act 11v18
Repentance Unto Life
"REPENTANCE
UNTO LIFE" Acts
There is a repentance which is
no sign, or evidence, of spiritual life at all. It is not a
repentance produced in the heart by the Holy Spirit, but a repentance
produced only in the emotions by human power. Legal fear, moral reformation,
remorse for sin, a desire for heaven, and a mere confession of sin are things
often substituted for repentance. You may possess all these things, and yet not
have repentance unto life. These forms of repentance were found in Cain, Esau,
Saul, Ahab, Judas, Simon Magus, Felix, and the Pharisees, but they all perished
under the wrath of God. ALL TEMPORARY REPENTANCE IS FALSE REPENTANCE.
"Repentance unto life" is a gift of God's
grace. It is produced in the heart by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit,
through the revelation of Christ in the gospel (Zech.
Repentance comes by the CONVICTION of the Holy
Spirit (John 16:8-14). The Holy Spirit convinces men of sin, their evil, vile,
corrupt nature, causing the sinner to abhor not only his deeds, but himself as
well. He convinces men of righteousness, showing sinners that they have no
righteousness, and that all righteousness is in Christ. And he convinces men of
judgment, revealing God's judgment of sin in Christ, the sinner's Substitute,
and the accomplishment of redemption through his blood. There must also be a CONVERSION
of the heart to God. The heart is repentant only when it is reconciled to God
in his true character (I Thess. 1:9; II Cor.