Repentance, Obedience and Grace

We must understand that we can’t have a relationship with God without repentance. John the baptizer gives us our understanding of God’s requirements for repentance. We can see this in Matthew. 

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 3:4-10 ESV

We see from these scriptures that God expects us to keep bearing good fruit. We cannot claim to be Christians and think we are pleasing to God without keeping with repentance. So, the question is, what is good fruit? We see in John 15 that we must abide in Him to bear good fruit. 

(For more information on bearing good fruit See: Test and Examine Yourself )

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. 

John 15:1-17 ESV

This is obedience: that we keep His commands.  When we choose obedience, we receive grace. We do not receive grace until we choose obedience. 

When we choose to repent, we are choosing to submit ourselves to obey God. Then grace comes in and that grace meets us in repentance. If we continue to choose to live out obedience in this manner, then we abide in the vine and we continue to receive grace. 

Grace is the ability to disengage from sin and engage in the life God has called us to live. Grace gives us the ability to do what we cannot do for ourselves or through ourselves. It enables us to stop sinning. Grace comes rushing in when we choose obedience to the Word of God. Like choosing to forgive someone we find difficult to forgive. Grace is not given for one to continue to live in and practice sin. Grace teaches us and gives us the ability to say NO to sin.  

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Titus 2:11-12 NIV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV

Grace is not given to the proud but only to the humble.

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:6-8 ESV

To sum it up…

First, we must have Godly repentance. Repentance and obedience work hand in hand. Then grace rushes in to meet us. Grace gives us the ability to obey God and abide in Jesus. Grace is not given for one to continue to live in/practice sin. If you find yourself practicing sin, not able to get out of a sin, you must submit yourself to God, ask Him to help you get out of it, resist the devil and he will flee. This is how we learn to become Christ Conquerors.