How do you Repent?

Sermon from the pulpit March 23, 2025

New Testament reading is Luke 13: 1-9

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners that all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those 18 who dies when the tower in Soloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Then He told this parable: A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard “ For three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should I use up this soil?”

“Sir”, the man replied,” leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it, bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”

            In my twenties and thirties, the book by Rabbi Harold Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, had a profound effect on me.  I would still say it is one of the 5 most influential books on my thinking.  In that book, Kushner says that God weeps with us when bad things happen – all bad things that happen are not a direct consequence of our poor choices or sinful behavior.  In other words, all bad things are not retribution of a judgmental God but instead the result of a broken world that we live in.  And who broke that world? Of course, we did.  But the underlying assumption of the book implies good people should expect to avoid pain and loss  - that assumption is just not biblical. 

            The bumper sticker philosophy that says “God never gives you more than you can handle” couldn’t be more wrong.  A vet commits suicide in this country nearly every hour – those vets have lost hope and are overwhelmed by their pain.  No, the bible says you will never be given more than you handle with God’s help.  With God by our sides, we can face literally anything.

            So, in today’s reading in Luke Jesus is teaching us about when bad things happen… He says in Siloam the tower fell and killed 18 people and the question that comes up whenever we see this sort of terrible senseless tragedy. The question is, “why did that happen to those 18 people?” 18 people are killed and here's a bunch of people who are not.  Were the people who were killed worse sinners than the people who were spared?  That's the question.

Now friends, this is absolutely natural.  It's instinctive.  When good things happen to us or bad things happen to us, our instinct is to immediately begin to compare yourselves to other people.  In other words when something bad happens to you – do you say what have I done wrong?  Am I so much worse than other people? Am I being punished?

But on the other hand, when something good happens, we immediately assume superior circumstances are a result of our  superior character.   We tend to say, if something good happens to us:  well ,you know, I do work pretty hard and I am a pretty decent person, so I deserve this good thing.

Jesus answers the question about the 18 dying from the fallen tower: No, these were not the worst sinners in the city: but unless you repent, you will perish also.  But that is the same response we should have when good things happen – repent.

In Romans, Paul says this amazing thing: Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness? - not realizing that God's kindness also leads you to repentance?   When good things happen to you - when God is kind to you - you should let that lead you to repent too.  If you don’t, you're treating God's kindness with contempt. (see Romans 2:1-4)

You know what that means?  Good things are designed to lead you to repentance and bad things are designed to lead you to repentance.  

When modern people hear the Christian message about the love and power of God, they say that's great!  But when they hear the message of Christianity saying that it's through repentance and faith that it's received, it seems too mystical.

Modern skeptics just don't comprehend it. One of our founding fathers of the reformation, Martin Luther, said “they stare blinking at the doctrine of repentance like a cow stares at a new gate.”  

Jesus says that repentance is the key to everything. Jesus says that repentance is the way in which we should process everything that comes to us.  Jesus shows us that repentance is a universal need.  

This is what Luther said when he nailed the 95 theses to the Wittenberg door and began the Protestant Reformation.  The first of his 95 thesis said the entire life of believers is repentance.  And since Luther is starting a theological revolution, the second thesis spells out he’s not talking about confession administered by priest but personal repentance.  

 When Jesus begins his career in Mark chapter 1:15, he says the Kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent!  And later in the gospel of Mark, when Jesus equips other people to take His message to the world, He says, I send you out to preach that everyone should repent.  And finally, in the very first sermon that's ever preached after Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter, in Acts chapter 2,  preaches his long sermon and everybody gets together and says what was the point?

I’ll pause for a moment here in the story to say I have a lot of sympathy for Peter; it was his first sermon after all and he went a little long - as we are all prone to do in the beginning, and he left his audience wondering what the call to action was in his sermon? Peter, I’ve been there, done that.

So back to the story: the people say, “what shall we do?”  And the first word out of Peter’s mouth?  Repent!

The Bible tells us Jesus says repentance is the gate to everything: and yet most of the world “stares blankly like cows at a new gate.”  You see, here’s what the Bible is trying to say: are you happy?  Repent.  Are you sad?  Repent.  Are you angry or confused?  Repent.

