Lately, I have been considering repentance: its definition and place in the gospel presentation. My motivation for this "consideration" is threefold: (1) what better way to spend my time than to think about the gospel? (2) the Bible discusses repentance and (3) I have observed a disturbing lack of "repentance teaching" in recent sermons, messages, and books.
There seems to be a grouping of Christians who speak of repentance as if it is an intense sorrow over one's sin. Just read an assortment of Bible commentaries/dictionaries, and you will see this perspective. I could probably place someone such as Paul Washer into this category as well (based on some things that I have heard him say, I believe that he would define repentance in this way). From this perspective, true salvation requires both faith and repentance. Of course, an adequate definition of repentance is required, and it seems to me that they define it as an acknowledgement and sorrow of sin.
This perspective is often viewed as the "fundamentalist" understanding of repentance. In an effort to distance themselves from "fundamentalism," many Christians seem to eliminate an adequate discussion of repentance from the gospel. This is the reason, I suppose, for why I have observed so few sermons and messages that include repentance in their gospel presentation (if there is a gospel presentation).
In my studies I have arrived at some conclusions regarding what I believe the Bible says about repentance. I think that the "fundamentalist" understanding is inadequate (it falls short) in light of what the Bible says, and the response to the "fundamentalists" that has taken place is downright dangerous: to think that we can preach the Word of God without the gospel is wrong. I will elaborate on all of this in my next post.
Here is an interesting quote from Dr. Howard Hendricks: "If you find a perfect church, don't join it... you will ruin it."
Humbly Submitted,
JE
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