, the prevalence of pop psychology in counselling and preaching have displaced the doctrine of repentance.   We know this, since the fruit of repentance are very often absent from our churches. Our churches have many people who continue to live with unforgiveness and bitterness – all against the dictates of God’s Word. Our churches have people who love themselves, their families, their pleasures   more than God. Our churches are filled with people who have no regard for the principle of 7th day worship and rest in the Lord. Our churches are filled with broken families in which fathers and mothers are frequently cursed and despised. Our churches have people who are filled with murderous thoughts (“I wish you were dead!”). Our churches have people who lead secret lives in adulterous relationships and pornographic obsessions.  There are even some that steal. There are others that use their mouths to give false testimonies, gossip and slander against their neighbours. There are yet others that covet their neighbours house, spouses and things.   The root of sin is like weeds that spread below the soil and which pop up here and there, even reinforcing one another. Thus, envy and ambition, lust, pride, anger, greed, slothfulness, reinforce one another and they constantly require that we weed out those sins. That is where we need to practise a habit of daily watchfulness and to sit regularly under the Word of God and to realize again and again, “I have some repenting to do.”

These are no small issues. It is on account of these things that the wrath of a just and holy God, “… is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be made known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them (Rom. 1:18, 19).   It is on account of these things that the Holy Spirit is grieved in our churches. It is on account of these things that God has not blessed us   as families, as churches and as a nation (See 2 Chron. 7:14).   The evidence of countless broken homes, the prevalence of man- centred churches, and false religions   dotting our religious landscapes, the ineffective governance of our nations and the divisive spirit within our political ranks is rife.  Nothing is more needed right now than a spirit of true, heartfelt, humble and godly repentance.

We say that as many modern people think that the concept of repentance is an Old Testament concept. Some of you may even have listened to the list of modern   trespasses against the 10 commandments, and you, being influenced by an antinomian worldview, have thought to yourself – well that’s the narrow minded, overly strict, legalistic Old Testament. You pride yourself in being a grace driven man or woman. You pride yourself in being a NT Christian, having left the law of God behind. You think that the OT God is the angry, ‘repent or perish’   God, whereas the New Testament God is the God of mercy and love. And because of that  you take away the need for ongoing repentance, but in reality you are once beginning to heap up  sins  that   will call down the wrath of God!

What I want to do now is to simply illustrate from the Scriptures that repentance continues to be a major theme in the New Testament! And I want to remind you that our Lord Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfil the law (Matt. 5:17). The law was given by God to regulate sin. The 10 commandments deal with the heart of our sinful behaviour, and it remains God’s Word to us. We must take seriously the fact that trespassing the law   without repentance is equally offensive under the NT as it was under the OT.  It must form a part of our daily thinking; it must form part of our daily personal prayer (which includes repentance) -  otherwise  we may  well live under the bondage of deceit  (Jer.  17:9) and think that it is well with our soul, when in fact it isn’t. We must take seriously the fact that Christian growth is stunted where repenting from the heart has stopped.

Two words used in the New Testament help us understand the full meaning of repentance in the Bible.

1.      metamelomai, (meta “after” + melo “to care for”) which denotes a change of mind that produces regret or even remorse for wrongs done, but not necessarily a change of heart and action cf.  Matt. 27:3 describing the guilt Judas felt over betraying Jesus; In 2 Cor. 7:8 Paul uses this word to express regret not over the contents but regret that he had grieved the Corinthians with a strongly worded letter.

2.      metanoeo, (meta & nous - mind) means “to change one’s mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge.” This verb and its related noun, metanoia, is used most often in the NT to denote true biblical repentance, which is characterized by four elements:

a.      It involves a sense of awareness of one’s own guilt, sinfulness, and helplessness.

b.      It takes hold of God’s mercy, through the gospel, in Jesus Christ.

c.       It involves a change of attitude and action regarding sin. The direction is away from sin and towards God.

d.      It results in a real desire for holy living, a walking with God in obedience to His commands (2 Timothy 2:19–22; 1 Peter 1:16).