Now at this point in my reading this sermon to my wife, she says, “is this another downer Lenten message?”  Yes, it is Lent. but there are 2 parts to repentance and most of us get lost in the first part of recognizing our sin and guilt.

Now we just had Ash Wednesday, a service of repentance:

That service focuses on our sin and guilt and for some of us that leads us to  a sense of self-loathing - you're supposed to beat yourself up – now we’re told Martin Luther did this: he whipped his back and knelt with his bare knees in the snow to express the sincerity of his repentance.

But what does Jesus say in today’s reading of Luke 13:1-9?

Jesus says you can't repent unless you realize that you deserve to have a tower fall on you too - he is saying, I want you to know that those killed are not worse sinners than you.

Jesus says, you don't understand your true condition? We all deserve to have towers fall on us.  It is a wonder that God doesn't let it happen, considering what we owe him, considering how we treat each other and considering how we treat him. But if we stopped at that first step of repentance, then every day would be like Ash Wednesday - over and over again.  But most of us miss the Good News of the second step of repentance.

Yes, #1, we don't deserve a good life but #2 you have to understand,  you have to be thrilled by the fact that God is committed to saving you from what you deserve. God is calling you to be a son of God.

So, in the parable, we have a man who owns a fig tree, and that fig tree deserves to be cut down. But the caretaker is so compassionate and committed to getting fruit out of the fig tree and to avoid having it cut down.  So, the caretaker says, give me another chance: I will dig and fertilize it, so the tree bears fruit.

 It's not that hard to see that God the Father is the owner and that we are the tree not living up to our purpose. Jesus is the caretaker, who's the one saying, I know they deserve to be cut down, I know they don't give you the place they should, I know what they deserve, but I want is save them from what they deserve.

The perfect illustration is in the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15: 11-32.  There's a father with two sons and the younger son takes his half of the inheritance and goes away, squanders it and when he comes back: he repents.  The prodigal son says, “father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight I am not worthy to be called your son “ - there it is - that's repentance: I am not worthy and I don't deserve anything from you, but I ask that you would take me back in as a hired servant.

How does the father react? The father says you're not a servant, you’re my son.

The father kisses him, puts a robe and a ring on his son, and orders the fatted calf to be killed and served as the homecoming celebration.

 Even though the prodigal son deserves to be cut off, he repents and because he repents, he doesn't get what he deserves. In the parable, of course, the eldest son is furious, why?

Because everything the father has, will belong to the older brother – the eldest brother gets all of what is left – the prodigal son already squandered his share.  Every ring, every fatted calf belongs to the elder brother. And in that story, the eldest brother resents it.

 But in the gospel, we have an elder brother who not only doesn't resent us but he offers us his inheritance.  Our elder brother is Jesus who goes to the Father and says, I will endure the cross,  I will endure the shame,  I will pay for it all.  So that when my brothers and sisters repent, you can give them my robe and my ring.

Now do you see the two parts of repentance?  On the one hand, you can only say: I am not worthy to be your son. But if you don't see the robe, the ring and the fatted calf too, well then that’s not real repentance. That’s just Ash Wednesday every day.  That’s not what the Father wants for you.

Here's the test: how do you know whether you've truly repented?  You've seen both parts: that you're a wicked Sinner and that you're cherished and loved. That's true repentance: it's those two things in tandem.

Those two things, together, humble you and build you up: that's what repentance is - it cleans you out.  How do you know you're repenting and not just beating yourself up?  After repenting, do you find that you can take criticism better now? that you have more confidence?  that you are less self-conscious? That you can speak more easily about your faith with others? Then you’ve truly repented.

But if you feel the opposite to all those things: you’re more sensitive to criticism, you’re less confident, you get down on yourself – then you’ve missed the second part of repentance: the forgiving kiss of the Father, the robe and the ring.

When good things happen to you, do you say “well it's about time? " There's no joy in that - you're robbing God of his glory, but not only that, you're robbing yourself of sweetness. There's no sweetness in saying, well it's about time.  But if God gets the credit in your heart then you build up a trust in him.

 Now in the best of times and the worst of times, you know God is with you.  You are a child of God welcomed home. And that is the good news for this sabbath day of our Lord and all God’s people said, AMEN.

