Humanity is plagued with feelings of guilt and shame. We go to great lengths to rid ourselves of these uncomfortable feelings. We go to the Psychiatrist, take pills, suffer addictions, practice various self help methods, explore religious philosophies, try to be 'good', ad infinitum… How often do we consider that these feelings of guilt and shame are from a truth telling, God given, conscience? We are conditioned to believe these feelings are 'bad', and can even come to believe they are undeserved, or that we have an 'over-active' conscience.
Jesus Christ came with a Gospel – a sacrificial gift – of peace between God and man. This Gospel includes the practice of ‘repentance’. Much of today's Christianity has removed the message of the need for repentance, and the guilt of man. The truth of God's holiness, and Jesus' call to holiness, is most often shunned from the pulpit today. The focus is on love, and feel good beliefs and practices. We have come to love having our ears tickled. In fact, it can be surprising how a normally kind and loving individual can become quite indignant when approached with the idea of the need for repentance. Terms such as ‘judgmental’ and ‘legalistic' get tossed around. Yet, Jesus said, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. Everyone is guilty! Everyone bears shame. It is entirely appropriate to feel the difficult feelings of guilt and shame. We, each one, are guilty.
Repentance – the idea of repenting – seems to have come to have negative connotations. We often seem to have the impression that one need only repent once, and generally, for sin, for all time… if we are ever even given the idea of the need for repentance from a pulpit at all! We can easily adopt a haughty attitude toward God's mandate of repentance. It assaults our increasingly important ego – sense of pride. We are even taught that it is good to have pride and confidence in one's Self – capital 'S'.
Yet, God knows that repentance is the only way to alleviate the consequences of our guilt and shame – those dreadful feelings! Every single time we feel shame and guilt – even over the same issue – we can repent. We do not cease until God removes the feelings of guilt and shame, and assures us of our peace with Him. As often as one feels these awful feelings they can repent! It helps us in dealing with the feelings of guilt and shame – to bring relief, and even deliverance.
God has harsh words for those Shepherds of His flock which rob His people of His words. God's words are Life! They are for help and healing! Here is some of what God has to say of His words, and the Pastors who refuse to teach them:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts,
“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord. “They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace”’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, they say, ‘Calamity will not come upon you.’” Jeremiah 23:16-17
“I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied. “But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.” Jeremiah 23:21-22
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other. Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:29-32
To repent is a benefit. Repentance is not just a confession, and to say, “I'm sorry”. To repent is to turn. To repent is also to return. Repentance is a continual turning, and returning, to God! Two Bible versions of Isaiah 30:15 give us several examples of the one word:
“For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved; In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing.” (NASB)
“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” (KJV)
Here is how the Hebrew/Greek Interlinear Bible defines this same word ‘repentance/returning' in this verse:
Lexical: שׁוּבָה
Transliteration: shubah
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: shoo-baw'
Definition: retirement, withdrawal.
Origin: From shuwb; a return.
Usage: returning.
Translated as (count): in returning (1). - Lexical: שׁוּבָה
Transliteration: shubah
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: shoo-baw'
Definition: retirement, withdrawal.
Origin: From shuwb; a return.
Usage: returning.
Translated as (count): in returning (1).
In repentance – or returning – we retire, or withdraw, from one thing in favor of the other. We turn from our sin in favor of God's holiness… and we keep returning. To repent, then, becomes a continual motion! We keep turning to God, and waiting (resting) upon His salvation – His deliverance. “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah:1:3
Some insight into the word ‘repent', or 'repentance' found online: “The word repent comes from the Old French word repentir, which means, "to feel regret for sins or crimes." If you cheat on an exam in school, and feel guilty afterwards, you might repent for your bad behavior by confessing to your teacher.”
And, “Literally, it is a Greek word meaning “change of mind”. ... In the New Testament, the word metanoia is often translated as “repentance”. But this kind of repentance is not about regret or guilt or shame; it implies making a decision to turn around, to face a new direction.”
So, the solution to the nasty feelings of guilt and shame is a continual turning to God, as we rest and wait upon His salvation and deliverance, in quiet trust and confidence in Him. We turn to our Father through the peace made between God and man offered in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is this Gospel – this grace – offered through Christ Jesus, and His sacrifice:
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 1:5-2:6
Turn to Jesus. Take up your cross and follow Him. Turn, and walk as He walked.
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