Beyond Repentance

DAILY VITAMIN
- Beyond Repentance
"Then Paul pointed out to them that John's baptism was to demonstrate a desire to turn from sin to God and that those receiving his baptism must then go on to believe in Jesus, the one John said would come later" (Acts 19:4 TLB)
     God doesn't just want the sinner to repent, He wants them to be saved. A lot of believers preach repentance-"Stop your evil deeds!"-and think it is enough when they should have gone further ahead to preach the real substance God offers, which is salvation.
     We have grown so legalistic that sometimes we don't even understand there's a big difference between the two; yes, a big difference! As we could see from our theme verse, repentance is not salvation. Repentance is simply the turning away from what is physically, spiritually and morally wrong That is, to desist from evil; but unless it leads you not only away from evil, but also back to God through Christ, there is no salvation. Remember, where there is no law, there is no sin; so to the ordinary man who doesn't accept what sin is since he doesn't acknowledge God's way and will, to him to repent is as simple as dropping a habit. The chainsmoker when he quits smoking assumes he has repented, not because he seeks to please God, but because the doctor says it will shorten his lifespan.
      Repentance isn't always subjected to Christ, but salvation is. Salvation is centered on and brought about by believing in-and accepting-Jesus as Lord (Acts 16:31). And we can see that those twelve men in Acts 19 never experienced that, and thus had to be rebaptized because their first baptism had no essence as it regards their faith in Christ; no substance or significance in relation to Christ's redemptive work.
      You see, where there is salvation, repentance follows- as seen in Zacchaeus. But repentance doesn't always lead to salvation- as in Judas Iscariot. This is because repentance is oftentimes driven by guilt, but salvation by love. Anybody can choose to repent when judged by their own moral constitution, but it takes a person who has experienced the love of God clearly expressed in his or heart through the Spirit of the Word to receive the truth of salvation. They are like two peas in a pod, but must never be misconstrued to be same, for it can lead to what I term an ethical salvation- a seed sowed on the rocks; behavioral change, and not a complete spiritual identity change.
      So, next time you have the opportunity speak to someone, don't just preach repentance, preach salvation through Christ; and it will bring the corresponding change in behavior we expect of them as they yield themselves more to Him. That is the Gospel - what Jesus did, and what we become when we believe on Him (1 Corinthians 15:2-4). Preach it. Glory to God!  

Prayer:
Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of salvation You've bestowed on me through your holy Son Jesus. I ask the grace to also lead many into this same gracious life. I ask that by your Spirit you teach me to preach your word with clarity; not with legalism, but by the power and demonstration of the Spirit through the message of Christ's grace. And may all my contacts be saved, in Jesus' Name. Amen