Monday, May 19, 2008
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
SPIRIT-WORKED REPENTANCE
The faithful pastor appeals to Scripture not simply to prove that what he says is true or to follow the example of the Apostles, but because what was true on the first Pentecost remains true today: Through the Word of God the Spirit of God works in human hearts. That's why even the apostles appealed to the Scriptures in their preaching.
In the Word is the witness of the Spirit to Jesus -- up close and personal. Here is God's own power, the power not just to move hearts, but the power to change them.
The Spirit of God works through the Law and the Gospel like a farmer tilling the soil and then planting the seed. The Law breaks up soil of the human heart (it is naturally hard!); the Gospel comes with new life (there will be fruit!).
You see, Spirit-worked repentance is not mere remorse, but rather the sinner taking responsibility for his sins before God. That requires a major change in us. But an even greater change is needed for human beings to discard all confidence in their own ability to set things right with God and rely instead on the finished work of Jesus in our place.
Yet this is exactly what faith does.
And this the Spirit works through the message of Christ.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