From the Pastor’s Desk - January 2025

The plans of the Lord stand firm forever. Psalm 33:11

We hang up new calendars at the start of the new year and we make new resolutions-many of which will be dropped by February. My father-in-law would challenge us when we shred our 5 year goals with the question: “you can’t predict the next 6 months of major-and unforeseen- challenges that will knock you off course. Why spend your energy of hypothetical 5-year visions?” Combining the “be true to yourself in the moment” served him well and I have become much more focused on the daily habits I practice rather thatn the lifetime bucket list. One of those daily habits is reading a devotional and praying before I turn on the first screen or have my cup of mint tea each morning-this year my devotional has been by the late Dr. Charles Stanley-a minister who has shaped my theology.

As the psalm above and Dr. Stanley reminds us-our God is a planner. He is not a reactor. He did not set this world in motion to be ruled by chance or unchecked forces. Nor did He create you to live without hope and purpose. God has a plan.

The highs and lows, the joys and griefs, the trials and accomplishments in this life will be used by God in your sanctification-even if those troubles and afflictions arise as a consequence of your own choices. walk with God each day-in the valley of depression and in the mountaintops of joy. God treasures you and your future with him.

Trust in God’s plan and resolve to walk with him each day.

Choosing to Change

Our Old Testament reading for August 11, 2024

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent miraculous signs and wonders-great and terrible-upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But He brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we may always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

The New Testament reading

Ephesians 4:17-24 (verses 21-24) Surely you heard of Him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on a new self; created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Pastor Doug’s thoughts on these passages:

Choosing to Change

I can see my theology professor taking out his red pen and striking through the sermon title and writing Don’t you mean “Chosen to change”? To be consistent in my predestination thought as a good Presbyterian, he would have a point.

Certainly, in our Old Testament reading in Deuteronomy this morning, God pulls his people out of slavery in Egypt and gives His people new laws to guide their lives – these freed slaves must choose to put on a new self where their actions are guided by their obedience to God and a desire to form a new nation of equals guided by God’s Will. Think about how dramatic that change would have been – resting once every 7 days was a revolutionary idea for the former slaves – the Israelites had to shed their old self in order to obey God’s statutes.

In our reading in Ephesians, Paul emphasizes leaving behind the old self represented by the Gentiles hardness of heart and futile thinking they can earn salvation and becoming the new self – filled with the Holy Spirit and clothed in true righteousness and holiness. Ultimately Paul calls for a change inside not outward behaviors – that was the old covenant with the freed slaves and given 10 commandments and ultimately 613 laws to follow – to change their outward behavior. No the new covenant requires change from within.

Jesus Christ the spiritual son of God underwent a human birth so that we human beings could undergo a spiritual birth. You see, Christianity gives you the resources to change. Everyone I know says they need some change in their life, eat healthier, exercise more, keep in better touch with friends and family, make time for prayer and reading the Bible – and all those lofty goals can be difficult to achieve – that’s why top 10 lists of how to improve and self-help books are so popular.

But what does change mean to Christians? This Ephesians passage gives us some answers. First you have to make a decision, second it means you have to change from the inside transforming your thinking and third to become captivated by Jesus in your life. So no top 10 list needed, but 3 changes that feed into each other: make a decision to change from the inside out, transform your thinking and being captivated by Jesus.

Let's look first at making a decision: now obviously the key to this whole passage is verse 22 you were taught to put off your old self and verse 24 to put on the new self.

How does that happen? Paul says I tell you this #17 that you must no longer live as a Gentiles - he's writing to the Gentiles and of course they were living the way Gentiles do: he's describing in verses 17 to 19 the old pattern of life.

But this is the only life they have known – this is how Gentiles were raised.

We don't ask a fish to tell you about water or write a paper on water because the fish will say what's water? Most people who need to make this decisive change don't see the kind of life they're actually living until you get a little distance from that old life.

So, it says they had a darkened understanding and stresses the futility of their thinking. that word futility means their thinking is pointless you’ll never get what what you want. What Paul is saying is that these Christians had come to see that all though at the moment they didn't feel like their life was meaningless, when they looked back at it, they came to realize that they were separated from the life of God.

“Separated from the life of God” that's an interesting term. Lots of people say, well I'm a good person and I'm having a meaningful life I may not be religious but I believe in God of course. They believe in God but they don't have a personal connection with God - they are separated from the life of God.

