In the context of our study of the basic doctrines of the Word of God, we will, in this chapter, address the doctrine of «The repentance from dead works».
Hebrews 6:1 « 1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. » KJV
When we give our life to the Lord Jesus, we enter into a new life, certainly, but in this new life we take with us our whole history. As we know, we are shaped by the influence of our family, professional environment, the society in which we live, by our church for those who attend one, etc.
For those who have not had the grace to grow up in an environment bathed in the Word of God, giving one’s life to the Lord can be accompanied by enormous psychological pressure. Why? Simply because we realize then that our entire life course was built on foundations contrary to the Word of God. In such a context, giving one’s life to Jesus will necessarily lead to a season of repentance.
A – Some definitions to understand the concept of repentance from dead works
What is repentance, according to the Word of God?
Literally, the word “repent” means “turn away”.
The word repentance comes from the Greek word «Metonoia», which means a change of mind as it appears to someone who repents of the purposes he formed or the things he did. (StongG3341).
Repentance, according to the Word of God, consists not only in asking forgiveness for our sins, but also in turning away from them and abandoning them permanently.
Acts 3:19 « 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. » KJV
Mark 1:15 « 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. » KJV
What are dead works?
Dead works are: our sins, anything that takes us away from God, anything that doesn’t agree with His Word. These works are translated into actions, ways of thinking, resentments or lifestyles. In the Word of God, dead works mean all acts that lead to spiritual death.
Ephésians 2:1-2 « 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. » KJV
So, we can breathe, be physically alive and even in excellent health, while being dead in the eyes of God. Why? Because the human being is in three dimensions. It is above all a spirit, which has a soul (our emotions, imagination, etc.) and which lives in a body made of flesh. In fact, the most important dimension in man is the spirit of man. This is the central point, which the Bible often calls the heart of man (there is no question of the organ that beats in our chest, but of our spirit); and it is with this dimension, our spirit, that God communicates with us. It is a pity that men take so much care of their body, which is only the «shell» that carries their true «self» and will return to the dust, and totally neglect the spirit with which they can communicate with God, and which will live eternally. Let’s close this parenthesis…
Let us remember one point: dead works do not glorify God; they do not honor Him and they distance themselves from Him. That is why it is important to be able to talk about them, and to approach them only in the light of the Word of God.
B – Repentance from Dead Works : an ongoing process
It will be a matter of entering into a process of change of life; it will be done on several levels. We will review the three levels of this process of repentance.
The first level of repentance: it is to turn away from the devil, to believe in Jesus Christ by turning to Him and believing in the work He has done at the Cross. In other words, there is no salvation apart from Christ.
Ultimately, repentance that does not lead to Jesus Christ is incomplete. Why? Because Jesus is THE Only Door of the Kingdom of Heaven (it is Himself who affirms it), He who brings us into this heavenly Kingdom, into the family of God.
John 10:9 « 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. » KJV
The second level of repentance: this level leads us to walk in a new life by stripping ourselves of our past lifestyle, namely: to turn away from the wrong way, the wrong thoughts, the wrong decisions, our sins, the fleshly works, and turn to God to be forgiven”. We must not confuse repentance with regret. Beyond the grace of God that saves, repentance appeals to the will. It takes will to separate from sin; there is a personal effort to make, a personal will to commit and a price to pay. This is what the apostle Paul alludes to when he speaks of crucifying our flesh, for our flesh will always try to bring us back to our past life.
Galatians 5:24-25 « 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. » KJV
The third level of repentance : is turning away to enter and live in the Kingdom, that is, to live the life that God has called us to live. He who is at this stage has decided to live for Jesus Christ and bear the fruits worthy of a child of God. When we understand that our life no longer belongs to us, but now belongs to God, then we enter into a higher dimension of life in Christ.
John 15:16 « 16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. » KJV
C – Dead works in our daily lives
In our society, the enemy of our souls uses vicious strategies to push the children of God to walk in dead works, without even being accountable. It is very easy nowadays to live in pride, in envy, in wanting to possess always, etc. And we tell ourselves that there is nothing very serious about all this. The word of God, however, warns us against certain practices that exist in the world.
1 John 2:16 « 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. » KJV
Of course God is not against the fact that we are prospering; here, the Word of God warns us about the frantic race for comfort, the search for fame, placing our trust in ourselves rather than in God, to take pride in what we have accomplished, illicit sexual desires…
Galatians 5:19-21 « 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. » KJV
D – The Holy Spirit as a helper in the process of repentance
When we look at all that we must give up, when we enter into a relationship with Christ, the enemy of our soul blows us: «You will not succeed». But the good news is that we are never alone in this process. Not only does the Lord not ask us to do something impossible, but He himself helps us through His Spirit, who will be our support throughout our journey.
1 John 4:4 « 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. » KJV
In other words, the Word of God reassures us that the power of God in us, the Holy Spirit, gives us the ability to resist the pressure or influence of the world on our new way of life.
We’re going to have to change the way we live, replacing dead works with what the Word of God calls the works of the Holy Spirit, or the fruit of the Spirit.
We can compare this to the operation of a computer: if we want to change software, we must first erase the one we used and install a new one. In our case, it will be a question of erasing the software of darkness, to install that of the Kingdom of God. And we will see that it is not as difficult as one might think.
E – Love, the ultimate path
Changing the way of life is not a constraint for those who are in Christ, for it is out of love for our Lord that we enter into this process of repentance.
Because we love Him, we always desire more intimacy with Him. So how can we renounce dead works? By doing one work, from which all the works of the Holy Spirit will flow.
This primordial thing that we must practice is Love, that of God first and that of our neighbour next. In practicing love, we will naturally manifest the following works:
Joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and temperance
Galatians 5:22- 23 « 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. » KJV
If we let God be the Source of our life, His Holy Spirit will lead us and help us produce His works.
If we make the choice to live according to the Word of God, the works of the flesh will no longer have any influence on our life, because the Holy Spirit Himself will guide us in our conduct, leading us to always choose the path par excellence : that of Love.
Let’s spend time with God through His Word; let’s read these biblical verses; let’s take time to pray, to ask God to help us change our lives. And then we will experience an extraordinary transformation.
MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU
