God’s Initiative in the Gift of Repentance
When I first moved to Florida, I worked in a Christian bookstore. Like the characters of a Flannery O’Connor short story, the shoppers were all in need of grace – whether they knew it or not. Questions that should have been posed to their pastors were put to sales clerks as though working in a store with books qualified them for giving out spiritual guidance.
One of my more memorable encounters took place with the Methodist pastor from down the street. He came by in the middle of the day looking for more than a book. He was looking for an audience. He had clearly been in his study and needed fresh ears for his fresh insight. I became his target.
It seems he had been researching the role of grace in salvation for a discussion with potential parishioners. Desiring to emphasize God’s initiative, he excitedly declared, “That is why Wesley taught prevenient grace.” Prevenient grace is grace that intervenes beforehand. In its historic formulation prevenient grace falls short of being Augustinian, but neither is it Pelagian (for explanation, see last weeks article here). Truly, prevenient grace is another expression of a middle way, where grace is necessary but assists rather than initiates. Scripture, however, tells a different story.
Of all the spiritual duties commanded, you might be tempted to think repentance (Acts 17:30) is the one that must be performed without God’s initiative. In repentance we turn from our sin and towards God. Yet, several passages of scripture tell us repentance is a gift of God – meaning it starts with him.
In Acts 5:31 Peter responds to the Jewish authorities by explaining that, “God exalted him (Christ) to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” And, evidently this gift was not merely for Israel. After describing his success in preaching to Gentiles, Acts 11:18 records the response of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul explains how to handle opposition as a pastor, “the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth…”
Because repentance is a true turning away from sin and towards God, he does not do it for us. The same is true concerning faith. God does not believe in Christ for us. Rather, what he grants by grace is both the desire and the ability to believe and repent. In repentance, therefore, we turn from our own sin, but we do so by the power God grants. Additionally, we turn toward the mercy of God in Christ but not in our own power, God gives the ability.
Furthermore, just as faith is not a one time event but an ongoing trust and reliance on Christ – so repentance is not a one time occurrence either. The Christian life is suffused with a constant contrition. Repentance remains the hallmark of the changed heart necessary for following Christ.
God’s promise to change men’s hearts is given in Ezekiel but manifested in Acts 16:14. Lydia, the dealer in purple cloth, hears Paul’s message and God opens her heart. Without God’s grace the heart of humanity is closed by sin. Yet, in this instance he opens this woman’s heart, and she receives Christ by faith. She experiences what scripture calls repentance unto life.
The source of Christian repentance certainly can be described as prevenient grace – grace that intervenes beforehand. This grace, however, does more than assist my feeble efforts. The grace of God for repentance is the very source of hatred for one’s own sin and love for Christ’s mercy.
Repenting By God’s Grace,
Pastor Andy
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