{"id":1137,"date":"2013-05-23T19:16:58","date_gmt":"2013-05-23T19:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/?p=1137"},"modified":"2013-05-31T22:26:30","modified_gmt":"2013-05-31T22:26:30","slug":"christian-perfection-19-a-repentant-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/christian-perfection-19-a-repentant-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Perfection – 19: A Repentant Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christian Perfection – 19: A Repentant Spirit<\/h2>\n
\"Lamb<\/a>
Lamb of God<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By: Frank L. Hoffman
\nJesus said, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is\u00a0 perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
\n(Wesley’s writings are in bold)<\/p>\n

One of the obvious signs that God’s love is being perfected\u00a0 in us is that we develop a repentant spirit.\u00a0 If we truly love God with all\u00a0 our heart, soul, mind, and might, then we will earnestly try to do whatever is\u00a0 pleasing to God.\u00a0 In essence, we put God first.\u00a0 The same conditions\u00a0 should apply to our human relationships, too.\u00a0 If by accident we do\u00a0 something that is displeasing, then we should instantly feel a sense of sorrow\u00a0 for having done it, and be bold enough to say, “I’m sorry!\u00a0 Please forgive\u00a0 me.”\u00a0 If we are truly sorry for what we have done, then we will strive with\u00a0 all our heart to never make the same mistake again.\u00a0\u00a0 This is having a\u00a0 repentant spirit.<\/p>\n

A repentant spirit is not something we learn, nor is\u00a0 repentance something we do.\u00a0 Having a repentant spirit is a state of being\u00a0 in which we are tuned into the prompting of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0 During my years in prison ministry, I had the opportunity to ask approximately\u00a0 500 inmates a question concerning this prompting by the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 I\u00a0 asked, “Before you did whatever you did to be sent here, did you hear that inner\u00a0 voice telling you not to do it?”\u00a0 Every single one of the men said they had\u00a0 heard this inner voice, and instead of listening, they had rejected it.<\/p>\n

The reason these inmates rejected the voice of the Holy\u00a0 Spirit was because God’s love was not perfected in them.\u00a0 Nevertheless,\u00a0 God’s prevenient grace, which is all around us, gives each of us these\u00a0 promptings, regardless of whether we are born again or not.\u00a0 The acts these\u00a0 inmates committed were acts of pleasing one’s self or of pleasing other people.\u00a0\u00a0 They were not acts of pleasing God.\u00a0 They were not acts of love.<\/p>\n

The words that John and Charles Wesley wrote and published\u00a0 in their hymnals, and the portions that John selected for Part 16 of his A\u00a0 Plain Account of Christian Perfection<\/span> are prayerful hymns that reflect the\u00a0 state of being of having God’s love perfected in us and of having a repentant\u00a0 spirit.<\/p>\n

John Wesley wrote:<\/p>\n

The hymns concerning it in this volume [those\u00a0\u00a0 mentioned in the previous Chapter] are too numerous to transcribe.\u00a0 I\u00a0\u00a0 shall only cite a part of three:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saviour from sin, I wait to prove\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThat Jesus is Thy healing name; \u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTo lose, when perfected in love, \u00a0 <\/strong>
\nWhate’er I have, or can, or am; \u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI stay me on Thy faithful word, \u00a0 <\/strong>
\n“The servant shall be as his Lord.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

This first verse expresses our desire to no longer be a pleaser of self,\u00a0 but a willing servant of God; one who truly desires to be like his master and do\u00a0 as He does.<\/p>\n

Answer that gracious end in me \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nFor which Thy precious life was given; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nRedeem from all iniquity, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nRestore, and make me meet for heaven. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nUnless Thou purge my every stain, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThy suffering and my faith is vain.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This second verse expresses not only our desire to be forgiven for our\u00a0 past sins but, more importantly, to have all our sinful desire removed from our\u00a0 being, for this is the reason that Christ died for us.<\/p>\n

Didst Thou not die that I might live \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nNo longer to myself but Thee? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\n Might body, soul, and spirit give \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTo Him who gave Himself for me? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nCome, then, my Master and my God, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTake the dear purchase of Thy blood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This third verse repeats the thoughts of the previous two verses.<\/p>\n

