Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

                                                                                                                 Romans 2:4 

Today’s passage continues with the theme of God’s goodness and kindness expressed in the gospel. This good news of salvation is for everyone who will receive it by faith. His character and nature are clearly seen through creation, continually testifying to His love, mercy, and grace, eliminating any excuse that one might have for rejecting the gospel. And today, we see that God consistently and dependably displays His kindness towards His wayward creation. With all tolerance and patience, He waits for us to respond to His magnificent expression of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. And what is the desired outcome of this amazing kindness? The answer is repentance.

Repentance is something declared by God to the people of Israel and it was also announced by John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul. Consider the following:

…and (if) My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

                                                                                                             2 Chronicles 7:14 

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

                                                            Matthew 3:2 

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

                                                                                                                     Matthew 4:17 

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…

                                                                                                                             Acts 3:19 

…how I (Paul) did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                                   Acts 20:20-21 

God’s kindness is to lead us to repentance but if we are to find victory in Jesus, it is imperative that we correctly define this most important of words. Repentance can be defined as “changing our minds.” Simply put, under the new covenant, repentance is realizing the we are sinful and in need of a Savior, moving us to take action by receiving God’s gift of salvation by faith. When we realize our spiritual dilemma and “call on the name of the Lord”, asking Him to save us, we have demonstrated repentance.

Repentance is not a promise that we will never sin again nor does it mean that we will never fail. But what repentance does is keep us humble, knowing that only Christ saves and that our moral performance in this life is not the criterion for entrance into heaven. But repentance, when incorrectly defined, brings believers back under the old covenant and robs them of the joy, peace, and rest that come from completely trusting in the finished work of the cross. This can be demonstrated by comparing the old covenant passage with Paul’s declaration of the gospel. Consider the following:

Under the Old Covenant:

…and (if) My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

                                                                                                                 2 Chronicles 7:14 

Under the New Covenant:

…how I (Paul) did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                                   Acts 20:20-21 

Notice that repentance for Israel under the old covenant included “turning from their wicked ways.” But Paul’s message is very different. He proclaimed, publicly and privately, that men and women should find repentance “toward God and faith in Jesus.” When we repent under the new covenant, we are changing our minds, turning toward God, and placing our faith in Jesus. It is our faith in Jesus that justifies us and moves us into spiritual life. Christians will still battle with the flesh and there will be times for all of us when we fail in our efforts to live a godly, Christ-like life but our right standing with God comes only through our faith in Jesus obtained when we repent and turn toward God and His kindness.

The gospel tells us three very important things:

1. Salvation is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, who will believe (trust) in Jesus.
2. Creation testifies to the love of God and we are all created with the ability to respond to Him by faith.
3. God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience is designed to lead us to change our minds and call on Him to save us by faith.

As we repent and move into life under the new covenant, we will find love, victory, power, and peace!