16. OUTWARD AND INWARD REPENTANCE b Now we can understand the nature of the fruits of repentance: c the duties of piety toward God, of charity toward men, and in the whole of life, holiness and purity. c Briefly, the more earnestly any man measures his life by the standard of God’s law, the surer are the signs of repentance that he shows. Therefore, the Spirit, while he urges us to repentance, often recalls us now to the individual precepts of the law, now to the duties of the Second Table. Yet in other passages the Spirit has first condemned uncleanness in the very wellspring of the heart, and then proceeded to the external evidences that mark sincere repentance. I will soon set before my readers’ eyes a table of this matter in a description of the life of the Christian. I will not gather evidences from the prophets, wherein they sometimes scorn the follies of those who strive to appease God with ceremonies and show them to be mere laughingstocks, and at other times teach that outward uprightness of life is not the chief point of repentance, for God looks into men’s hearts. Whoever is moderately versed in Scripture will understand by himself, without the admonition of another, that when we have to deal with God F114 nothing is achieved unless we begin from the inner disposition of the heart. And the passage from Joel will contribute no little to the understanding of the rest: ‘Rend your hearts and not your garments’ [Joel 2:13]. Both of these exhortations also are briefly expressed in these words of James, ‘Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind’ [James 4:8], where there is indeed an addition in the first clause; yet the source and origin is then shown: namely, that men must cleanse away secret filth in order that an altar may be erected to God in the heart itself.

"Christ always gives me the Victory"... Paul says. so, its better to live in that TRUTH.....then in some sort of confused daily repentance carnal spiritually darkened mindset.

Bethel said:

"Christ always gives me the Victory"... Paul says. so, its better to live in that TRUTH.....then in some sort of confused daily repentance carnal spiritually darkened mindset.

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You are on a bad trail.

Christ4Ever said:

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 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. Matthew 3:8-9 ESV

John the Baptist wanted his listeners to know that past faithfulness and accomplishments were not a guarantee of future obedience or blessing. The religious leaders in particular were especially confident in their position based on their past recognition and status as religious guides. Yet God was more concerned with their hearts and the actions they took in the present.

This is a trap you can fall into all too easily—assuming your past faithfulness or position within a religious group is a sign of your security in the future. These external markings are meaningless when it comes to God’s blessings. How you live today will be far more important.

John the Baptist was more interested in questions like these: Have you repented of your failures? Are you aware of your weaknesses? Are you willing to change how you live?

If you choose to live in obedience to God, the visible fruit of that choice will be a changed life, not just a title or a position within a group.

Prayer: Father, I repent of my poor choices and self-serving actions, and I ask that You would change my heart and desires so that I live according to Your direction.

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Past" Faithfulness", if it's from you, God says these are as filthy rags.

Faith from Him, through Jesus, is the only Faith He recognizes!!

Hitch said:

You are on a bad trail.

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Im on "the Way"... John 14:6
There is only One.