GOSPEL VS MORALISTIC REPENTANCE Introduction And Review

Jesus calls us to a life of faith, not just an act of faith Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139: ESV)

REPENTANCE AS A WAY OF LIFE MEANS THAT IT BECOMES A PRAYERFUL POSTURE OF THE HEART

Dr. Richard Lovelace's definition of sin: “In its biblical definition, sin is something much more akin to the psychological term ‘complex:’ ‘an organic network of compulsive attitudes, beliefs and behavior deeply rooted in our alienation from God.’

A Spirit led ‘Search and Destroy’ Mission – Ps 139:23-24 REPENTANCE MAKES US GROW Not WWJD, But DWJND

10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. [11] Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. [ 16] For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:10-12; 16-17

Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God

Please Break This Rule 40/60 Rule Gospel vs Moralistic Repentance

Seen At His Best… A Gospel Repenter has an “aroma” of having been with Jesus Seen At His Worst… A Moralistic Repenter has an “aroma” of self protective “spin” and damage control rather than real contrition

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter has a deep awareness of having sinned against God, but also awareness that Christ is a real savior for real sinners Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter evidences little, if any, awareness of having offended God

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter experiences what is counter intuitive - the heart is actually strengthened in grace through repentance Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter isn’t really softened by grace and there is no movement of faith in experiencing the love of Christ

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter grows in faith and in his awareness of the love of Christ. Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter avoids Jesus by promising to change

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter experiences genuine contrition and his heart anticipates a restoration of the joy of salvation (Ps 51:10-13, 16,17). Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter doesn’t experience a true joy of salvation, but rather resentment at being caught and an anticipation of the joy of getting his reputation back.

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter experiences a sense of real community as people are reconciled. Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter remains aloof and distant from the ones he sinned against

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter uses the exposure of her sin to pursue three things: (from Larry Crabb) -an encounter with God -an experience of genuine community -the reality of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit

Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter uses the exposure of her sin to do spin control so as to return to the status quo when her sins were hidden or well managed.

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter is hungry for God’s Word to fight the fight of faith in relation to the particular area of sin and underlying idols that have been exposed. Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter doesn’t use this experience to pursue God and consider deeper heart issues.

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter has a sincere desire to pursue Christ and the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5) in order to put to death the lustful deeds of the flesh Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter shows little evidence of a heightened awareness of his need to pursue Christ in his life.

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter has a legitimate desire to keep the exposure of the sin limited to those who need to know, but that is not his main focus… …knows that he has nothing to prove and nothing to hide. He knows that the exposure of this sin is nothing compared to what people would see if they really knew his heart.

Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter is keenly concerned with keeping the circle of those who know about the sin as small as possible, and there is little initiative to address the issues with others who were directly or indirectly involved. There is a sense that THIS sin is all he’s done and he has a reputation to defend.

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter doesn’t buck against the consequences brought on by his sin; he submits to them with a humble (even grateful) heart remembering that it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter actually resents the consequences that may come following the exposure of the sin, and his heart bucks against them.

Seen At His Best A Gospel Repenter might even ask, “Is there anything else I’m not seeing that I need to be aware of.” Seen At His Worst A Moralistic Repenter wants to “close the books” and be done with it all as quickly as possible.

AN ADDED BENEFIT OF REPENTANCE is that there is nothing quite so attractive to an unbeliever or an estranged believer as a freshly-broken Christian! A freshly broken Christian who has been with Jesus in repentance gives off an aroma of fresh bread - because Jesus is the Bread of life

NOTHING SMELLS BETTER THAN FRESH BREAD