The Law does not make bring one to repent. We often carelessly say such things. The Law does lead us to see our sins and despair of them. And we sometimes think that is the same as repentance. It is not. To know your sin and to repent of it are two very different things. The Law leads to the first. Not the second. Only the Gospel can lead to repentance. ((For those who do not use this language in the same way but are reading this post, I refer to the Law as everything that tells us what to do for God. Gospel is everything that tells us what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.))
Romans 2:3-4 Go you suppose, O man- you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself- that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Consider this situation. A child does something that they know will never be approved of by their parents. The words of instruction that their parents have shared many times are called back into memory. Perhaps they are even reheard as a parent searches out a suspicion of disobedience they have. If every time the child has admitted such things in the past, they received only harsh punishment and no assurance of enduring love, do you think they will admit it this time? Not likely. But if that same child knows their parents to be loving towards them even when they have done wrong, they might just come clean in order to remove the guilt they are carrying around.
The Law only speaks to us of a holy and consequently wrathful God who punishes sin. And if that is all we hear, we are much more likely to run from him when we recognize our sins rather than turn to him. But if we are told of a God who is kind and forgiving to sinners, then we have reason to come clean. His kindness leads us to repentance.
Why is this important? Because as we share the Law of God regarding any sin, we must remember to offer the kindness of God with it. We do not proclaim the sin forgiven to one not yet convicted of their sin. To do so would confound Law and Gospel. But we do offer his kindness should they turn. We assure them that in repenting they will find a loving God.
Besides many other issues, this is one of the reason why the Fred Phelps gang from Westboro Baptist Church’s approach will never work. They proclaim nothing but the Law (and a twisted version of it at that). Do they really think someone might see one of their signs, stop, and ask if they could make confession of their homosexual activity? There is no offer of God’s kindness. Why would anyone turn from their sin to a God portrayed as Westboro portrays him?
I remember at a church I grew up in we used to put out white crosses on the lawn to note all the unborn children killed every year by abortion. It was a striking sight as one drove by the busy corner the church sat on. And while it was good to stand with this children who never had a voice, one thing became evident. There were people driving by who saw those crosses and felt as if they had just been stabbed right in their heart. They had had or encouraged an abortion in the past. But with only a painful reminder of the white cross, who would ever stop at the church to seek help with that guilt? In later years, a huge sign speaking of God’s forgiveness for the sin of abortion was added. And it was well that it should have been. God kindness leads to repentance, not the Law.
Good post. But one may question whether God’s kindness isn’t the Law itself. Is the Law outside of God’s kindness, as if it is of His unkindness. God’s Law is kind, even as though who obey it are kind. And in His kindness He gave the Law that we would know His will. God’s kindness leads to repentance. I think to classify God’s kindness as “Gospel” is to shortchange God who does everything for the elect.
Very good post – excellent job.
Just one caveat, however. It is not the goal of the Westboro gang (I refuse to call them either Baptist or Church) to bring anyone to repentance. An LCMS pastor confronted them a year or two ago when they were protesting at his church. In the ensuing conversation it came out that they do not believe homosexuals can repent or be forgiven. Their goal is simply that America should show their definition of righteousness by eradicating homosexual behavior through pure Law – not Gospel.