In the former article we looked at Genesis 6: 5-7 and made the following observation:
Repentance is a complex process, a process that exercises all the faculties of a rational being--the mind, the emotions, and the will. This complex process is composed of four progressive stages:Let us look at these in more detail. We will continue our observations from the context of Genesis six.
- An accurate view of sin
- An appropriate mind change toward sin
- A corresponding emotion/ affection change
- An appropriate course of action change
In verse five it reads, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth...”. (Notice what he saw) Previously, in Genesis 1:31, it is stated of God viewing his new creation and reads:
“And God saw everything that he had made, and lo, it was very good.”What a great contrast is posed in these two verses of what God saw! The wording in chapter one indicates that God was well -pleased with what he saw. The wording in chapter six indicates great displeasure at what he now sees. Something had obviously changed, hadn’t it?
We find by reading chapter three what that change was. By Adams’ willful disobedience, sin had entered this new creation. Adams’ pure nature and humanity had become marred and polluted by sin. All of his faculties, rational, emotional, and volitional became defiled by sin... and it was his fallen human nature that he passed on to his children. This reality quickly begin to manifest itself in open acts of sin, violence, and wickedness.
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” v-5In this verse the phrase, “God saw...”, indicates much more than mere perception. His view includes an evaluation of his creation relative to it’s moral usefulness and purpose. The outcome of this evaluation is seen in the next clause, "And it repented the Lord..." . The outcome, namely Repentance, is a mind\ attitude change toward the object. In this case, God, who can not err nor judge unjustly, views and evaluates what he sees. The result is Repentance...a mind change toward the object viewed.
The context of Genesis 6: 5-7 makes it clear that Repentance includes a change in one's course of action. This fact is seen in the statement in verse seven:
"And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth:"It would be naive to suppose that our righteous and holy God, who views all things perfectly, would be unmoved to any action by the degenerative mutation of sin upon his creation. He was not unmoved by Israel's sin... neither did he passively tolerate the disobedience of King Saul.
From Genesis 6: 5 verse we observe three things that are comprehended by an accurate view of sin:
Repentance requires an accurate view of sin for a foundation...a requirement the estranged sinner is incapable of. By nature the sinner is actively biased toward sin; he finds sin attractive. Moreover, his mind is hostile toward God and holiness.(Ro.8:7) Therefore, unaided by the Spirit of God, an accurate view and evaluation of sin - or his miserable condition is impossible. Suffice it to say, that apart from enlightenment by the Holy Spirit, the sinner is incapable of accurately evaluating sin or discerning his miserable condition. For this reason, and without apology, we state that God is the moving cause of genuine Repentance in sinners.
This is not to say that moral or spiritual inability on the sinner's part is ground for excuse. Rather, it is an aggravation of his condemnation. God can justly say, "They are without excuse."
I pause at this point to carefully emphasize the fact that, with sinners, Regeneration is a pre-requisite for genuine Repentance. If it were otherwise, repentance would be like a “square circle”...non-existent.
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