The doctrine of repentance: The first Word of the Gospel

I am currently reading a book by Richard Owen Roberts. Repentance: The first word of the Gospel. No, not Oral's son. His book is on the doctrine of repentance. I believe this doctrine is one of the most misunderstood, taught and studied of all the doctrines in scripture. I want to post some of the thoughts and ideas he writes in his book. I have seen it written in other blogs and articles, that faith is not a gift of God. Which is the typical arminian interpretation of (Ephesians 2:8-9). Since repentance is so married to faith, I assume they would say that repentance is not a gift of God. The very fact that those who make such statements and write them, are even allowed to take their next breath, that very breath, is a gift from God. (James 1:17). Now certainly, repentance and faith are "good" things, so according to (James 1:17) they,(faith and repentance) obviously come from God. Repentance and faith are necessary for eternal life. Eternal life being a "gift" from God (Romans 6:23).

So, to start repentance is a gift of God. (2 Timothy 2:25), (Acts 11:18), (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)

This will take several posts to fit this in but I think it will be well worth the effort. I will refrain at this point from giving the definition of what repentance is, but ratherI will let the writer define the word repentance as he defines it through the means of biblical theology.

Introduction:
There are several reasons why the doctrine of repentance is so largely neglected and is having relatively little impact in the Church and society.

1. There is a general disregard for biblical doctrine in the church. Church leaders often say "doctrine is divisive and divides". That is a true statement. Preaching the great doctrines of the Bible divides the sheep from the goats. Without careful searching and doctrinal preaching the church becomes an assorted lot of flesh and spirit that is nearly impossible to pastor. A mixture of sheep and goats is a pastors nightmare. Further, the world cannot believe in Christ because it cannot believe in the mixed multitude that calls itself Christian. It has no means whatsoever of distinguishing between the sheep of Christ's flock and the goats of the world that sit side by side in the same sanctuaries and mouth the same religious jargon.


2. Portions of the church that still believe in doctrinal preaching have allowed themselves to become grievously negligent about the doctrine of repentance. Many who sincerely believe repentance is necessary have simply failed to allow the doctrine it's rightful place. They have sought to make converts who neither understand nor practice biblical repentance. Thus the strength of these churches is diluted by unrepentant and unconverted persons in the membership who, nonetheless tragically, suppose themselves "Christians." Massive confusion and ineffectiveness are the result.


3. There is an increasingly common failure in the church in understanding the mandatory nature of repentance. Some seem to be of the persuasion that repentance is an option. "One can repent," they say, "and maybe even should,but it certainly isn't mandatory." In consequence, multitudes have sought to turn to Christ withhout ever turning from their sins. Thus it is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish the church from the world.


4. Others have developed the preceding error into pernicious doctrine that is being widely taught and preached. This grievously erroneous viewpoint insists that repentance has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation. Repentance is described by these false teachers as a "work". They insist, "we are not saved by works, We are saved by faith alone." Their error is not so much in stressing salvation by faith alone as it is in failing to understand the irrevocable link that always exist between repentance and faith. To assume that sinners can turn to the Righteous One without turning from their own unrighteousness is the height of theological nonsense. In attempting to describe repentance as work," these teachers are much more successful in proving their ignorance of the Holy One. Sad to say, this grievous error is responsible for incredible damage throughout major portions of the church.


5. Repentance has been neglected because of a grievously distorted focus upon the positive. There is a widespread notion that Christianity must always be stated in positive terms. Some have gone so far as to say "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all." Faith is perceived as positive whereas repentance, by such reckoning obviously falls into he category of negative.


6. The doctrine of repentance has suffered at the hands of the Church's large-scale commitment to success. Massive numbers of church leaders have a great love for commitment to ministerial success. Their tendency is to pick and choose the elements of both religious truth and pop psychology that will most readily facilitate the accomplishment of their purpose. A focus on the love of God, the role of faith in human happiness, the benefits of holistic living and the upbeat elements of a well integrated human responsibility, are seen as much more helpful in building large churches than thundering against sin, insisting upon repentance, and issuing warnings about judgement and hell. Consequently, there is a noticeable absence of any vital ministry of the Holy Spirit in these churches. Millions of churchgoers have no idea hat they need to repent because in their church there is an acute lack of the great work of the Spirit in convincing the world of sin a of righteousness and of judgement to come (John 16:8-11). When there is virtually no conviction, it can hardy be surprising that there is little or no repentance and virtually no true conversions.


7. There exists a tragic lack of moral earnestness among religious leaders. Even in cases where repentance is accurately taught and preached, it is commonly done with such lack of moral energy and vital spiritual concern that few indeed catch the urgency of biblically mandated repentance and respond accordingly. How does God feel when His doctrine are set aside? Does He smile in the realization that this new age in which we live and that the old fashioned truths are no longer relevant? Or does He rise in indignation against all those who seek to accomplish His purposes in their way instead of His? Read (Isaiah 63:10).

In urging your most careful consideration of the doctrine of repentance, I am reminded of two very urgent words of caution given by our Lord Jesus Christ concerning our hearing.

(1) "Take care who you listen to" (Mark 4:24)

(2) "Take care how you listen" (Luke 8:18)

In their context, both of these passages make it clear that what a person has, what is added to them, and what is taken from them is immediately affected by their degree of care in listening. These cautions place important responsibilities upon each of us. Our spiritual intake can have a dramatic effect on us. Some being careless about what they hear, will sit for years listening to unsound and unprofitable teaching and preaching and will suffer the loss in withered spiritual lives. Others sit under very solid biblical ministry but are careless about how they hear and, in consequence, the likewise experience little if any spiritual growth, and indeed they may even lose much of what they had earlier gained. These cautions affect all intake of truth and are applicable to reading as to hearing. Just as there are many very sloppy listeners who never really learn to heed neither what they hear or how they hear, so also there are careless readers who pay too little attention both to what they read and how they read. Some waste their lives reading worthless things. But others read important things that seem to make no lasting difference in their lives.

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Repentance: The first word of the Gospel