WORKING 8 STEPS OF REPENTANCE

“Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile” (Psalms 32:2).

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).

Jesus taught His disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9); did He not also tell them how to repent? He considered it very important because His ministry message was “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is approaching” (Matthew 4:17, ERRB).

WORKS. “Works” can refer to any deeds (e.g., works of the flesh, Galatians 5:19). In the context of Romans 4:1-8 the Spirit's argument is that God's grace is not given because of a person's works that pertain “to the flesh” (verse 1). God's favor (grace) is available to ones who like Abraham believe God's promises (the context in Genesis 15:6). Belief is defined as a work from the heart (Romans 10:10), not the flesh. It is a work of God (John 6:28,29). The fleshly works referred to in Romans 4 is not talking about the works authorized by God.

God's “favor”ⁱ (grace) is available to ones who repent of their works of the flesh like King David did (quoted from Psalm 32). Repentance is a work required of the spirit of man (Psalms 32:2; compare to 2 Corinthians 7:10's “working repentance”). Like “belief”, is it not a work of God?

In Psalms 32 David pictures repentance as a beatitude. This single beatitude compares to the eight “Beatitudes” of Jesus in Matthew 5. Those Beatitudes are an example of Jesus' preaching which was “repentance” (Matthew 4:17). Both Jesus and David begin with “Blessed is the man” (Psalms 32:2) and Jesus describes what I suggest for our purpose are eight steps of godly repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9).

DEFINITIONS. The English meaning of beatitudeⁱⁱ is “Supreme blessedness or happiness.” The word “repent” means to “think differently; i.e., reconsider morally; compunction; reversal.” In the “Beatitudes”, Jesus gives the steps graphically of acceptable repentance. It is similar to viewing a series of progressive movie clips.

STEP 1. ACKNOWLEDGING ONESELF A SPIRITUAL BEGGAR. First, David recognized that he was destitute and a spiritual beggar. David said, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). “Poor in spirit” is “ptōssō^G4434 “one that crouches; a beggar (as cringing); a pauper” (Strong's). Jesus uses a key word of hope for the repentant ones with the word “blessed.” Blessed or “happiness” is “for” (hoti ^G3754 , Strong's: “causatively because”). It is not that such a state as poverty in spirit is ideal. David certainly clarifies that. The point is that there is hope offered by our Loving God in Jesus' Kingdom (reign) of Heaven! That's where the happiness is to be found.

STEP 2. BEING SORRY FOR YOUR SINS. “Blessed are they that mourn” (v.4). A sinner must be really sorry for his spiritual poverty. “Mourn” is “pentheo^G3996, to grieve” for his condition. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret” (2 Corinthians 7:10. RV). The “sorrow” here means “of persons mourning.” This sorrow fully works repentance that saves and will bring gladness. David, likewise, suffered from the terrors of remorse: “many sorrows shall be to the wicked” (10).

STEP 3. BEING MEEK. Third, he must humble himself before God Almighty. Blessed are the meek (v.5). “Meek” is literally “mild”; Strong says the word implies humility. Both Moses (Numbers 12:3) and Jesus (Matthew 11:29) were meek. Moses is said to be meek in his reaction in a context where his siblings were unfairly attacking and criticizing him. Moses is said to be meek because he submitted to the judgment of God. So it is then, that the one that would “inherit the earth” is the one who submits to the judgment of God. “The LORD lifteth up the meek” (Psalm 147:6). David also humbly faces God: he acknowledges that it is God's hand against him: “For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid” (32:4).

STEP 4. HUNGERING AND THIRSTING. Fourth, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness” (v.6). The food is the bread and water for the soul. David hungered and thirsted for his “strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” (v. 4). Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4:14) that He had the gift of God: living water. Again, in John 6:35, Jesus identified Himself as the bread of life, and one that believes on Him shall never thirst.

STEP 5. MERCIFUL. Fifth, he must behave towards others as he asks God to behave for him. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy“ (v. 7). Moses cried to God for mercy for his siblings, especially his sister who became leprous. Parable of the ungrateful steward in Matthew 18:21f tells of God punishing an unforgiving servant who had just received mercy himself. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Father, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12-14).

STEP 6. CLEANSING. Sixth, cleansing must be in the heart. “Blessed are the pure in heart” (v. 8). David confesses and renunciates his sin and is cleansed. “Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” He does not mention the required Mosaic atonement sacrifices here, although he does in other Psalms. Our atonement is through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9). “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). The only religion today that provides this is Christianity. “Repent and be baptized [in water] everyone of you and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). One is cleansed by water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26).

STEP 7. PEACEMAKER. Seventh, makers of peace between men confirm the peace with God. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (v. 9). The penitent, according to Jesus, will promote peace. What better way than to do that than to give the “good news” of the existing Kingdom? “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15). David appears to also “instruct and teach the way one should go” (v. 8).

STEP 8. PERSECUTION. Eighth, persecution is promised but as a blessing for pleasing God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (v.10). “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven” (5:12). The repentant David proclaims, “Rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” (11).

Repentance is required for entry into the Kingdom. The 3000 souls on the Day of Pentecost were told to “repent” after believing (“pricked in their hearts”) and before being baptized (Acts 2:37,38). Repentance is required in our daily walk. We are told to walk in the Light as Jesus is in the Light and to acknowledge one's sins regularly (like David did) and God will continuously cleanse with the sacrificial blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7-9).

Gaylon West

"Throw Out the Lifeline"
http://www.BibleStudyLesssons.net

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