trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
Crosfigell

The Necessity of Repentance

The business of the Kingdom begins in repentance.

The Celtic Revival: Age of the Peregrini (19)

When they were come together, Gall cleared his throat and poured out into their ears and hearts, mellow words entreating them to turn to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would reveal to poor lukewarm human nature the approach of the kingdom of heaven. Then in the sight of all he raised the images of their gods and threw them into the lake.

  - The Anonymous Monk, Life of St. Gall, German, 8thcentury[1]

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men andbrethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent…”

  - Acts 2.37, 38

This is one of my favorite stories in the annals of the Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800 AD), because it shows what is required in doing Kingdom business in a hostile age. 

Columbanus and his group, departing Gaul and heading for Italy, had paused alongside a Swiss lake to rest and minister to the locals. Soon they found themselves among a gathering of pagans at one of their worship sites on the shores of the lake. Gall stepped forward to minister the Gospel with sweet words of grace, calling his hearers to faith in Jesus and repentance from dead works.

Then, as if to dramatize his message – and perhaps, help some of his hearers on their way to faith – he hoisted their idols over his head and threw them into the lake.

Here’s a template for our lives in the world. Live and proclaim the Gospel with kindness, clarity, sweetness, and patience. Declare Jesus to be the resurrected Son of God and Lord of the Kingdom, Who offers poor benighted sinners such as we the righteousness, peace, and joy only He can give. Hold out the promise of forgiveness and life and the hope of glory, and invite whosoever will to come and believe.

But believing in Jesus comes at a cost. We must follow the examples of Peter and Gall and insist that people throw their idols in the lake if they sincerely intend to come to Jesus. We might think that Gall went too far in being so assertive, until we remember Jesus driving the money-changers out of the temple with a whip. We may do neither of these, but the principle remains: We must call people to repent of their sins and be done with their idols if they would truly come to Jesus (Acts 17.30).

And we must make sure we have done so ourselves.

When Gall and Columbanus, his mentor, and all the other peregriniurged their hearers to repent, they meant it, and they were prepared to aid them on the way by dramatic means – in-your-face confrontations, throwing idols into the lake, refusing any compromise with sin or any clinging to worldly ways, accepting persecution and exile, demanding the embrace of a disciplined life, and always insisting on spiritual earnestness and moral improvement, now.

Such preachers would not be welcome in the pulpits of most of our churches today, much less the public squares of our secular towns and cities.

Peter and Gall were only doing what Jesus did by insisting that the first order of business in entering the Kingdom and receiving the Gospel is that we repent (cf. Matt. 4.17).

Repentance is the first order and the ongoing order of every day of our lives.

Repentance is both a general disposition – a willingnessto be done with sin – and a particular practice – actually turning specific sins overto the Father, throwing our idols into the lake, and being clothed with the righteousness of Jesus. 

We must repent to enter the Kingdom, and we must repent to make progress in it.

When repentance is called for, we should welcome it humbly and with rejoicing. For repentance is a work of God’s Spirit, Who graciously convicts us of sin, plainly advises us of the right path to travel, and kindly warns us that our Father disciplines those who refuse to heed His Word (Jn. 16.8-11). 

What idols are you holding on to still? Complete comfort and convenience? Wealth and possessions? Your sense of needing to be the center of everyone’s attention? Fear of what others might think if you became more consistently outspoken about your faith?

Throw them into the lake of fire now, lest they drag you down into it on that coming Day!

Do you know the practice of repentance? When was the last time you remember repenting of anything? We will make no progress in the river of life until the idols of the flesh are in the lake. 

Psalm 51.7-13 (Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
In Jesus’ blood and mercy, Lord, cleanse my evil heart!
Let me washed, cleansed, renewed be and pure in whole and part.
Bring joy again and gladness; look not upon my sin.
Deliver me from sadness; renew me yet again!

Create in me a clean heart; renew me from within!
Take not Your Spirit from me because of all my sin.
Salvation’s joy restore, Lord, and keep me in Your hand;
Thus shall I tell Your strong Word to sinners in the land.

Teach me, Lord, to repent, and help me to do so as often as it is required. Let repentance from sin become for me…

The Legacy of Patrick

The Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800 AD) came about as a result of the ministry of Patrick in 5th-century Ireland. You can read more about Patrick’s life, ministry, and legacy by ordering a copy of our book, The Legacy of Patrick (click here).

Your gifts and prayers help make this ministry possible. Use the contribute button to share with The Fellowship of Ailbe via credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.     

T. M. Moore, Principal
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe PsalterScripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


[1]Bispham, p. 15.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.