Thy own peculiar servant claim, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nFor Thine own truth and mercy’s sake: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nHallow in me Thy glorious name; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nMe for Thine own this moment take; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd change and thoroughly purify; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThine only may I live and die. (P. 80.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This first hymn expresses similar thoughts to those\u00a0 expressed in the more modern so-called “sinners prayer”:\u00a0 a recognition of\u00a0 our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, a recognition of our sinful state, an\u00a0 expression of our sorrow for what we have done, a desire to be forgiven, and a\u00a0 desire to be restored back into the image of God (the people God desires us to\u00a0 be).<\/p>\n

The next hymn is a prayerful song of having this repentant\u00a0 spirit perfected in us to the extent that we don’t even think of sinful things\u00a0 any more: as if we were back in pre-disobedient Eden.\u00a0 For without those\u00a0 sinful desires within us, there is nothing to hinder God’s love from being fully\u00a0 perfected in us.<\/p>\n

Chose from the world, if now I stand, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAdorn’d with righteousness divine; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nIf brought into the promised land, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI justly call the Saviour mine:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sanctifying Spirit pour, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTo quench my thirst and wash me clean. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nNow, Saviour, let the gracious shower \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nDescend, and make me pure from sin. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Purge me from every sinful blot: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nMy idols all be cast aside; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nCleanse me from every evil thought, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nFrom all the filth of self and pride.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hatred of the carnal mind \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nOut of my flesh at once remove; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nGive me a tender heart, resign’d, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd pure, and full of faith and love.<\/strong><\/p>\n

O that I now, from sin released, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThy word might to the utmost prove, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nEnter into Thy promised rest; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThe Canaan of Thy perfect love!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now let me gain perfection’s height! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nNow let me into nothing fall: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nBe less than nothing in my sight, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd feel that Christ is all in all.\u00a0 (P. 258)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The thoughts expressed are not those of “working” ones way into\u00a0 perfection, but those of first being perfected by the grace of God.\u00a0 Then,\u00a0 as a result of this change by God’s grace, we would lovingly and totally desire\u00a0 to do the things that are pleasing to God.\u00a0 This belief leads us into the\u00a0 last hymn in this part.<\/p>\n

Lord, I believe, Thy work of grace \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nIs perfect in the soul: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nHis heart is pure who sees Thy face, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nHis spirit is made whole.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From every sickness, by Thy word, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nFrom every foul disease, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nSaved, and to perfect health restored, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTo perfect holiness:<\/strong><\/p>\n

He walks in glorious liberty, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTo sin entirely dead: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThe Truth, the Son hath made him free, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd he is free indeed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout his soul Thy glories shine, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nHis soul is all renew’d, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd deck’d in righteousness divine, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd clothed and fill’d with God.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the rest, the life, the peace, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nWhich all Thy people prove; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nLove is the bond of perfectness, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAnd all their soul is love<\/strong><\/p>\n

O joyful sound of gospel grace! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\n Christ shall in me appear: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI, even I, shall see His face, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI shall be holy here!<\/strong><\/p>\n

He visits now the house of clay, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nHe shakes His future home; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\n O wouldst Thou, Lord, on this glad day \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nInto Thy temple come!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Come, O my God, Thyself reveal, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nFill all this mighty void; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThou only canst my spirit fill: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nCome, O my God, my God !<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fulfill, fulfill my large desires, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nLarge as infinity! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nGive, give me all my soul requires, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nAll, all that is in Thee!\u00a0 (P. 298)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each and every one of us needs to ask ourselves a question.\u00a0\u00a0 Are all the words expressed in these three hymns the true desire of my heart,\u00a0 without any reservations, and without trying to make any excuses for anything\u00a0 past or present?\u00a0\u00a0 If it is, then God’s love is perfected in us.\u00a0\u00a0 It is from here that we can continually mature into the image of God, an image\u00a0 that sees and feels the suffering of the whole of creation, and desires to free it from\u00a0 its corruption as peacemakers and children of God (Matthew 5:9 and Romans\u00a0 8:18-25).<\/p>\n

Go on to: Christian Perfection \u2013 20: What Is It To Be Sanctified?<\/a><\/p>\n

Since \"date\"