God’s Response to Repentance

In the early 1970’s, a famous movie came out with some phrases which are not exactly theologically correct; yet those phrases met with great acceptance in our increasingly permissive society. Though I’ve never watched this movie, I have read of it. It was entitled “Love Story.” The phrase which is contained within it, that practically became a slogan, even though it goes against the teachings of the Bible is: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Besides being wrong biblically, there is also the flip side of someone not experiencing forgiveness when they do repent and say they’re sorry. This is sometimes a human experience with other people, but it’s never that way with God.

In Jeremiah 31, we see what God’s response is when repentance is shown.

God offers absolute forgiveness when His people express genuine repentance.

In this chapter, we read that God responds very positively in at least three specific ways:

He gives joy.

He gives hope.

He gives forgiveness and a personal relationship with Him.

God Responds By Giving Joy. - 31.1-14

In this section, we read about some wonderful promises regarding Israel’s future. But these promises were given only to the remnant, those who had remained faithful to the Lord, or who had expressed genuine repentance. For those other individuals who had continued to defy the Lord, they had been either destroyed by their enemies, or they would soon be destroyed by them.

God reminds them of His continual love. It is not an off and on sort of love. It is a continual, drawing out kind of love. In addition, there would be celebration and joy as a result of God’s love. It was further seen when He would bring the people back home.

Yet, with all of the celebration of joy, we read in verse 9 a very solemn commentary by God. ““With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.”” There will be weeping and there will be prayer. There is a sense within this verse of a people who have experienced being humbled before the Lord, Who has loved them as no other ever has or ever will. We see the picture of a father guiding them along places that will not be harmful nor dangerous. The reason is because He has only the best in mind for his children.

Once again, verse 10 picks up on the celebration. “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, And declare in the coastlands afar off, And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”” There will be proclamation of God‘s goodness and mercy. It appears that the people themselves were going to tell everyone about this. The surrounding nations who had written off Israel, were going to be told that God had restored Israel. The land that had been desolate and had not been cared for by them was now going to produce bountifully. All people of all ages will rejoice as they recognize God’s hand of provision.

Just as we find today, we experience great joy and jubilation, as we are brought back into a right relationship with Jesus Christ. This can happen after wandering away from His path, or even when we first became children of God by believing on the Name of Jesus. At the same time, we are humbled to realize that we were, at one time, enemies of God and not even interested in the things of God. Amazingly, Christ died for us while we were sinners. Even though we did not deserve salvation, because of God‘s amazing love, we received eternal life by believing on the name of Jesus Christ. And once again, there is rejoicing, as we proclaim to all of those around us, the great things which God has done for us. And we continue to rejoice as we observe his blessings on our lives even today.

God Responds By Giving Hope. - 31.15-25

In these verses, we are reminded again of the pain of disobedience and rebellion. Those from the northern tribes were already experiencing great anguish of soul, as they had time to reflect upon the tremendous loss of life and property due to their defiance and disobedience to God

But once again, God responded with tremendous comfort. Because of the people’s willingness to turn from the ways of the wicked, they would be rewarded. Because they responded appropriately to God’s discipline, they would be blessed.

Listen to verses 18 and 19. ““I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the Lord my God. ‘For after I turned back, I repented; And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh; I was ashamed and also humiliated Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone who became involved with and caught up in sin would swallow their pride, and would choose to come before God’s people and God himself with this sort of attitude.

To see God’s heartbeat once again, we need to read verse 20. ““Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the Lord.” What an incredible response by God when His people repent completely!

Let’s go on into the next section as we see God‘s care, as well as the willingness on Israel’s part to love God without any reservation or hesitation.

God Responds By Offering Forgiveness and a Personal Relationship with Him. - 31.26-40

In these verses, as Jeremiah is writing, we need to understand that some of the writing is looking forward and is quite distant in the future. However, there is also an immediacy in this section, as well.

Even though Jerusalem had not yet been completely destroyed at this point, it was going to happen quite soon. Sometimes when a people experience forgiveness, there comes this strange idea that the consequences will not actually happen. And if the consequences don’t happen, then there develops the idea that we should be shifting responsibility or blame upon someone else. In this setting, many Jews may had felt that because they were experiencing God’s forgiveness, as well as promises of future restoration, that Jerusalem would avoid being completely destroyed. Others may have felt that they could blame others. For if Jerusalem would actually be destroyed, it would be due to the sinfulness of their forefathers or those who were still defiant towards God.

