Getting Rid of the Handles

"There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10)

In the things-which-God-cannot-do category is this: God cannot do our repenting for us. In our efforts to magnify grace we have so preached the truth as to convey the impression that repentance is a work of God. This is a grave mistake. God has commanded all men to repent. It is a work which only they can do. It is morally impossible for one person to repent for another. Even Christ could not do this. He could die for us, but He cannot do our repenting for us.

God in His mercy may "incline" us to repent and by His inworking Spirit assist us to repent; but before we ca be saved we must of our own free will repent toward God and believe in Jesus Christ.

Repentance involves moral reformation. The wrong practices are on man's part, and only man can correct them. Lying, for instance, is an act of man, and one for which he must accept full responsibility. When he repents he will quit lying. God will not quit for him; he will quit for himself.

Anyplace where a person sins, he puts handles on his soul for satan to grasp. Repentance gets rid of the handles!

~A. W. Tozer~