Righteousness, Peace, and Joy (but First Repentance)

Rom. 14:17 – 18 – “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

The context of these verses is of not judging or entering into contention with others in the church who are weak in faith or over-conscientious in what they can and cannot do, as in matters of food or observance of special days. We are not to put a stumbling-block before them or cause them to sin against their conscience. Paul tells us that the questions of “meat and drink” are not the essence of the kingdom. What the kingdom really involves is righteousness, peace, and joy. If we keep that perspective, all the other issues may be worked out with time, patience, and maturity.

I would like to view the verses in another manner though, and that is the modern church’s desire to reduce the Christian life to peace and joy, to the neglect of righteousness. Many people want a “feel-good” religion, a church that will minister to their feelings, emotional needs, self-esteem, etc. Christian bookstores are full of books that relate to “Christian living”, and how to get the most out of Christianity These things are not necessarily wrong, but it seems there is not so much interest in the righteousness of the kingdom, and the first step in its attainment, repentance. People naturally have a desire to get a quick fix for their marital, social, financial, and emotional problems, and think they should try religion. So they go to a church and look for any special programs or small groups that address their immediate need.

This “peace and joy” emphasis on emotions can also be seen in many churches in their performative worship, or a socially-conscious, progressive message, over a strong doctrinal message that is true to the Word. Many men preach what people want to hear, instead of what they need to hear. They teach from best-seller books instead of from their prayer closet and study desk. They are ear-ticklers who will answer to God in the Judgment.

Our immediate problems (job, marriage, sickness, addictions, depression, etc.) are only symptoms though. We may treat them with counseling, psychiatry, church attendance, self-help seminars, and more, but the root problem of all mankind is sin. Until that root problem is dealt with, all the other things are band-aids. In fact, their temporary or superficial success may even prevent us from seeing what is the real problem – SIN.

It is apparent that many people, now and throughout church history, are content to make a profession of Christ without confession of sins. They have never seen the true disparity and conflict between the righteous demands of a holy God and their own self-absorbed lives. Confession of Christ without confession of sins is a lie. The first words of the gospel were “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” On the day of Pentecost the people were “pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” He responded, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  

One problem is in the way the gospel is often (usually) presented today. There is little said that would offend a person by referring to their sins, and the fact that they are abiding already under the just curse of a holy God. They are merely told to come forward, bow their heads, slip up their hands (while everyone’s eyes are closed), and say something like a “sinner’s prayer”. Where is the heart-rending acknowledgement of their sins, and a crying out to God to have mercy on them through the offering of Christ on the cross? Salvation indeed is freely offered to us and there is absolutely nothing we can do to earn it, but if there is no repentance of sin, there is really no recognition of the need of a Savior. If all we want is relief from a troubled conscience, than soothing words and a pat on the back may be sufficient for awhile, but if what we need is deliverance from sin, than it must begin (on our side) by an open acknowledgement of our sins, that our whole lives have been an offense to him, and that apart from the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ, we have no hope against the righteous sentence of this holy God to eternal punishment.

How did they preach in the book Acts? We already saw Peter’s words on the day of Pentecost. Paul said to the Athenians,  “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Ac. 17:30-31).

He also gave his testimony to king Agrippa in Ac. 26:17-18, that God  had told him he would send him to the Gentiles, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Are we telling people that they can be forgiven by God without turning from darkness to light? Are we presenting a sugar-coated gospel? Is our “gospel” like modern miracle bread, stripped of all real truth and spiritual good, but then “enriched” by what sounds appealing to unbelievers? The unconverted don’t need a weekly rock concert at church, they need a pure Word. Some would object that if we don’t tailor our worship and sermons to the young, they won’t come. That is true, but should we want to fill pews (now theater seating) with religiously deluded sinners who are really false converts? If so, we are just setting up a way station on the way through the broad gate. Repentance is to turn and to go against the flow of the many, and by God’s grace and mercy to enter in at the strait gate with the few.

Genuine repentance is not only the necessity of a sinner first coming to Christ, it is also for a believer who has lapsed into sin, as for example, David in Ps. 51:

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Notice that these words are not a light-hearted and inconsequential, “Sorry about that, Lord”, but deep regret and desperation for forgiveness and a restoration to communion with God.

Indeed, our whole Christian lives should be spent in daily repentance - not the dragging up of already confessed and forgiven sins, but a soul searching desire to recognize, humbly confess, and ask forgiveness of new offenses, or of sins of the heart that have remained hidden even from ourselves.

Our daily prayer should be Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”, and Psalm 19:12-14 – “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in they sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”