A BRIEF NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

·       John the Baptist – the forerunner of Jesus - his ministry was characterized by a consistent call to repentance (Matt 3:2, 8, 11).  Mark and Luke say that he preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins“  (Mk. 1:4 ; Lk. 3:3 also 13:24; 19:4 ) John  the Baptist insisted that those  that came to confess their  sin  in repentance  “ should produce fruit in keeping with  repentance“ (Lk.  3:8)             

·       The first sermon that Christ preached, and the first word that is recorded of His sermon was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand …” (Matt. 4:17). Jesus came into a broken, confused, sin-soaked world.  His mission was to call that generation of sinners (and every subsequent generation) to repentance. He was speaking to those that felt the weight of their sin before a holy God and who were looking for a way out: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). His call to repent goes out to all people: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:5). He reminds us of the high standard of holiness: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees…” (Matt.  5:20) indicating that we cannot afford to lead an unexamined life.  In His farewell message to the disciples, Jesus commanded that they take His message of repentance and faith to all the nations (Luke 24:47). And when He was leaving to ascend to heaven in Lk.24:47, His last words to His disciples were that, “repentance and forgiveness should be proclaimed in His name to all nations“.  The doctrine of repentance is a weighty subject in Jesus’ teaching and preaching (see Sermon on the Mount). And the consequences of ignoring that teaching are serious – see Matthew 7.  Eternal Hell awaits the unrepentant sinner!

·        The apostles of Christ in general continued to preach the necessity of repentance In Mk. 6:12 we find that Jesus sent His 12 apostles out, and we read, “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.”

·       Zacchaeus repented by declaring that half of his property would go to the poor, and all illegally gained money would be restored fourfold (Lk. 19:8)

·        When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, the crowd was convicted of their sin, and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?“,  Peter’s immediate answer was  “repent and be baptized every one of you  in the Name of Jesus Christ  for the forgiveness of your sins … “  (Acts 2:38).  Peter also illustrates the importance and urgency of repentance in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.“

·       Paul said to the  Athenians,   God  now commands all people  everywhere ( i.e. the whole world)  to repent  - Acts  17:30,31.  When Paul  faces  King Agrippa  at his trial, needing to defend himself  from the accusation of the Jews,  he not only  shares his testimony of conversion (Acts 26: 1-18), but he loses no time to  inform Agrippa that  he preached the gospel  to  all  “that they should repent and turn to God , performing  deeds in keeping  with their repentance.”  (Acts 26:20). Those that had formerly   practised magic arts in Ephesus brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all (Acts 19:19)

·       The apostle John rarely uses the word “repentance“, but he frequently  uses the language of repentance. The most famous text in John’s gospel (Jn 3:16) is followed by 3:18 which tells us what will happen to sinners who do not turn to Christ in humble repentance, ”…whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God.”  Likewise, in his first letter he makes it clear that   a non-repentant lifestyle means that you are still in darkness (1 Jn.2:9,11).  “Whoever makes a practice of sinning (i.e. unrepentant behaviour) is of the devil.”  (1 Jn. 3:8). And in the Revelation of John we see in John 2 &3 that the churches that have deviated from their calling are called to repent. We also see how unrepentant mankind …  “those whose name was not found written in the book of life (i.e. not having repented of their sin), he was thrown into the fire.” (Rev.20:15)

Repentance is a major theme in the NT. And this remains a major truth about us:  we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (See Rom 3:10ff). All of us are guilty. All of us need to be repenting repenters. Every act of repentance is a separate act and a distinctly moral effort, perhaps a major and costly one. Repenting is never a pleasure. It will continue as long as life lasts…[1]. The act of leading a repenting life must become a reality, and not mere words. It is a difficult task. But it is necessary.  We would rather have one eye and one arm than miss heaven.  

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[1] Jim Packer:  A Passion for Holiness, p. 122