3 Ways Repentance Can Lead You to Joy

There’s a lot of baggage surrounding the idea of repentance.

I don’t know about you, but the first thing that enters my mind when I hear the word “repent” is people standing on street corners carrying signs and shouting into megaphones: “Repent, sinners!”

Probably not the most effective way to spread the Gospel.

I think these sorts of tactics are part of why many people have a negative association with the idea of repentance. It seems too harsh and unloving to tell anyone, believer or unbeliever, that they must repent of their sin.

What an impoverished misconception! Repentance is essential to the Gospel: the most beautiful and loving message of all.

But, that message doesn’t make sense or seem loving without acknowledging sin. Why would anyone need Christ to save them from their sins if they don’t actually believe they’re sinners? If they think they’re already a “pretty good” person without Him? If they’ve already been saved, and think that means they can just do as they please?

True repentance begins with brokenness:

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Psalm 51:3-4

To repent, you must be grieved by your sin to the point that you accept the blame for your choices and are willing to make any change necessary to be rid of it. Any pleasure that your sin formerly brought you is replaced with repulsion.

Repentance is not at all easy or pleasant, at least not to begin with, but it leads to deep and lasting joy. It will lead you to joy because of God’s abundant mercy, because you have the security of your forgiveness, and because you have freedom from enslavement to sin.

Joy in Mercy

Repentance gives us joy because of God’s mercy. To understand the depths of that mercy, we must first understand our sin, and its consequences in our lives.

Sin is rebellion against God. Anything less than perfect obedience to God is a sin: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

(I don’t know about you, but I’m really starting to sweat here...)

God’s Word clearly articulates that our rebellion against God has a divisive and deadly impact.

Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), because God’s perfect holiness cannot be contaminated, or it wouldn’t be perfectly holy anymore.  It’s also deadly. Paul’s letter to believers in Rome doesn’t mince words on this point. He says, "the wages of sin is death” (Romans 8:23, emphasis mine). When we disobey God, that sin must be paid for, and the price is death. Without Christ, that means that we not only physically die, but spiritually die by being separated from God for eternity. Yikes.

Amazingly, instead of allowing us to suffer the proper consequences for our rebellion, God interceded to absorb our punishment Himself:  “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:23).

In his justice and mercy, God sent his Son to absorb His righteous wrath for us so that we could exchange condemnation for holiness: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

His mercy to us is incomparable. A repentant believer can be filled with joy knowing the lengths to which God has gone to save them from sin.

Joy in the Security of Your Forgiveness

Repentance also gives us joy because we have confidence that God will forgive us: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf gives us confidence to approach God for forgiveness. Because of the cross, we can be sure that we will receive mercy and grace from God when we approach him with humble repentance. He will not turn us away.

For me, this is the hardest part of repentance: believing that God completely forgives me the instant I repent. His forgiveness does not hinge on my ability to make amends for my sin.

Here on Earth, a genuine, humble confession will more often be met with anger or hard-heartedness than with immediate forgiveness and restoration of relationship. We’re simply not used to people forgiving us right away without them becoming angry. Even in a deep relationship, we expect that trust and love will require time to heal.

Not so with God.

God will not reject us when we humbly repent. His forgiveness is perfect and complete the moment we confess. The sacrifice of Jesus has already paid the price, and there is nothing more we could or would need to do to restore our relationship with Him. We are already loved and forgiven:  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Joy in Freedom

When we have repented and been forgiven we are not only set free from guilt, but also from slavery to our sin.

Before Christ, we were enslaved to sin because our selfish desires held us captive. Once justified before God through Christ, we are set free from our slavery to sin and take on Christ’s righteousness as our own (Romans 6:17-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21). We receive the Holy Spirit, who enables us to obey God joyfully, just as Christ does.

Although God delights in our obedience (1 Samuel 15:22), we must remember that it does not elevate us in His eyes: we are always His children.. Obedience is what we owed God anyway, so we will not be more our less his children based on our righteous deeds. Our standing before God is secure, once and forever.

For the believer, obedience is freedom. It is an act of worship and love (John 14:!5). It is the path of life, giving us fullness of joy in God’s presence, and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 
Psalm 16:11

Repentance is difficult but life-giving. It is an essential part of our initial justification before God and of our life-long sanctification. Growing in Christlikeness is an ongoing process; perfection in this life cannot be attained, so consistent repentance is crucial. As we become more like Him, we will continually come before God with our sins and find joy in God’s mercy, forgiveness, and freedom.

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Resource

Gavin Ortlund for Desiring God: “Four Steps Toward Joy in Repentance.”

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Respond

When you feel broken in your sin, how does repentance return you to joy? What scriptures remind you of the joy you have in God's mercy, steadfast forgiveness, and freedom when you repent?

How Can Christians Love Their Neighbors in Tragedy?

