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The Gift of Repentance
Repentance is best defined as a life altering resolution. The first image that comes to mind might be a confessional, a kneeling prayer, an arms-wide open rain-soaked cry to the sky. These are displays of emotion, but not strictly repentance. This matters because not everyone is emotional in the same way. Some have even concluded that repentance isn’t for them - because they have no interest in the religious external symbols that are often used to display the concept. But repentance is not ceremonious. It’s not for “ultra-religious” people. It is a gift offered to every person in every walk of life. And it doesn’t mean you have to conform to a friend, church, or family member’s religious expectations. It means you have the chance to no longer live in a state of spiritual death.
Let’s look at two time this gift comes up in early Christianity.
First, let's look at Peter’s second sermon to the Jews, recorded in Acts 3. The Jews were ultra religious and very orthodox in their practices. Yet even in their states of ritual devotion they lacked the true meaning of repentance. One reason was that they struggled with the universal human fault of pride. But aside from that they had not yet been introduced to their expected savior. Through the sermon, Peter is explaining that their whole religion anticipated someone who could take their system of forgiveness to the next level. For over a thousand years they had been practicing the rituals, but had not yet found the permanent answer. Peter ends the sermons with the following:
“And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”
Acts 3:24-26 NET
They had so far been overlooking that the advantage of the Jewish religion was not the rituals; it was pursuing the blessing God promised Abraham. The blessing is realized in Jesus with an opportunity to change their lives in a way the rituals never could. The blessing is that they have the chance to repent - to actually transform their thinking and resolve to leave behind their sinful nature. This blessing is a gift. It is not something we have within ourselves to do. We don’t have the maturity or wisdom to understand our own iniquities nor what activity should replace them. We don’t have the strength of willpower to overcome our faults. We don’t have the ability or right to approach God on our own terms with our own ideas of penance or improvement. God gifted us the chance to change. The chance to alter the direction of our souls away from selfishness and towards our Maker.
Second, let’s look at the Jewish response to gentile conversion. They were not seeking to convert the gentiles at the start. They hadn’t yet matured to understand that this good news of repentance is for all. So when Peter is firmly prompted by God’s Spirit to go preach to Cornelius, the Jewish Christians confronted him. Peter responded by recounting God’s divine approval and miraculous acceptance of the Gentile household. Their conclusion is then:
“When they heard this, they ceased their objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, God has granted the repentance that leads to life even to the Gentiles.’”
Acts 11:18 NET
The opportunity for repentance is not for the “ultra-religious”. It is not just for those who prefer a particular orthodox style or ritual processes. Neither is it just some outward act displayed in movies. It is a gift given by God to the soul which accepts Jesus and makes a life-altering resolution. The Jews are resolved to leave their forms of rituals at the cross of Jesus and let him be the sacrifice for their souls. The Gentiles are resolved to abandon their pagan lifestyle and be solely committed to Jesus and his teachings. This is a gift for all, no matter your background. The gift may not be visually appealing at first. You have to accept your need for a savior. But then when you finally realize what a blessing Jesus is offering you, it will motivate and guide you to actually, truly, beautifully repent
