REPENTANCE

By Hyman Appleman

What then is repentance? The word to repent in the blip means to pant, to sigh, to groan, to lament, to grieve. The word "repent" in the New Testament means to change one's mind.

Repentance is a change of your mind about your sins. You no longer enjoy them, gloat over them, seek them, engage in them, involve others' in them. You see them in their bleak, black folly. You detest them, despise them, abhor them, hate yourself for ever engaging in them.

Repentance is a change of mind about yourself. You realize the abysmal depths of your unregenerated soul. You recognize the undone condition of your heart. You remember the dread accountability you owe to God. You see yourself mirrored in the holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ and almost abhor yourself.

Repentance is a change of mind about your Saviour. He becomes the source and substance, the sum and sufficiency of all your ambitions, your hopes, your aspirations. He becomes the crown of your life, the goal of all your strivings, the aim of all your efforts.

Repentance is a change of mind about your substance, about your service. It all belongs to God. You call nothing your own. You are a stepiano coversd, an agent, using the blessings, the mercies, the talents, the wealth God may have given you, all for this greater glory.

Repentance touches the intellect. It is a matter of mind. It touches the emotions, the feelings. There is no part of you that remains unchanged. It moves the will, alters the disposition of your ways. The cry Of God is - "turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die!"

Here is the same thought in other terms:

Conversion by persuasion
(Hyles, long altar calls, and sweet talking little children and drunks)
is still born and results in hate for Jesus later.

Conversion by reformation
(Dutch Reformed, Lutheran, Presbyterian, creeds,
and Bob Jones U. saved by rules)
is dull and leads to hell, for
"without faith it is impossible to please God."

Conversion by repentance and regeneration
is the only saving salvation.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;