I had a different topic in mind for today’s post, but recent events have compelled me to put that on the back burner until later this week. Although it is not my intention to regularly comment on current events, I will not ignore a tragedy that is so profoundly impacting this country as a whole, and many of my friends in particular.

It cannot be denied that the relationship between the LGBTQ community and the Church is, sadly, characterized by mutual hurt. Upon much reflection, I can’t help but be reminded of the Biblical conflict between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jesus used their conflict as the backdrop for his teachings on how Christians are to love others; it’s a lesson I believe we need to remember in light of this tragedy.

During the time of Jesus’ Earthly ministry, the conflict between the Jews and the Samaritans was already hundreds of years old. These two groups were bitterly divided over politics, culture, and religion, and many of them despised one another. This situation is sadly familiar to us.

One day, when Jesus was teaching, a Jewish lawyer began to question him about God’s law. He rightly understood that the way to eternal life was to love God above all, and to love one’s neighbors. He wanted clarification from Jesus on exactly who counted as his “neighbor” (Luke 10:25-29). He hoped that Jesus answer would affirm what he was already doing, "justify" him, so that he could be assured of eternal life while limiting which people he actually was supposed to be loving toward. Jesus responded with a parable that most will find familiar: the Good Samaritan.

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:30-37
 

In spite of the bitter conflict between their two cultures, the Samaritan man was a “neighbor” to the Jewish man: he was moved with compassion and stepped in when others would not. His actions went beyond triage, as he faithfully provided for the victim’s care until healing was complete.

When the Samaritan saw the Jewish man lying in the road, he did not look to it as an opportunity for the two of them to discuss why conflict existed between them. He simply had compassion and helped. Likewise, now is not the time to divide up blame or discuss the whys and wherefores of conflict between the Church and the gay community. Instead, now is the time for Christians to prayerfully seek opportunities to reach out to a hurting community, For Christians, the Samaritan man should be our example: compassion and mercy should be the defining characteristic of the love we show to all of our neighbors. Our disagreements over politics, culture, and religion must take a back seat to Jesus’ clear command for us to “go, and do likewise,” We must love those who are hurting, and, right now, the LGBTQ community is hurting.

So how should we love these particular neighbors in this particular crisis? There is plenty of information available already that can do a better job than I can of telling you how you can donate funds and material resources to the survivors of the attack and their families. I’ll let the major news networks help you with that. Instead, I want to focus on two simple things that you can do to help wherever you are: pray and reach out to affected friends and neighbors.

Pray

In response to the attack in Orlando, consider praying these things:

• For victims and their families: that they would find comfort and hope in their grief.

• For the LGBTQ community: that they would receive compassion and kindness from others, and not live in fear because of hate. 

• For the Muslim community: that peace-loving Muslims would be protected from hateful violence at the hands of people who would blame them for the senseless actions of a radical and unstable man, particularly as they continue to celebrate Ramadan.

• For yourself: that you would have wisdom to speak and act in ways that show the love of Christ to a hurting world.

Reach Out to Affected Friends and Neighbors

If you, like me, live on the other side of the country from Orlando, you may feel like there isn’t much you can do to help the victims of this attack beyond sending money to charitable organizations that are mobilizing to assist in the healing process. I won’t diminish the importance of financial generosity here: donate if you are able! Still, the impact of this event reaches far beyond Florida: there are many people in our local communities who are afraid and in pain because of that act of terror. It is our duty to help care for them.

Make it a point to extend compassion to friends and neighbors who are mourning or fearful because of the attack. Whether you simply send them a note or small gift or invite them out for coffee or a meal, find a way to express to them that you are thinking of and praying for them. Listen as much as possible. Encourage wherever appropriate. Pray without ceasing.

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Respond

How do you feel led to respond to this tragedy? How are you praying for and reaching out to those who have been impacted by the attack?

Freedom from Despair

When faced with trials, the temptation to despair is always lurking around the corner. Troubles tend to come one after another. Our prayers seem to disappear into the air as soon as they’re spoken, met only with silence. We sink low in the mire and muck of life in a sin-filled world, losing sight of the light. On our own, we are helpless.

Freedom from despair can only be found when we meditate on God’s past, present, and future faithfulness, and allow that knowledge to permeate our hearts.

In Psalm 40, David’s reflection on God’s goodness and past mercies leads him to repentance, while also reassuring him that God will faithfully continue to deliver him from present and future sins and persecution.

God Is Faithful

Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
   he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
   out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
   making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
   and put their trust in the Lord.

In verses 1-3, David remembers how God has brought him out of past affliction. He was trapped in a “pit of destruction” and a “miry bog.” In his trouble, he cried out to God for rescue. The Lord heard him and brought him to safety. Afterward, God inspired David to sing a song of praise to the people, declaring God’s faithfulness and goodness. Those who heard it would see God’s mighty power and be led to humble repentance, knowing they were unworthy of his holiness. Then they would trust him because of his mercy. His gracious goodness gave them hope for the future.

