Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: I. THE NATURE OF TRUE REPENTANCE. It includes — 1. A true sense of sin. This must be the groundwork of all the rest, because it is impossible to hate what we do not feel. 2. The second step of repentance is being affected with a grief and hatred of sin. The former was a selfish feeling; this is a generous passion. The former respects sin as ruinous to the sinner; this regards it as offensive to God. 3. The third step in repentance towards God is an apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ and a forsaking of sin. This is properly an act of faith. II. THE MOTIVES TO REPENTANCE. 1. The superior light and information derived to the world by the Christian religion, concerning the rule of righteousness according to which we ought to conduct our lives, suggests a strong inducement to repentance. What signifies the superior excellency of your religion, unless its superiority appear in your life? What avails the light to you, if ye continue to walk in darkness? Unless ye repent, it had been better for you that the kingdom of God had never come amongst you. If ye still walk in the region and shadow of death, it had been better that the Dayspring from on high had never risen over your benighted land. 2. A second motive and encouragement to repentance is the hope and prospect of success. The gate of mercy is set open by the blood of Jesus; and an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, is promised to all those who sincerely repent of their sins, to all who believe and obey the gospel. 3. A third motive to repentance is the assistance of the Spirit, which the gospel offers. 4. In the fourth place, as an inducement to repentance, consider the cross of Christ, who suffered the punishment due to our sins. How great must be the evil of sin, and how strong the obligation for us to repent of our sins, when such a sacrifice was required to expiate our guilt. 5. It is another motive to repentance that God "has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world." (John Logan.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: |
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