Biblical Repentance/The Means of Repentance

From Gospel Translations

Let us consider now the means by which repentance is worked in the heart.

The Word of God Is the Instrument of Repentance

In true repentance we see a radical change of mind and heart that leads to a complete turnabout of life; this is wrought in the soul by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. But what is the instrument He uses? My friend, He uses the Word of God, which He authored, to convict “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). You see, apart from the Word of God there can be no salvation, for we read in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” And 1 Peter 1:23 says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Now with your Bible in hand, let us read Hebrews 4:12-13:

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

You see, in true repentance, the Word of God is brought home to our hearts by the Holy Spirit in convicting power so that we might be saved. Paul, in writing to the church of the Thessalonians on this subject says, “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” How? “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance” (1Th 1:4-5). And in salvation, this is exactly the way the Word of God comes home to the heart of every sinner for whom Christ died.

Did you notice the description given of the Word of God in our text, Hebrews 4:12-13? It is spoken of as being “quick,” that is, a living Word. Our blessed Lord represents it in the same way in John 6:63: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Yes, the Word of God awakens a sinner to his need of turning to God from his rebellious ways. He will cast down his arms of rebellion, hoist the white flag of surrender, and look by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ to save him, cleanse him from sin, and deliver him from the wrath to come. You see, God’s quickening Spirit uses the Word to give that soul knowledge of his sinfulness before God and knowledge of the Holy God against Whom he has sinned.

“For the Word of God is quick and powerful”—it is not a mere dead letter that will soon vanish away! No, it lives in the mind of God! It lives in the decrees of heaven! And it lives and will live forever in the hearts and minds of all God’s redeemed ones because it is the living Word of God. It operates in the mind and in the affection and will not leave you alone. It is truly the law of God in the hands of the Holy Spirit which is the schoolmaster to bring you to Christ (Gal. 3:24).