The Grace of Renewed Repentance

The source of our salvation, especially the sanctification of the believer, belongs to the Word of God and the Spirit of God (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Jn 17:17; 1 Pet 1:2; Rev 19:1). At the baptism by the Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 11:16; 1 Cor 12:13), the seed of the Word is implanted in the heart of the elect (Mt 13:23; Jn 3:1–8; Jas 1:21). The Spirit and the Word are inseparable agents for impregnating the soul of man with the life of God (Jn 6:63; Rom 10:14–17; 1 Pet 1:3).

This new life principle does not remain dormant or inconsequential. The spiritual life of the regenerate has a principle for growth to maturity in it (Mk 4:8; Jn 15). The seed itself is incorruptible, “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God (1 Pet 1:23).” This has profound ramifications for the new, spiritual man (1 Cor 2:15), made alive by the Spirit (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13), and who has been granted eternal life (Jn 10:28).

According to the Apostle John, this is also the catalyst for an abundant, holy life, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 Jn 3:9).” No one should question whether Christians sin or not, because we all know they do (unless you are delusional). The meaning of this passage is that the imperishable seed is holy and immutable. In other words, Christ/Seed/Word is a permanent, holy resident in the soul (heart/mind) of the indwelt saint. So why do Christians sin?

The Apostle Paul, himself being familiar with his own struggle with sin (Rom 7), wrote to the church at Galatia, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please (Gal 5:17).” The Holy Spirit in us is greater than all our sin, and anything that would threaten to separate the believer from Christ (Jn 10:28–29; Rom 8:35–39). We belong to Christ (1 Cor 3:23), having been bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23), with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:19).

Having the source of our new, spiritual life permanently dwelling within our souls has a five-fold effect, which is wisely kept in proper order.

First, there is a sincere sorrow for sins. The unbeliever may have sorrow for suffering the consequences of sin, but there is no conviction for grieving the Holy Spirit (Is 63:10; Eph 4:30). The unregenerate does not have this life, the Son of God, in him (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12). This life, Christ, is called “resurrection life” (Jn 11:25; 14:6). When we offend the One who took us into His family by adoption (Rom 8:15, 23), and who loved us (Rom 5:8; Gal 2:20), then we are made aware. This is a holy grieving. One who has this intimacy with the Spirit embraces the doctrine of total depravity because he sees it, and he knows it all too well via personal experience.

Second, the life principle in the regenerate believer produces a contrite heart. The repentant heart deeply desires a renewal for remission of the sin that burdens the relationship. Sin hardens the heart of the believer, as much as it does the unbeliever. Grace has a softening effect, and because the Spirit never leaves, He is always at work, overcoming the work of sin.

The Spirit is always guiding the adopted child back into remembrance of the truth of our Mediator’s death on the cross. There is only one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5), and His blood is that of the new covenant that issues total forgiveness for all sins, of all elect saints (1 Cor 11:25; Heb 12:24).

Third, the feeling of God’s favor has a potent allure. We want the state of reconciliation maintained. Again, our state of justification (right standing) before God is unchangeable, but when the prominent presence of the Spirit is forfeited in favor of sin, there is that ominous sense of void and abandonment. The Spirit directs the child of God back to the foot of the cross to lament, confess, and receive the pardon for sins again and again (1 Jn 1:9).

This loss of favor is not the loss of salvation or death of the imperishable seed. That is an oxymoron and impossible. Rather, God disciplines those He loves (Heb 12:4–11), but He does not totally desert them (Canons 5:6). God, in His love, is fully committed to the renewal to repentance of each believer, no matter how enormous or numerous the sins of His child will be, at any point, to the day of death.

Fourth, the new life, of the indwelling Christ, is lived by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Gal 2:20). True faith adores the mercies of God, which are new every morning for the repentant soul (Ps 59:16), brought to repentance by God’s renewing grace (Acts 5:31; 11:18). The believer did not initiate this work of grace (Phil 1:6), nor will he manipulate it in any way. There is no good thing in the saint, that is, in his flesh (Rom 7:18). He does have that all-wise, all-powerful, undefiled, incorruptible Word having its sway in him, however. The believer will never lose the principle of regeneration, which has made him into a vessel of mercy, prepared for glory (Rom 9:23).

Fifth and finally, the Spirit’s gracious renewal produces a renewed zeal for the child, to work out his salvation with fear and trembling (Eph 2:12). The marvel of endless mercies inspires the saint, to love and want righteousness to abound, both in mind and heart, and so in deed, for him and all the saints.

The first spark of God’s life has become a steady, even growing fire of passion for the glory of God. The humble slave is an ever-bolder witness. He or she speaks with greater knowledge, greater grace, greater power, and with greater assurance in the One who is greater than all.

In conclusion, the Spirit’s gracious renewal into repentance is not a vicious cycle of life-seed planted, only to die, requiring yet another re-birth and another (ad infinitum), as the Arminians teach. Rather, it is life from the dead for the soul, which will never die again. It is a war with the flesh, that body of sin that will trespass against God, until the day of corporal death. It is day by day, growing in grace for the renewed soul. This grace begun, will have its perfected work on the day of the Lord, when glorified, resurrected bodies will be conjoined with the eternal souls of the saints, to be presented holy and blameless in Christ, before God (Jn 5:25–29; Eph 1:5; 5:27; Col 1:22).

The abundant spiritual life, controlled by grace, will continue to manifest repentance in the saint, as he walks by the Spirit, in love, and in a manner worthy of his calling (Eph 4:1). Sin and sorrow will blight some days or even seasons, but the assurance of salvation includes the assurance of repentance.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

October 15, 2022