Second Quarter
2003 Adult Sabbath School Lessons:
"The Forgiven"
Insights
to Lesson 3: God's Twin Gifts:
Repentance and Forgiveness
April
12-18, 2003
(Produced
by the Editorial Board of the 1888 Message Study Committee)
Have
you wondered whether your repentance for, and confession of, your sins are
good enough? or question, How can I feel sorry enough to turn from sin? Does
God really want to forgive me? If ever you contemplated these things read
on.
In
Thursday's lesson the following is stated: "In the course of this
week's study on repentance and forgiveness, it should be clear how crucial
repentance is to forgiveness. In fact, it would seem that without
repentance, there can be no personal forgiveness of sin." The basis for
both personal repentance and forgiveness is found in the life and death of
Christ Jesus.
Repentance
and forgiveness are granted to us by God. Repentance is just as much a gift
to us as is forgiveness according to Acts 5:31 and 2 Timothy 2:25. We are
led to this gift by the goodness of God (Romans 2:4).
Not
only is repentance a gift; it is also a duty. The duty follows the reception
of the gift. God does not merely suggest that sinners repent and believe; He
commands it (Acts 17:30). When convicted persons ask, "What shall we
do?" (Acts 2:37), the answer is clear: "Repent, and … be
baptized …" or "repent and be converted …" or
"believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ …" (Acts 2:38;
16:31).
Whatever
is required in the gospel-covenant of God is promised by Him. Are we
commanded to repent? Christ is appointed to give repentance, by his Spirit
working through the word. This awakens the conscience. It works contrition
for sin, and consequently an effectual change in the heart and life. The new
heart is God's work. We can be assured that when He has given us repentance,
He has given us forgiveness along with it. Would He forsake the work of his
own hands? It is necessary that we repent, and that we also believe from the
heart that His grace will work repentance in us.
Let's
consider more closely the connection between repentance, forgiveness, and
Jesus. Beside the promises of repentance and forgiveness contained in Acts
5:31, we observe that Jesus is called "a Prince and a Savior."
Both titles are essential with regard to repentance and forgiveness. In
Bible times, the title Savior was used for physicians who saved people's
lives. It was also used for philosophers who supposedly solved people's
problems. Even statesmen were called savior because they saved people from
danger and war. In the New Testament the term is used always in reference to
God the Father and Christ Jesus. Jesus is the true and living Savior who
heals us; He is the great Teacher who solves our problems; and He is our
Captain who delivers us from the power of sin and gives us victory over our
enemies.
The
word Prince used here means initiator, founder, and author: "A pioneer,
one who leads the way, an originator." Jesus originated repentance and
He is the One who led the way in repenting on behalf of all men, especially
the believer. His repentance is a revelation of the goodness of God that
leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
The
repentance of Jesus softens the heart. It leads us into a deep heartfelt
repentance, thus preparing the way for us to be forgiven.
In
the 69th Psalm the repentance of Jesus is clearly set forth. His heart was
broken by reproach (verse 20). Earlier in the chapter, the following
prophetic word was written concerning Him:
"Though
I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, You know my
foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You" (verses 4-5).
The
sins He bore are our sins. He took and confessed them as His own. In these
verses we observe our Bondsman producing bond, or surety, for our failure
and for our imperfect repentance and confession of sin. Jesus repented
deeply because of our sin. As our Representative, He confessed sins He did
not commit.
As
Representative of the fallen race He repented and confessed sins on our
behalf. This should fill our hearts with appreciation and hope. When we feel
we have not repented deeply enough, we look to Jesus' repentance. His was a
perfect repentance. When we search our hearts and confess with heartfelt
sorrow, and we feel that our confession is inadequate and imperfect, we need
to look to Jesus' confession of our sins. His was perfect and wholly
acceptable to God.
Consider
the following comments concerning the repentance of Jesus:
"He
took upon himself our nature, that he might teach us how to live. In the
steps which the sinner must take in conversion,—repentance, faith, and
baptism,—he led the way. He did not repent for himself, for he was
sinless, but in behalf of man" (E. G. White, Signs of the Times,
July 31, 1884).
Again:
"The Lord can take every one of us in his embrace; for his arm
encircles the race. Let us remember this, after Christ had taken the
necessary steps in repentance, conversion, and faith in behalf of the human
race, he went to John to be baptized of him in Jordan" (E. G. White,
General Conference Bulletin, April 4, 1901).
And
again: "Christ came not confessing his own sins; but guilt was imputed
to him as the sinner's substitute. He came not to repent on his own account;
but in behalf of the sinner. … In this act he identified himself with his
people as their representative and head. As their substitute, he takes upon
him their sins, numbering himself with the transgressors, taking the steps
the sinner is required to take, and doing the work the sinner must do"
(E. G. White, Review and Herald, January 21, 1873).
Jesus
put Himself in the place of the lost race; and on our behalf felt repentance
before God. He confessed the sins of the world as He bore them. This gives
us an understanding of the cross which Jesus bore daily. This will lead us
to repentance.
Christ's
repentance qualified Him to be our Savior and Prince. He led the way. And He
saves to the uttermost, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for us
(Hebrews 7:25). His intercession is that of a sin-pierced and broken heart
along with His spotless repentant life. His deep heartfelt repentance is
God's pledge of forgiveness.
We
are indebted to Jesus for His repentance on our behalf. His goodness leads
us to personal repentance toward God and faith in Jesus for the forgiveness
of our sins. Repentance and forgiveness go together. Wherever repentance is
evoked, there forgiveness is found. We are turned to God with a change of
heart and mind concerning Him and Jesus.
On
the other hand, on this personal level, there can be no remission without
repentance. At this level, none are freed from the guilt and wages of sin
except those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin. The work of
the Holy Spirit is to turn us from sin and He turns us against it.
God
is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). To come to repentance is very close to
coming to Jesus. The word perish here means "to destroy." Since
this word is in the middle voice, the passage can be translated as follows:
God is "not willing that any should destroy themselves, but that all
should come to repentance." Coming to Jesus and to repentance
counteracts our self-destruction.
To
conclude, the cross of Christ reveals the deep love of God for us, and this
leads us to a heartfelt sorrow for sin and a turning from it. The revelation
of God's love creates within us a heart filled with a gratitude and a
thankfulness that is expressed in confession of sin. Then faith in the
merits of Christ brings to us the personal forgiveness of God.
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