if they obey God? Are we required to DO anything BEFORE we can receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit? What is the role of obedience and good
works in the life of a Christian?
First, let us begin with a Biblical definition of what this article
discusses. Repentance is remorse and sorrow for the sins we have
committed. Sin is the transgression of God's holy and perfect laws,
whether in the letter or in the spirit (intent of). The apostle Paul
states in the book of Ephesians the following.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially
is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God, Not of works, so
that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, HBFV)
No work or effort on the part of any person will ever 'earn' them
salvation. Eternal life is a gift. However, the Bible teaches not only
repentance but that believers must obey God. How can this be?
The law of God is a critical Biblical subject both in the Old and in
the New Testaments. We do not have to go very far into the gospels
before we run into statements about God's laws. In fact, near the very
beginning of Jesus' well-known Sermon on the Mount he states about
obeying God.
17 'Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and
the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them .
. .18 Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least
point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with'
(Matthew 5:17-18)
From Jesus' statement we can only conclude that since heaven and earth
are still here, God's law have not been "done away with" but are still
in effect! In the book of Revelation the apostle John writes that
commandment keeping will still exist in the end time before Jesus'
return (Revelation 14:12).
Obedience to God is repeated many times in God's word, especially
those of the apostle John. Notice how direct and blunt he is about
sin, repentance and obeying God's law.
"The one who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1John 2:4, see also 3:4,
3:22, 5:3 and 2John 5-6)
What did Paul think about God's law?
"Therefore, the law is indeed holy . . . " (Romans 7:12)
Good works, meaning doing what is right in God's sight, are an
integral part of the life of a Christian (Ephesians 2:10). Paul lets
us know that those who do not obey will not be in his kingdom
(1Corinthians 6:9-10).
Each of the Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, are
repeated either exactly or with words conveying the same thing in the
New Testament. These reiterated commandments from the Eternal show the
standard against which repentance is needed.
Repentance then conversion
On Pentecost, just days after Jesus ascended to heaven, God empowered
the disciples by giving them His Holy Spirit and the miraculous
ability to extol and praise him in other languages. As people in
Jerusalem start to gather around the disciples to see what is
happening Peter gives a powerful message explaining the miracles that
were occurring and that Jesus was the true Savior of man. The crowd
who hear Peter have their consciences pricked. Peter then tells the
crowd the following.
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized each one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38)
In the Bible, the word REPENT comes from the Greek word metanoeo
(Strong's Concordance #G3340) which means to think differently or
reconsider and to begin to feel regret. Repentance begins to occur
when we fell sorry, remorsefully, etc. about the sins we have
committed --- our disobedience to God through the breaking of His
commandments. A person not only feels sorry for their sins but also
desires and begins to obey God, which Peter again states must occur
before he will give them the gift of his Spirit (Acts 5:32).
Loving
What God ultimately requires of us is summed up by Jesus.
And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' (Matthew
22:37)
Does loving your neighbor mean simply thinking nice things about them?
No. It is the day to day application of the spirit and intent of God's
Laws. This includes helping our neighbor when they are in trouble,
safeguarding our property so that the neighbor does not hurt
themselves by falling into a hole, giving them money when they are in
need, etc. It means sharing our food with them if they are hungry or
getting them clothes they cannot afford. Now, how does someone love
God?
To love our Father in heaven is far more than attending church
services. To truly love God means to do what he says -- to obey his
commands, etc. It is obedience not to 'earn' the right to be saved but
out of our desire to do the will of God. On the night he was betrayed
Jesus taught the disciples about many things, including what it means
to love him and the Father. Jesus clearly linked love and obedience
when he said the following.
"If you love Me, keep the commandments - namely, My commandments. (John 14:15)
In the end, if we do not DO what is right --- if we do not obey our
Creator and Father --- then whatever faith we think we have is DEAD
and useless (James 2:24, 26).
This is what repentance is all about!
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