Zeal in Repentance

This past Sunday, we looked at 2 Corinthians 7. In this chapter we get such a beautiful, descriptive picture of what repentance looked like in this early church. One characteristic that really stood out to me is what Paul calls “Zeal.” This church had a zeal for the Lord. Totally motivated by an awareness of God and of their sin before Him. 

Australian pastor Mark Sayers says that zeal is “passion and intent meeting determined action.” I really like this definition and think it is helpful when thinking through what repentance looks like in our lives. Here is the general process for how I think this plays out:

An awareness of God’s character and holiness develops in a person’s life
+
An Individual is convicted on a heart level of the repulsive nature of their actions
in light of who God is
+
But they hear the relieving, freeing invitation of the Lord to experience
reconciliation and healing through the transformative power of Christ
+
The transformation of the individual’s heart is most clearly seen in their capacity to
imagine what redemption looks like by asking “How could I follow Jesus in this
specific sin area in my life from this point forward?”
+
Passion for discipleship to Jesus meets a clear action plan that results in practical
steps being taken
=
Salvation is seen breaking into the world. 


This is basically what I think is meant by zeal. Zeal is a characteristic that even describes God in the OT regularly. Isaiah especially uses this language. What is being biblically communicated about God through this language is that the Lord has a resolve and action plan for how He will remain faithful to His people through the worldly circumstances that arise. So it is with us with a couple caveats: We are resolved through a renewed love/passion for God to walk a specific path of holiness as we seek to see Christ’s redemptive power hit every fabric of our lives and of the world. 

One last point: repentance requires courage. I do not want to understate our role in repentance. When it comes to the work that God is doing in our hearts (repentance), I think it is important to acknowledge that the New Testament is full of imperatives and “calls to action” on our part. Though Jesus is our ultimate redeemer, the initiator of salvation, the author of eternal life, He still calls us to participate in this work. And this is why I say that “repentance requires courage.” The road to follow Jesus is hard. It is narrow in that not many want to walk it. It will cost things in this world. But, in an ultimate sense, we don’t give up anything now that we do not gain a thousand times over in eternity. 

Courageously live the life of repentance that God has called us as His children into.

Love you Church,
Alex