Deeds in Keeping with Repentance
by Edwin Crozier
Paul appealed to Caesar. Festus was obligated to send him. But Festus faced a problem. He knew Paul hadn’t done anything. In his haste to think only about pleasing the Jews, he was backed into a corner that might upset Caesar. Caesar wasn’t a man who liked to have his time wasted. Some governor of a backwater province starts wasting Caesar’s time on trials for a man the governor should have clearly been able to deal with, and the governor might be ousted. Being ousted by Caesar was rarely pleasant. He was trying to figure out what to say in the letter to Caesar explaining why he was sending Paul to the highest court in the land. It so happened that Herod Agrippa and his wife Bernice came to Caesarea. Festus asked them to listen to Paul and see if they could help him with his quandary.
Paul told his conversion story. In doing so, he proclaimed the gospel of Christ. In the middle of his defense, he told of the revelation of the risen Christ who told Paul he was to go to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18 ESV). Paul then explained to Agrippa that he was obedient to this call. He went among Jews and Gentiles telling them “that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” (Acts 26:20 ESV).
First, I can’t help but notice another comparison between Paul and John the Baptist. John told his audiences to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8 ESV). But second, I can’t help but notice Paul didn’t view Jesus’s call on his life as merely theological and theoretical. The theology was to lead to practice. Turning from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, was not just about status. It was about action. They were to turn from darkness to light by walking in the light, not the darkness. They were to turn from the power of Satan to God by refusing the influence of Satan and surrendering to God.
Further, repenting is more than just a state of mind. They were to repent and turn to God. But that repentance was actually supposed to change their lives. They were to do deeds that matched their repentance. They were to live out the repentance.
I recognize, of course, that someone can turn to Jesus on their deathbed. Their deeds of repentance might be limited. But even the thief on the cross demonstrated deeds of repentance. According to Matthew 27:44, both thieves on the cross reviled Jesus, as did everyone else. However, as we piece this together with Luke 23:40, we see one of the thieves change his tune. He rebuked the other thief, declared he believed Jesus was coming in His kingdom, and asked to be remembered on that day. Those are deeds in keeping with repentance.
But notice this important point. Jesus had declared this turning would allow them to receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those sanctified by faith in Christ. Well…which is it? Are we sanctified, that is, set apart for holy use, by faith in Christ or by repentance? Yes! Repentance is built upon faith in Christ, and true faith in Christ is always accompanied by repentance. And repentance is not strictly mental; it is practical. It is actual. It is behavioral.
Obviously, the walk with Christ is a walk of growth. Repentance and deeds in keeping with repentance do not mean perfection. Though we are striving for it every day. Though we have repented, we will stumble and sin. Yet, in Christ, we have an advocate to whom we can turn.
Praise the Lord!
But we need to understand: if there is no change, there was no change. If we continue to walk in the darkness, it is because we are still in the darkness. If we continue to live like the devil, it is because we are still on his side.
As Jesus said in Luke 24:47, repentance is supposed to be preached in the name of Jesus Christ so folks can have forgiveness. Have you repented?
