Prompt: Why is it important to have a culture of repentance?
Leviticus 9:23 (ESV)
“23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.”
Moses and Aaron were leaders in their time, according to the Old Testament.
Precursor to this specific verse were efforts done in atonement for sin. The discussion on the atonement of sin was central in Leviticus in the Old Testament. But, considering that we are now in the AD era, which the New Testament is in occurrence of, we must be careful to assess the parallel and the lessons from this passage.
Living in the AD era, we must be mindful of the role of Jesus Christ in the picture. He is the “Lamb of God”. He became the sacrifice for the atonement of our sins.
Now, how does this relate to the topic of repentance? And why do I think that there must be a culture of repentance when Jesus took our sins once and for all? Do we just keep on saying “sorry”?
Philippians 2:12 (ESV)
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”
Paul writes in Philippians how we must “work out (our) own salvation with fear and trembling”, meaning there must be discipline in the Christian life. We may have been justified in Christ Jesus, but we are all still in the process of sanctification.
Matthew 24:13 (ESV)
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved”
This verse reinforces the importance of discipline in the Christian life, living in step and obedience to the Lord in everything we do.
Going back, the culture of repentance is needed and Paul knew this. He warned the early church in the book of Philippians about practices and behaviors that were untoward. In short, he did not turn a blind eye towards the things that were wrong, but was eager in encouraging them towards living in the right.
Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.
“Rend your hearts and not your garments”
God, as spoken through the prophet Joel, was and still is interested in inward transformation, and not merely outward transformation.
After all, He is after your heart– for all meaningful and lasting transformation starts with it first before change can resonate outwardly.