Lent: Remembrance, Repentance and Penitence.

Romans 8: 1 – 4 address our fear of condemnation.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus... the Spirit who gives life, has set you free from the bondage of sin and death.”

 

Those who are “in Christ Jesus” are released from the prison of guilt and the judgment of God. Those who are “in Christ” are “out of prison and condemnation”!

 

During the season of Lent we remember, in a focused manner, what our Lord, Jesus Christ did for us.  Remembrance is the foundation of all Christian worship, because when Christ instituted his Holy Supper, he commanded us to “do this in remembrance of me”.   And when we remember his broken body and his blood that was shed for us, and know that our sin caused his suffering, it brings us to true repentance and penitence, born from our love for our Redeemer.

 

Repentance is about reviewing one's actions and feeling sad regret for our wrongs of the past!

 

It involves a commitment to change our lives and correct our mistakes, resolving to live a more disciplined and obedient life that honours God and his authority over us.

It includes an admission of guilt, a promise not to repeat these sins and an attempt to make restitution for the consequences of what we did wrong, or in some or other way reverse the harmful effects of our sins.

 

Penitence emphasizes the regret for one's wrongdoing. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone feels bad (or sad) about it afterwards, and if you have regretted something you did, that sorrowful feeling is penitence.

 

The word penitence shares the same root as the verb repent, which means “to express regret.” It is also connected to the word penitentiary, another word for prison and has a strong association with the expectation to be judged, found guilty and to be condemned.

Sometimes penitence is so painful you might think you deserve to be in prison, or you feel that you are imprisoned by shame and remorse.

 

Yet, during Lent we focus on the Gospel that we are set free of all blame and receive forgiveness when God responds to our repentance, our penitence, with holy and loving mercy, grace, forgiveness and the restoration of our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.

What an awesome God we serve!