7 (brief) contemplations on repentance

I wrote this for my theology class. We were given these passages and told to highlight their importance with regards to repentance. Just thought I'd share.

To start with, I should say that I've been fortunate enough to hear teachings on nearly ALL of these passages within the last year or so. Mostly, though, this is because of the tremendous number of podcasts I've listened to combined with teachings I've heard at my church.
Now, half of them I've heard taught by Arminian leaning pastors, and the other half (including ALL of the passages listed from Luke) by (vehemently) Calvinist teacher Matt Chandler. So I've got a pretty evenly split view of this. Here goes:

1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luke 13:1-3 teaches us that there is no one more or less worthy of either death or salvation. The people asking Jesus about the Galileans believed incorrectly that an especially terrible fate had met these Galileans as a result of the Galileans' especially terrible sins. Jesus firmly tells them that this isn't the case, and his listeners are deserving of the very same fate unless they repent.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins, however, he will forgive them. 1 John 1:9 teaches us that forgiveness is available to us if we ask for it. Because God is good, we can rest assured that this is true. He will not reneg on this deal.

9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 stresses the difference between true repentance, that is "Godly sorrow," and "worldly sorrow." The difference is simple. If you are sorrowful that you were caught (that is "found" or "discovered," not "trapped") in sin, and do not wish to remain caught or be punished, that is worldly sorrow. If however, you truly wish for God to forgive you because you love him and do not want to offend him, that is Godly sorrow. Simply wishing to escape guilt or conviction is not sufficient for repentance.

3 r“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:3-6 explains that the Kingdom of Heaven, that is, the fulfilled life God desires for us to be able to have through (and with) Him, is available to those who show repentance. By mourning (Godly sorrow) and seeking righteousness, we may experience God's mercy and then the weightlessness that accompanies his removing guilt from us.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4 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.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:1-10 is a prayer of King David's after his sin with Bathsheba, and after his confrontation by Nathan. It is a gorgeous example of what true repentance looks like. It is an admission of guilt, a plea for mercy, and a rejoicing in God's generosity in giving that mercy. I've prayed through it myself in moments of conviction.

18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’

Luke 15:18-19 is the Prodigal Son's thoughts to himself regarding his predicament. Not wishing to continue to eat with pigs, he wonders if he's worthy for some sort of partial forgiveness from his Father. It's also his acknowledgment at the wrongness of his actions. He soon discovers that this admission of guilt and quest for forgiveness will be met with what he least expects: he'll be told this action was sufficient to allow him to be treated again as a son.

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods iI give to the poor. And if I have jdefrauded anyone of anything, I restore it kfourfold.”

Luke 19:8 is another powerful example of repentance in action. Zacchaeus was a "wee little man," but more importantly he was one of the most despicable men of his day. In this passage he chooses to complete a 180 degree turn and atone for his wrongful ways. In volunteering to repay his transgressions four-fold he is selecting freely the harshest available punishment. He is coming in contact with Christ and deciding that he has been living improperly and wishes to RADICALLY alter course. This is not worldly sorrow at being caught, it is Godly sorrow... he wants nothing more than to live free of guilt in the Kingdom of God.

Amen.