Over and over again (especially as I’ve been preaching on the topic of sanctification), the question arises, “yes, but what am I supposed to do?” As I hope you’ve seen over the last four weeks, that question is the wrong place to start. We need to start with what God is doing before we speak of what we should be doing. Even though it’s the wrong place to start, it isn’t a wrong question. So as we conclude our series on sanctification, I want to reflect on what it is that Christians are supposed to do.
Scripture is filled with commands that Christians are to keep and our Larger Catechism goes into great detail about the requirements and duties that are put on us through the continuing validity of the Ten Commandments. Rather than repeat or list all of the commands of Scripture here, I want to give you a rubric for understanding those commands: repentance and faith.
Behind our English word “repentance” is the great Greek word metanoia, which means “to change one’s mind.” Inherent then in the idea of repentance is a shift in thinking, the pursuit of a different direction. The first thing that Christians are to do is “turn” away from sin. Under this general rubric are all of the negative commands of Scripture, the “let nots” (like Romans 6:12), the “thou shalt nots” (like Exodus 20), the “do nots” (like Romans 12:21) and the “put offs” (like Ephesians 4:22). More than just a refraining from sin there is a sense in which we are to consciously choose against sin. So, it isn’t enough to merely set up guards that prevent you from even facing tempting situations. Repentance means fully facing each of those situations and because of a God-born hatred of sin, a choice is made to seek a different direction.
By “faith,” I don’t mean saving faith but what I like to call “pilgrim faith,” or the choice I make to believe what God says is true about me. When I believe that I am who God says that I am, I am empowered and motivated by gratitude to obey the positive commands of God. So, while repentance is a turning away, faith is a turning toward. Under this general rubric is a personal embracing the commands of God to “do” (like Romans 12:17), “be” (like Ephesians 5:1), and “put on” (like Colossians 3:12).
In every area of our lives we can evaluate decisions and choices using these two words. Is it something to refrain from doing, to turn away from? If so, then it falls under the general rubric of “repentance.” Is it something to do or embrace? If so, then it falls under the general rubric of “faith.” Even though both actions involve our choices and decisions, both actions are founded in our new identity as those who have passed from death into life by the gracious love of God.
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