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The New Covenant embraced the concept of repentance. This was, of course, not totally new (II Chronicles 6:24-42). Repentance dealt not only with actions and deeds but even more with the inner nature of the human being. Repentance required not only introspection but candid admission of one�s shortcomings and the sincere resolve to end repetition of the transgression of the Law of God. One had to come to grips with one�s self and come to understand that the natural or carnal mind cannot please God.
The early Church understood the way of the natural mind to be contrary to the ways of God. That is, the human mind in and of itself could not conform to the spiritual intent of the Law of God. Consequently, for them repentance involved more than simply the sincere sorrow or remorse necessary to a "return" to God under the terms of the Old Covenant. That kind of return did not change the individual but dealt only with the effect. The New Covenant dealt with the cause as well as the effect.
Understanding the nature of the New Covenant provided the basis for discernment of the two most indispensable teachings of the apostles regarding Jesus of Nazareth�the laying of a foundation for repentance from dead works and faith toward God (Hebrews 6:1). God exhibited no respect of persons, but treated Jews and Gentiles alike and called upon all peoples everywhere to repent and believe the gospel and to be set apart as equals as children of God within the church (Acts 10:34, 17:30, Ephesians 3:6).
Repentance and faith were necessary to start on the Christian life as well as to finish it. Both were conditions to the New Covenant relationship. Jesus at the very beginning of his ministry proclaimed these two conditions to becoming "converted." According to Mark�s gospel, "�The time has come,� he said. �The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!�" (Mark 1:15 NIV). Repentance was toward God. Faith was toward Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).
These two things each person had to do. The apostles stressed that obedience to God was necessary to salvation but obedience did not, and indeed could not, give salvation. Salvation never could come about by means of any amount of human works or obedience (Galatians 2:16). But, the man and woman of God was never to let that truth become a license to disobey and dishonor God.
With sin defined as the transgression of the spiritual law of God, that is the Ten Commandments, perceived in the context of their spiritual intent (I John 3:4), the early church understood repentance to mean to quit sinning. Hence, each man or woman was to turn from the natural sinful way and begin living according to the Commandments of God in their spiritual intent. In the ancient world these were very difficult things to do.
Jesus had taught his followers to believe the gospel, or the good news of the kingdom of God. This meant his teaching concerning the government of God, then in the administration of the Church and later, with His Second Coming, as a world ruling authority. The citizenship of the Christian was to be of the kingdom of God. The government of God presupposed obedience to the laws of God, which in turn expressed the nature, love, and spiritual policy of the living God. No more were people to live according to their own self-will but according to the will of God.
Page last edited: 11/28/04 08:44 AM
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