Repentance is a Work of God, Not a work we can Claim

(Picture by orb@www.Morguefile.com)

I am discovering that repentance is a work of God. This has been nagging at me quite a bit since this past Easter Sunday. It started with a devotion that morning that had me asking lots of questions and thinking how many put the book of Galatians and the book of James at odds with each other. But I do not see them in opposition.

I believe the Lord uses His Holy Law in a manner which convicts us, moves us to repentance and then to faith in Christ. But repentance is His work in us. It is not us putting faith or efficacious value in an act to force His hand.

I did a short, but not exhaustive study in repentance this morning. Here are some of the places in scripture I studied:

Acts 2:14-40; Acts 3:11-26; Acts 5:31; Acts 11:18; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:21 and 2 Cor 7:9-10.

In these passages we hear that God has granted repentance to Israel and Gentiles, a repentance for the forgiveness of sins, repentance for the times of refreshing that comes from the presence of the Lord, a repentance that leads to life and a sorrow to the point of repentance according to the will of God to mention a few.

Check’em out if you like and post any comments if you wish.

I did find another source the supports part of what I am saying here and seems to express what I believe is occurring or not occurring in our church body today.