Divine and Human
There are a couple of dilemmas associated with repentance. On our own, we cannot repent, Acts 5:31.
31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
God is the one who grants repentance through Messiah, Acts 11:18.
18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
This is when God granted repentance to Gentiles. Repentance comes through God. God avails this to us. God provides the gateway and pathway to repentance, but we have our part too. For the individual, who finds it hard to change their lives, 2 Timothy 2:25.
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
We meet people all the time that want to change their lives, but cannot. God grants the repentance, yet the individual must acknowledge the truth to repent. We must act on what God grants us.
Some have a tendency to believe that if God gives it, then it is up to God. As such, these people believe that there is nothing for them to do. These individuals just wait around, live in sin and wait for God to change them. Some will even make the following statements:
- God made me this way, so who am I to question God, or
- God is working on me.
This is not what the Bible teaches, Revelation 2:21.
21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
We must respond to the offer. It is not that God alone causes repentance and we as mankind have no responsibility. God will do a lot for the individual. He will grant repentance and prepare the individual. Yet, the individual must respond accordingly for change to occur.
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