At their very core, they don't really know if there is a God. And once you doubt God’s existence, everything that makes life meaningful is be taken away. If you're here by accident, when you die you'll be completely forgotten. Everything you've done will be forgotten and eventually everything that anybody's done will be forgotten.

Astronomers who study the stars tell us that one day our sun could go super nova and all of this earth would be consumed. Everything gone.

Tim Keller tells a story about a summer camp for college students he attended where a speaker gave him a new perspective on creation. That speaker said, if the distance between the earth and the sun 92,000,000 miles was just the thickness of this piece of paper, then the distance between our sun and the next nearest star would be a stack of paper 70 feet high. And the distance between here and the end of the Galaxy would be a stack of paper 310 miles high. Our Galaxy is just a speck of dust in the whole of the universe. But, if Hebrews 11 is right, and there is a God who created everything, and he holds all this together with the word of his power - isn’t that a God you want to keep on speed dial?

Then the speaker asked the campers, who are you really living your life for? What are you really living life for? Who calls the shots in your life? Then the speaker said “I want everybody to to walk outside and spend one hour asking yourself these questions in solitude - only silence, nobody gets to talk.” It was life changing that resulted in some big life choices.

Most of us have made big choices in our lives – like getting married. When you get married you're making these great promises that start the process of developing a lifetime of building that relationship. Marriage is a milestone event: before you're not married, now you are – and things will never be the same. You leave your old single self behind and clothe yourself with a new married self.

Each time I teach confirmation class I start our 8 month journey together with an icebreaker called 2 truths and a lie – Play it with me. Here were my 3 statements: 1) I used to play polo at Cornell’s indoor arena in upstate New York, 2) I haven’t taken my wedding ring off since Julie put it on my finger during our wedding ceremony and 3) I had my appendix removed while on a business trip to France by a surgeon who barely spoke English. What number would you guess was a lie? (The lie was # 3 – I still have my appendix. The other two are true.)

Our youngest son Austin works in a manufacturing environment where no jewelry is allowed so he had a ring with his wife’s initial tattooed on his ring finger. Growing up he had heard that I had chosen to never take my wedding ring off. For me and my son, Austin, getting married was our “new permanent self “ choice and it changed us from the inside out.

Paul says you are not just to put off your old behaviors and put on your new behaviors like you take off or put on a piece of clothing instead he speaks of virtues so they would say put off hate and put on love; put off laziness and put on diligence.

Putting on a new self is a choice to change from the inside out.

If you kept reading the next verses from today’s reading, verses 25 to 31 you'll see Paul does start talking about behaviors: don't lie, don't be resentful, work hard, care for the needy, don't steal - so he has a whole list of behaviors but he doesn’t want you to first put on a whole new self. Let me explain.

In every church there are people sitting beside of each other - both of them pray, both of them trying to follow God’s laws, trying to read their Bibles.

But they approach their faith with two utterly different motives: one person acts out of fear and pride: the fear that says if I don't do this right I'm gonna go to hell and the pride that says look , I'm the kind of person that comes to church and I read my Bible so I will be saved. Now the other person is somebody who's doing it strictly out of gratitude for free grace. Their spirit is different: there's a humility versus pride, the attitude toward other people is different. They can’t help but share the Good News that has changed their lives.

Understanding the gospel and free grace changes one radically: it's a set of truths that you take into your center and it changes the way you think about God, yourself and the world – the way you think about everything. It become your identity.

If you really understand the gospel and you really accept it and you believe it's incredible claims about what Jesus has done for you and who you are in him – then nothing that happens in this world can actually shake your identity - it makes all the difference to how you process everything: rejections, disappointments, criticism. Everything has changed.

The best way for you to really have yourself change from the inside out is to look at Jesus’ example. He was glorious and perfect - he was an equal with the father. He laid that perfect self aside and he took on a weak, suffering, vulnerable human nature and took on our weakness so that we could share His beauty and glory.

See it's not enough just to learn abstract principles -to think about the truth in some general way - that's not going to transform your mind and that's not what's going to change you from the inside out.

We must continually be captivated by what Jesus did for us – that is what holds us steadfast in the change we made from the inside out – to the new self we put on in His likeness.

And that is the Good News on this sabbath day of our lord and all God’s people said, AMEN