This portion of the text previews its main idea: worship should lead to repentance, even while God’s mercy and past faithfulness inspire our trust and further worship.

The Psalm continues:

4 Blessed is the man who makes
   the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
   none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
   yet they are more than can be told.

In verses 4-5, David proclaims God’s blessings to those who trust Him. They resist the temptation to go astray on a prideful path of self-reliance, and instead wait for God to act. Just as He has done in David’s case, God hears them and lavishes them with his protection and care. His blessings are so numerous, “they are more than can be told.”

As we wait on God to deliver us from trials, we must not neglect to remember how God has blessed us in the past and the present. Remembering His many mercies allows the Holy Spirit to bolster our faith so that we can resist the urge to “take matters into our own hands” and try to fix our problems our own way. God will meet us in the waiting and lavish us with abundant provision for our needs.

God’s Faithfulness Inspires Worship Through Obedience and Praise

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
   but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
   you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
   in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
   in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
   as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.

God’s goodness inspires David to worship through obedience and praise. He wants to please God, but recognizes that offerings and sacrifices are not enough. What, then, does God require? David sees that God desires a heart that delights in knowing His Word and obeying Him: “‘I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’” God also wants a servant who worships by joyfully proclaiming His goodness to others: “I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation.”

Remembering all that God has done for us in the past should give us a heart to joyfully serve Him in our homes and communities. His faithful mercy should inspire our love for knowing and obeying His Word. The time we spend reading the Bible should be refreshing and encouraging, not a drudgery. God’s abundant grace should also inspire us to worship Him and declare His goodness to the world. Our praise and gratitude should not be hidden away, but should overflow into our interactions with everyone.

If, like me, you’re feeling a little unqualified for perfect obedience and worship, read on! Verse 11 marks the beginning of a huge shift in the tone of this psalm as David is once again moved to cry out to God for salvation.

God’s Standard of Perfection Demands Repentance

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
   your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
   ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
   beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
   and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
   my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
   O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
   who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
   who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
   who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

The sudden change in the tone of this psalm is a little jarring at first. Why does David abruptly move from praise to penance and desperation? It’s possible that David’s circumstances changed as he was writing. Perhaps his enemies renewed their attack on him at that time. However, I think it more likely that meditating on God’s standard of perfection brought David to his knees in repentance. Although he desired to obey and glorify God in his life, even David, the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:!4), was unable to do so blamelessly. He knew that, once again, only God’s unchanging mercy could save him. He was humbled in his distress, yet confidently declared that the God who had saved him in the past would do so again: “your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!”  

This pattern of worship and repentance should resonate in the heart of every believer. Meditating on God’s past mercies and on His standard of holiness should be humbling. Our worship should continually remind us of our need for his mercy in our sinful hearts and in our circumstances. God’s pattern of faithfulness should inspire our faith that he will always forgive and deliver us. In fact, we should have even more reassurance of our hope in God’s mercy than David had. While King David only had a brief glimpse of his offspring whose throne would be established by God forever (2 Samuel 7:13), we know Him as our Savior.

Whether David knew it or not, the words that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write in Psalm 40:6-8 would actually find their fulfillment in Jesus. Hebrews 10:1-18 explains that the sacrificial system of the Law was never enough to permanently wash away sin. Using just the blood of animals, more sacrifices would always be required. When Jesus came, all of that changed:

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
   but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
   you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
   as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

In the incarnation, God prepared a body for Christ so that he, as fully God and fully man, could live the perfectly obedient life that you and I (and even King David) cannot. He shed his blood as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He met the need for sacrifice forever: “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10) and “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Through Christ, our sins are permanently forgiven and we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who enables us to be sanctified: slowly becoming more like Christ. When sins or other trials drag us down into despair, we can have hope in God’s past, present, and future mercy because of Jesus. Like David, the hope of that mercy should ultimately inspire us to praise God again.

God’s Mercy Inspires Praise

16 But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
   say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
   but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   do not delay, O my God!

David has been brought low. He is “poor and needy”, yet confident that God will raise him up again. He proclaims: “the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer.” David anticipates God’s future provision, and it leads him back to worship, even in the midst of distress. He says, “may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’”

Suddenly, it’s like we have returned to the beginning of this psalm. For David, and for modern believers, faith amidst trials is like a cycle. We begin by remembering God’s past faithfulness, which frees us from despair and inspires our trust and worship. That worship then leads to humble repentance; we must recognize our need for Jesus. Finally, repentance is met with faithful mercy, so we are again inspired to trust and worship without fear, even in the midst of suffering: 

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

"Before the Throne of God Above", written by Charitie Lees Smith

Resources

John Piper on Desiring God: “In the Pits with a King.”
David Mathis on Desiring God: “Psalm 40: Obedience Better than David’s.”

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Respond

How is God’s past faithfulness to you encouraging your faith, and the faith of others? How is it inspiring you to worship? How is worship leading you to repentance? How does true repentance renew your trust in God, and your worship of Him?