Friday, May 6, 2016

Luke 7:44-50

"Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The actions of the woman in this story illustrate that she had repented of her sins and placed her faith in Jesus as the true Messiah who had the power to forgive sin. What do you think of when you hear the word “repent”?  Does it sound like an old fashioned church word to you?  Do you immediately think of an angry preacher pounding the pulpit and shouting for people to repent of their sin?  Maybe you have no idea at all what this word is supposed to mean.  I think that most people (even Christians) simply don’t understand the nature of true repentance. 

Martin Luther once said that “most stare blinking at the doctrine of repentance like a cow stares at a new gate.”

But consider what Jesus had to say about the repentance that this woman had obviously heard, believed, and embraced:

“‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” – Mark 1:15

“They went out and preached that people should repent.” – Mark 6:12

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” – Luke 3:3

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” - Luke 3:8

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:32

Whatever it is, repentance seems to be pretty important to Jesus!  Most of us think it means being really, really sorry for the wrong things we have done, or feeling really guilty all of the time, or living with a vague sense of general self-loathing.  While it is true that the Bible teaches that we are all sinners, it also teaches that we are created in the image of God and loved with an everlasting love through Christ!  The biblical concept of repentance is not just about the first half of that message.

Take the often quoted verse Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  Do you realize that the very next verse (which is actually a continuation of the same thought) says, “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”? Too many Christians think that repentance is only dealing with the first verse (3:23), but true repentance means to live in light of both verses (sin-3:23 & grace-3:24)! The Gospel is supposed to be the “Good News”, but the announcement that “all have sinned” is not really very good news (it is not even news) without also telling them that their sin can be forgiven and wiped clean by the free grace of God in Christ!

Jesus’ last words to the woman in this story are “go in peace.” True repentance does not mean we must go through life beating ourselves up spiritually for being sinners.  It means that while cannot rationalize, ignore or justify our sin, we can be lifted out of it by the one who gives us divine grace!

The apostle Paul tells us that it is the kindness of God leads us toward repentance. Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4

Sin, guilt, judgment and death are in the Bible, but they are only half of the story and these words will not bring anyone to true repentance without the second half of the story.  The second is the part about grace, forgiveness, mercy, joy, hope and freedom! Simon the Pharisee could not experience the second half because he could not accept the reality that he was a sinner. It is only when we can truly acknowledge the first half (our sin and guilt) that we begin to experience the power of the second half (God’s forgiveness and grace).  When you put these two together in the human heart, you get true repentance!

Oh Lord God, you are high and exalted.  You are the Holy One and the Lord of all creation.  We are weak and corrupt and undeserving creatures.  Yet you have poured out your love on us through Jesus.  Teach us the meaning of true repentance that we might become humble and joyful servants, extravagantly loving you like the woman who had been set free from her sin. Help us to “go in peace” because we have received the forgiveness that comes from you alone. – Amen.

Pastor Jeff Frazier