The reality, however, is that the destruction of Jerusalem was upon their own shoulders, as well. I believe that we see throughout Scripture a group responsibility when dealing with sin. We also see in the Bible, the teaching that the individual is also to be held accountable. How might this apply to our time?

As a church, we are somewhat responsible for each other. If we as a church, do not value highly the Word of God; if we do not promote righteous living; then when someone begins to live in a lifestyle of sin, we are corporately responsible. At the same time, that person who is living in sin is not innocent. That person, who did choose to live in sin, is going to be held personally accountable for their sin. We see this spelled out quite clearly in verse 30. ““But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.”

As we continue with verses 33 through 34, we see some marvelous truths which apply very practically to us today as believer priests. ““But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.””

Warren Wiersbe has stated: “Any plan for the betterment of human society that ignores the sin problem is destined to failure. It isn’t enough to change the environment, for the heart of every problem is the problem of the heart. God must change the hearts of people so that they want to love Him and do His will.” He continues by saying: “The New Covenant is inward so that God’s Law is written on the heart and not on stone tablets. The emphasis is personal rather than national, with each person putting faith in the Lord and receiving a “new heart” and with it a new disposition toward godliness. The Old Covenant tried to control conduct, but the New Covenant changes character so that people can love the Lord and one another and want to obey God’s will. The basis for the New Covenant is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.”

God gives each of us His Word and allows each of us to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We do not need someone else to be a liaison for us. We do not need a mediator or an interpreter. Our relationship is not based upon a group’s relationship standing with God, nor any other individual’s relationship with God.

How can this be? The same way that it can be today. Read again the last part of verse 34 as it gives the foundation for our relationship with God: “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”” In other words, there is a complete forgiveness of sins.

Let’s consider this thought for a while before we close today. How does this even apply to the follower of Jesus Christ? When you and I forgive someone, that literally means that we release them and give them freedom to live for Christ. When we release someone, we also release that which held them in bondage. In other words, we will never again bring up their past sin as a basis or a charge or accusation against them.

Does this mean we are to actually forget what they’ve done? Not at all. It might be nice if we actually could, but that is not even a biblical teaching. Nowhere is this trite saying found in Scripture that is so often shared, “forgive and forget.” It is often attributed to the Bible, though it will not be found there with the idea of complete dismissal of thinking. Some will then suggest that this is what God does. Actually, it is not. God is not senile, nor is He forgetful. God does, however, make a choice in choosing not to remember. Isaiah 43:25 states: ““I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.” We also read of this in Hebrews 8:12 ““For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”” God will never again bring up our past sins that have been forgiven and covered by the blood of Jesus Christ as a charge against us. Compelling Truth Ministries presents it this way: This does not mean that God automatically washes away any memories of our sin in His mind. Rather, He chooses to not identify us with our sins. He does not literally erase the memory of our sin from His mind.

Conclusion

What encouragement we can gather from the passage here today! When wondering how God will actually respond to repentance, we should be encouraged from Jeremiah 31.

We have seen and have hopefully experienced that when we genuinely repent, God responds by providing joy and celebration

We have seen and probably have experienced that when we genuinely repent, God responds by presenting us with hope.

We have also seen and hopefully have personally experienced that when we genuinely repent, God responds by offering forgiveness and a personal relationship with him

So let me ask some questions. Why would anyone be unwilling to repent and turn to God? Why would anyone settle for worldly happiness, when they could experience true joy? Why would anyone settle for anxiety and frustration, when they could experience real hope? Why would a person settle for living in guilt for the rest of their life and eternity, knowing that they could have lived for God, if they would have chosen to experience freedom and a restored relationship with God and with other believers?

Those people who wrote that movie in the 70s, didn’t have a clue as to what true, genuine love really is. You see, there is nothing as deep and real and meaningful as to be able to experience God‘s response of forgiveness, restored relationships, joy and hope; when we genuinely repent.

God offers absolute forgiveness when His people express genuine repentance.