Repentance
By Daniel Carandang
The cross.
To some of us, it's just a wooden religious artifact. Might even be a bling to some.
But for us Christians, it is a symbol of sacrifice and unconditional love.
It is actually one of our biggest motivations in our journey towards the path of Christ-likeness. The cross is the rallying symbol of Christians, our pride.
However, many of us tag ourselves as Christians but continue to live a double life.
Too many people claim that they are Christians but few live for Jesus. Too many people think that they are genuine followers but if you examine the way they live, they are the very opposite of what they say they stand for.
Mahatma Gandhi can testify to such. There was a brief incident in his life when he considered of observing the Christian church.In his autobiography, he writes: “I was together with some Christian friends when one of them said something I was not prepared for. ‘You cannot understand the beauty of our religion. From what you say it appears that you must be brooding over your transgressions every moment of your life, always mending them and atoning for them. How can this ceaseless cycle of action bring you redemption? You can never have peace. You admit that we are all sinners. Now look at the perfection of our belief. Our attempts at improvement and atonement are futile. And yet redemption we must have. How can we bear the burden of sin? We can out throw it on Jesus. He is the only sinless Son of God. It is His word that those who believe in Him shall have everlasting life. Therein lies God's infinite mercy. And as we believe in the atonement of Jesus, our own sins do not bind us. Sin we must, It is impossible to live in this world sinless. And therefore Jesus suffered and atoned for all the sins of mankind. Only he who accepts His great redemption can have eternal peace. Think what a life of restlessness is yours, and what a promise of peace we have.’
“The argument utterly failed to convince me. I humbly replied: ‘If this be the Christianity acknowledged by all Christians, I cannot accept it. I do not seek redemption from the consequences of my sin. I seek to be redeemed from sin itself, or rather from the very thought of sin. Until I have attained that end, I shall be content to be restless.’”
Gandhi's most famous quote with regards to Christianity is:
I like Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Such comment is a big blow towards Christianity.
Being a Christian is more than just a Saturday (for Youth groups) or Sunday thing. Telling others that you are a devoted follower of Christ just because you attend church every Sunday yet live the opposite during the weekdays doesn't validate your claim. The impact of the cross, of what Jesus did should not just be in our after life...but also in our present life.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:8
The verse comes from the story that can be found in the third chapter of the book of Matthew. In this tale, John the Baptist is ministering in the wilderness and telling the people around who listened: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
The term repent originated from the Greek word metanoia which means 'to change.' When we repent, we must change our way of thinking and turn away from our sinful ways. Instead of letting yourself immerse in sinful pleasure, choose to rise up from the dump and change for the better.
People were moved by his words and God spoke to their hearts. As a sign of genuine faith, they confessed their sins, repented and were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (Matthew 3:5-6)
Watching nearby where the so-called Holy Ones of the land. With a critical eye, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, known to be Men of God who are fully 'knowledgeable' in the Word, watched John as he baptized the people. But before they can even take a step closer, John's words stopped them.
Despite their reputation of being the holiest of holies, John saw them for what they really were: brooding vipers. How come? These men, however closer to God and holy they may claim, did not know the meaning of genuine repentance. Because of this, John knew that they did not bear any good fruit, a proof of humble repentance.
Today, there are Christians similar to these people. They are holy during Sundays but live otherwise on weekdays. Their lives do not reflect their claims. Jesus never intended for us to be only okay in church. He wanted us to bear fruits.
This leads to John's saying that repentance is the key to produce good fruit.
Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God evidenced by a changed life. Our obedience to Christ should not be out of fear. The Christian life is not just a religious ritual but a response to what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Familiar with the story of Zacchaeus?
In Luke 19:1-8, we learn that Zacchaeus the tax collector is not the type you'd want to be friends with. He cheats on the people, steals their gold and claims all the riches to himself. He was the A+ sinner but still, Jesus wanted to be a guest in his home. On that day, Zaccaheus encountered Christ and his life was never the same again. He understood the heaviness of his sins and decided immediately to turn over a new leaf. He decided that he would return what he stole and even more than what he owed. Why?
Because he encountered Christ and experienced a radical transformation.
Pause for a moment and ask yourself: can the people around you testify that your life has been transformed?
A radical change from Christ is proven by the big difference in our words and how we respond to things.
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.
Despite their reputation of being the holiest of holies, John saw them for what they really were: brooding vipers. How come? These men, however closer to God and holy they may claim, did not know the meaning of genuine repentance. Because of this, John knew that they did not bear any good fruit, a proof of humble repentance.
Today, there are Christians similar to these people. They are holy during Sundays but live otherwise on weekdays. Their lives do not reflect their claims. Jesus never intended for us to be only okay in church. He wanted us to bear fruits.
This leads to John's saying that repentance is the key to produce good fruit.
Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God evidenced by a changed life. Our obedience to Christ should not be out of fear. The Christian life is not just a religious ritual but a response to what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Familiar with the story of Zacchaeus?
In Luke 19:1-8, we learn that Zacchaeus the tax collector is not the type you'd want to be friends with. He cheats on the people, steals their gold and claims all the riches to himself. He was the A+ sinner but still, Jesus wanted to be a guest in his home. On that day, Zaccaheus encountered Christ and his life was never the same again. He understood the heaviness of his sins and decided immediately to turn over a new leaf. He decided that he would return what he stole and even more than what he owed. Why?
Because he encountered Christ and experienced a radical transformation.
Pause for a moment and ask yourself: can the people around you testify that your life has been transformed?
A radical change from Christ is proven by the big difference in our words and how we respond to things.
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.
1 John 2:3-5
A real follower of Christ obeys His commandments. He doesn't just proclaim his faith by mouth. His actions reflect his stand. His goal of producing fruit to honor his God is a solid proof.
CONSTANTLY producing fruit. It is written in the present tense. How can we constantly produce fruit? By reminding ourselves of the cross and His sacrifice. Let it be our motivation to reflect the image of Christ by serving others rather than being served. Help a friend in need today. Respect your parents. Be the model image for your siblings. Let love abound.
Genuine repentance always produces undeniable evidence.
Give yourself a heart check. Have you totally surrendered your past to Christ? Have you committed a new life for Him?
Remind yourself of the cross. And every single day will never be the same.
Written by: Ashley Petallano (c)2013
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