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A New Life (Revival and Beyond)
that repentance is which works a radical change of mind and spirit
and action. The work of transformation must begin in the heart, and
manifest its power through every faculty of the being; but man is not
capable of originating such a repentance as this, and can experience it
alone through Christ, who ascended up on high, led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men.
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Who Wants to Repent?
Who is desirous of becoming truly repentant? What must he do?
He must come to Jesus, just as he is, without delay. He must believe
that the word of Christ is true, and, believing the promise, ask, that
he may receive. When sincere desire prompts men to pray, they will
not pray in vain. The Lord will fulfill His word, and will give the
Holy Spirit to lead to repentance toward God and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ. He will pray and watch, and put away his sins,
making manifest his sincerity by the vigor of his endeavor to obey the
commandments of God. With prayer he will mingle faith, and not only
believe in but obey the precepts of the law. He will announce himself
as on Christ’s side of the question. He will renounce all habits and
associations that tend to draw the heart from God.
He who would become a child of God must receive the truth that
repentance and forgiveness are to be obtained through nothing less
than the atonement of Christ. Assured of this the sinner must put forth
an effort in harmony with the work done for him, and with unwearied
entreaty he must supplicate the throne of grace, that the renovating
power of God may come into his soul. Christ pardons none but the
penitent, but whom He pardons He first makes penitent. The provision
made is complete, and the eternal righteousness of Christ is placed to
the account of every believing soul. The costly, spotless robe, woven
in the loom of heaven, has been provided for the repenting, believing
sinner, and he may say: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul
shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of
salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (
Isaiah
61:10
).
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