The modern and post modern emphasis in many restoration congregations was to stress the act of baptism. This lesson's intent is not to discredit baptism or to cast doubt on baptism's importance. In stressing the importance of baptism, too often only lip service is paid to repentance. It is virtually assumed that each person choosing to be baptized has repented. It is virtually assumed that committed Christians repent when they are victims of evil. In fact, often it seems it is assumed that repentance "just occurs" when it should.
Were someone to ask most of us what God values most in conversion, the most common response likely would be baptism. Were someone to ask most of us what God values most in Christian commitment, our responses likely would produce a list--service, prayer, worship, godly acts, evangelism, spiritual maturity, etc. One powerful virtue unlikely to appear on that list is repentance.
When "things that move God" are discussed among Christians, repentance is unlikely to be discussed.
Throughout the Bible, human repentance powerfully influences God. Often human repentance stirs God's compassion and redirects God's intended acts. No human response has as much influence on God as does genuine repentance. Consider three examples of the value God places on genuine human repentance.
Jonah
The incident recorded in the Old Testament book of Jonah is well known to most Bible students. God instructed Jonah to prophesy in the ancient city of Nineveh, Assyria. Jonah, disliking the Assyrian people, tried to hide from God. After proving such was impossible, God again instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh.
Jonah was a horrible missionary. He spoke to the people of Nineveh because he had no choice. His message gave them neither guidance nor hope. His message: "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." The message's impact was astounding! The people in Nineveh (1) believed in God, (2) fasted, and (3) put on sackcloth. When the king heard Jonah's message, he took off his royal robes, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He gave a royal edict declaring (1) no animal or human should eat or drink, (2) animals and humans must wear sackcloth, and (3) that every person should call on God earnestly promising to turn away from wickedness and violence. Their hope: God would relent, turn away His burning anger, and not bring calamity upon them.
Jonah was angered by their response! He wanted the people of Nineveh to perish! He also knew God's nature: "...I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity."
In a fascinating manner, God declared He had the right to be compassionate toward people in Nineveh (see 4:11).
Note: the people of Nineveh (who were not Israelites!) repented, and God did not cause them to perish.
A Message from Isaiah
To most Bible students, the words of Isaiah 55:6-11 are familiar. Especially verses 8, 9 are familiar: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts."
The subject occasioning these words was God's forgiveness. The statement declared the power of human repentance on God. This was God's call to exiles in Babylon to return to God. They must seek the Lord and forsake idolatry. They must return to the Lord (verses 6, 7). If they did this, the result would be (1) divine compassion and (2) abundant pardon (verse 7).
The response of some was, "It is too late! Our nation is destroyed! Jerusalem is in ruins! Even if we learned our lesson, it is too late! If others treated us like we treated God, we would not react with compassion and abundant pardon!" God's response was striking! "I do not act like you act; I do not think like you think. My actions and thoughts are superior to yours!"
Their repentance would totally change the situation. Why? God would forgive and restore! Why? God is God, and superior to humans in every way. He responds to human repentance! If the exiles repented, God could and would accomplish His purposes through them!
Paul (Saul)
Before conversion to the resurrected Jesus, Paul was a mean man. He was devoutly religious. He was well studied. He was accomplished in scripture. Yet, he was mean. In his own declarations, he thought he should do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 26:9). He imprisoned many Christians (Acts 26:10). He voted for their deaths (Acts 26:10). He physically abused Christians he found in synagogues in an effort to force them to blaspheme because he was "furiously enraged" at them (Acts 26:11).
Can you believe God made a man like that a powerful missionary and the most prolific New Testament writer? Paul stated why God did this in 1 Timothy 1:12-16. It occurred because of the incomprehensible mercy of the incredible God expressed through Jesus Christ. God knew what Paul was, and Paul knew what Paul was! Yet, God sent Jesus to save sinners. If God could save the worst sinner, that would forever evidence God could save any sinner.
Paul the pre-Christian sinner hated Jesus. Paul the forgiven Christian loved Jesus. In that love, he acknowledged Jesus to be God's promised Christ. What happened to Paul? He repented! How did God react to this violent persecutor and blasphemer's repentance? God reacted with mercy and compassion! Repentance transformed a mean man who hated Jesus into a kind man who was Jesus' apostle to non-Jews. God responded to Paul's repentance with mercy!
Thought Questions
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 11