Today's Devotions

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Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Introduction to The Death of Death..by JI Packer +

    INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ___ to John Owen's The Death Of Death in the Death of Christ ___ By J.I. Packer _________ Read More
  • An Interview with Os Guiness on the 25th Anniversary of Francis Schaeffer's Death-Justin Taylor, 2009 +

    Next week (May 15) will be the 25th anniversary of the death of Francis Schaeffer, who died in his home Read More
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carl-medearis….Kingdom of God is near. Words from Jesus.

What first comes to mind when you hear the word “repent?” It probably depends on your background doesn’t it? You might hear it with a heavy southern drawl being angrily yelled. Or…you might hear a street preacher with a bullhorn. Or maybe you don’t have any of that baggage and you haven’t heard the word much at all. It is a bit out of vogue after all…

But Jesus said it quite a bit. Scholars way smarter than I (which is almost everyone) say that it is probably better translated as:

1. Do a 180 degree u-turn.
2. Rethink your life.
3. Adopt a whole new outlook on life.

I like all of those. They seem consistent with what Jesus would and did say in other places as well. I can imagine him pleading with a soft voice to the crowds and a bit harsher voice with the religious leaders, “Come on guys. Stop going that way and come enter my kingdom. Follow me. Your burden is heavy and mine is light. Your way ends in ultimate death, whereas mine ends in ultimate life. Turn around. You have no idea how good it is for you if you follow me instead of your current path.”

But today the word “repent” is confused with “stop sinning.” Sin is an interesting thought – another term not used a lot these days. And “repenting of sin” is an interesting bit of doctrine. Let’s look at something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

God says several things about our sin:

1. He throws them as far as the east is from the west. I’m pretty sure the east and west don’t actually connect – so that’s – forever.
2. He says he “remembers them no more.”
3. If you are “in Christ” then your sins are covered by his death and resurrection (some pretty good news) and so God can’t/doesn’t see them any more.

So….it’s pretty clear that God can’t or chooses not to see our sin. Or even know that we sin. Or somehow “forgets” our sins.

So when we’re “repenting of our sins” are we reminding God that we sinned? Is it for our own benefit to repent of them?

Or….are we using that word and concept wrongly? Maybe to repent simply means to turn back towards God. “The Kingdom of Heaven is here.” Another place Jesus says “…it’s upon you.” In another place he says “….it’s within you.” And he also says that the “Kingdom of heaven is near you.”

Near. Upon. Within. Here. Maybe “repenting” is recognizing that through Jesus this is true. We forget that – so we need to repent. Turn. Recognize. Accept and receive.

But being sorry for our sins….well, not so sure that is what “repent” actually means. A big thought. What are yours?

Reflections to Consider

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Publications

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Music

  • Jesus be the centre

    Center is a song that speaks of the essence of our life in Christ, and echoes the words the Christ Read More
  • I Lift My Hands

    A powerful hymn of adoration and praise Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir. This succinctly captures the joy of knowing our savior. Read More
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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
  • The Stream, the Lake and the River: NT Wright +

      Acts 2.1-21; John 7.37-39; a sermon at the Eucharist on the Feast of Pentecost, 11 May 2008, by the Read More
  • Jesus in the Perfect Storm by NT Wright +

    Zechariah 9.9-17; Luke 19.28-48; A sermon for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011, In the University Chapel of St Salvator, St Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Christ is a Great Savior: a review of the movie Amazing Grace +

    Amazing Grace is a historical drama about William Wilberforce who was elected to British Parliament at the age of 21 Read More
  • Wilberforce, Hollywood's Amazing Grace, Charlotte Allen +

    William Wilberforce's relentless campaign eventually led the British Parliament to ban the slave trade, in 1807, and to pass a Read More
  • Making Beauty out of Ugly Things: Grace by U2 +

    Grace, she takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name Grace, she carries Read More
  • The True Nature of Grace and Love: a movie review of the Soloist +

    The 2009 movie The Soloist is based on a book by the same name, written by Los Angeles Times columnist Read More
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